{"id":127699,"date":"2026-06-17T14:42:29","date_gmt":"2026-06-17T13:42:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pointblanknews.com\/pbn\/?p=127699"},"modified":"2026-06-17T14:42:29","modified_gmt":"2026-06-17T13:42:29","slug":"arewa-media-forum-advocates-community-self-defense-against-banditry","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pointblanknews.com\/pbn\/news\/arewa-media-forum-advocates-community-self-defense-against-banditry\/","title":{"rendered":"Arewa Media Forum Advocates Community Self-Defense Against Banditry"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Godswill Michael<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Arewa Broadcasting Media Practitioners Forum (ABMPF) has urged the adoption of a community-based self-defense strategy to combat escalating banditry and terrorism across northern Nigeria, arguing that residents can no longer afford to remain passive in the face of persistent attacks.<\/p>\n

Speaking at a press conference in Abuja on Wednesday, the forum’s Chairman, Alhaji Abdullahi Yelwa, said the deteriorating security situation requires a new approach that empowers communities to play an active role in protecting themselves.<\/p>\n

\u201cLet us give communities a sense of self-defense, and you\u2019d be surprised how many of them would be ready to stand up. This banditry is a war with no end in sight. We must devise a tactical system to confront it,\u201d Yelwa said.<\/p>\n

His comments come amid a renewed wave of violent attacks, kidnappings and killings in several parts of the country, particularly in the North, where insecurity has displaced thousands of residents and forced many farmers to abandon their farmlands.<\/p>\n

Yelwa said the security crisis has worsened since the beginning of 2026, citing coordinated attacks on military formations and sustained assaults on communities across multiple states. He argued that existing security measures have failed to stem the tide of violence.<\/p>\n

While acknowledging the efforts of security agencies, he stressed the need for security solutions that reflect local realities.<\/p>\n

\u201cMost often, the problems are in our villages, but the solutions are being designed here in Abuja,\u201d he said. \u201cWe need a decentralised security framework that allows communities to take ownership of their safety.\u201d<\/p>\n

He also called on residents to help identify individuals and networks supporting criminal activities.<\/p>\n

\u201cCommunities must identify the ecosystem of banditry and expose informants and other facilitators who enable these criminal groups to operate,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

According to Yelwa, the prevailing \u201cculture of victimhood,\u201d where communities wait helplessly for attacks, must be replaced with a more proactive mindset.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe culture of victimhood, where communities sit waiting for their invasion and are subsequently sacked by bandits and terrorists, must end,\u201d he stated.<\/p>\n

The ABMPF chairman further urged the Federal Government to declare a state of emergency on security in northern Nigeria and intensify military operations against criminal groups operating from forest enclaves.<\/p>\n

Although he expressed support for the establishment of state police and forest guard structures, Yelwa maintained that such initiatives must be complemented by stronger federal security interventions.<\/p>\n

Beyond the immediate security concerns, the forum warned that the violence has triggered a broader humanitarian and economic crisis across the region. It noted that widespread attacks have disrupted agricultural activities, reduced food production and contributed to growing food insecurity.<\/p>\n

The forum also expressed concern over the increasing number of out-of-school children, warning that prolonged insecurity threatens the region\u2019s long-term social and economic development.<\/p>\n

Speaking on behalf of the forum\u2019s Board of Trustees, Shu\u2019aibu Mungadi said the organisation was committed to amplifying the concerns of ordinary Nigerians affected by insecurity and governance challenges.<\/p>\n

Mungadi also identified illegal mining as a major driver of insecurity in the North, calling for stricter regulation and oversight of the sector.<\/p>\n

\u201cA lot of the insecurity we are witnessing in the North is driven by illegal mining. The region is not benefiting from the abundant mineral resources, particularly gold, being extracted from states such as Zamfara and others,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

He urged the Federal Government to implement policies that would curb the illicit exploitation of mineral resources, improve accountability and ensure that local communities benefit from the region\u2019s natural wealth.<\/p>\n

The forum reiterated its readiness to collaborate with government institutions, security agencies and other stakeholders but stressed that urgent and coordinated action is required to address the deepening crisis.<\/p>\n

The ABMPF represents more than 150 National Broadcasting Commission (NBC)-licensed private broadcast operators and media influencers across northern Nigeria. The organisation is also a member of the Broadcasting Organisation of Nigeria (BON).<\/p>\n

According to its leadership, the forum has consistently engaged government agencies and professional bodies to promote the role of broadcast media in advancing development and addressing critical challenges in the region. It estimates that its member platforms collectively reach an audience of more than 85 million people.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

By Godswill Michael The Arewa Broadcasting Media Practitioners Forum (ABMPF) has urged the adoption of a community-based self-defense strategy to combat escalating banditry and terrorism across northern Nigeria, arguing that…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":127700,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-127699","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news"],"yoast_head":"\nArewa Media Forum Advocates Community Self-Defense Against Banditry - Pointblank News<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/pointblanknews.com\/pbn\/news\/arewa-media-forum-advocates-community-self-defense-against-banditry\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Arewa Media Forum Advocates Community Self-Defense Against Banditry - 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