Middle Belt Forum Appeals to Government to Arm Vulnerable Communities As First Lines of Defense

Maliki Maye

In the wake of continued attacks on vulnerable communities across Nigeria’s Middle Belt, the Middle Belt Forum (MBF) has issued a strong statement appealing to the Federal Government to empower besieged populations with the means for lawful self-defense, describing them as “first lines of defense.”

The appeal comes in response to comments made by the National Security Adviser (NSA), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, during a condolence visit to Governor Hyacinth Alia of Benue State. The NSA, while condemning the recent spate of killings by suspected armed Fulani herdsmen, downplayed the crisis by comparing it to global conflicts and denying the existence of territories under the control of armed groups within Nigeria. The MBF described Ribadu’s comments as “inaccurate” and “callous,” citing overwhelming evidence of occupation by armed militants in parts of Benue, Southern Kaduna, Plateau, Niger, Sokoto, Kebbi, Katsina, Zamfara, and Borno states.

In a strongly worded statement signed by Luka Binniyat, MBF’s National Spokesman, the Forum criticized what it sees as government insensitivity, noting that “many communities remain under the occupation of armed Fulani militants who violently displaced the original inhabitants.” It warned that failure to acknowledge these realities was tantamount to denying displaced persons justice and the hope of ever returning home.

The MBF also expressed grave reservations about an ongoing “North Central Workshop on Developing a National Framework on Disarmament, Demobilisation and Reintegration” being convened under the NSA’s office in Makurdi. It raised fears that the workshop may adopt the “Kaduna model,” which it says involved unilateral amnesty for terrorists without any regard for their victims.

Recalling the controversial 2024 amnesty granted to so-called “repentant” terrorists in Birnin Gwari by Kaduna State Governor Uba Sani—reportedly with support from the NSA—the MBF questioned the wisdom of forgiving perpetrators of mass killings, arson, and kidnappings, while their victims continue to suffer.

“The government must not allow murderers and destroyers of communities to simply surrender weapons and walk away free. Justice must be served,” the statement declared.

Citing a February 2025 statement by the Director General of the Department of State Services, Mr. Oluwatosin Ajayi, which encouraged communities to act as first responders in the face of terrorist threats, the MBF asked whether the disarmament workshop would contradict that stance by targeting defenseless communities who have taken up rudimentary arms in self-defense.

The Forum presented four key demands:

1. No Blanket Amnesty for Terrorists – Justice must be prioritized, and perpetrators of violence must not be released without legal consequences.
2. Right to Self-Defense – Vulnerable communities should be legally empowered to defend themselves. The MBF urged the government to support the procurement of light weapons, training of youth volunteers, and deployment under vetted security supervision.
3. State and Local Policing – The Forum reiterated its longstanding call for state, local government, and ward-level police structures to improve security responsiveness.
4. Due Process for Amnesty – Any reintegration program must be transparent, follow due legal process, and involve legislative oversight. The Forum opposes any unilateral forgiveness of terrorists.

“The time has come for serious, responsible, and empathetic governance that truly reflects the pain and suffering of affected communities,” the statement said. “The NSA must offer leadership that reassures victims, not pamper terrorists.”

The MBF warned that the large-scale amnesty program extended to Boko Haram insurgents in the North East has failed to end the crisis, stressing that justice and security reforms remain the only sustainable solutions.