The National Youth Stakeholders Forum (NYSF) has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to declare a full-scale state of emergency on terrorism as the country battles rising insecurity and violent attacks across several states.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, May 28, 2025 and signed by National Publicity Secretary Mazi Barr Chidiebere Nwodo, the newly reconstituted National Executive Council of NYSF urged the President to take decisive action, particularly in states like Benue, Plateau, Zamfara, Kogi, Ondo, and Ogun, where they say lives are being lost daily to banditry and terrorist violence.
The body founded by Aare Barrister Oladotun Hassan, condemned recent killings in Marte and Maiduguri, as well as the deadly invasion of Munya Local Government Area in Niger State, where scores of villagers were killed and over 200 cattle stolen by armed bandits. They stressed that the situation had gone beyond dialogue and summits, insisting on urgent tactical operations and, if necessary, international support from the United Nations, ECOWAS, and the African Union.
“We plead with Mr. President to declare a tactical emergency against terrorism nationwide as a gesture of commitment to the safety of Nigerians ahead of your two-year anniversary in office,” the group stated.
The NYSF also announced its newly appointed executive council, with Ambassador Dogo Shagari as National Chairman and Barrister Chuks Otikpo as Vice Chairman. Other members include youth leaders from Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones and the diaspora, tasked with unifying youth voices across socio-cultural, political, and economic platforms.
The group reaffirmed its mission to coordinate and empower youth-led organizations across the country, promote unity and good governance, and ensure young Nigerians have a say in national development.
They concluded with a call for increased youth participation in addressing national issues and urged immediate recruitment of local forest guards and collaboration with community-based security groups like the Oodua People’s Congress (OPC) as part of a broader national security strategy.
