The Middle Belt Elders Forum has firmly rejected the proposed joint security architecture being pushed by some political leaders in the North, citing deep concerns over what they describe as “terrorist sympathies and compromised positions” among several core Northern governors and socio-political groups.
In a strongly worded statement, the Forum made it clear that the Middle Belt will not be part of any regional security alliance that includes actors who have allegedly enabled, excused, or failed to decisively confront the spread of violent extremism across the region.
According to the Forum, certain influential leaders in the far North have a history of fraternizing with groups linked to terrorism or turning a blind eye to attacks that have devastated Middle Belt communities. They argue that partnering with such figures under a unified security framework would undermine the safety of their people rather than enhance it.
The Elders emphasized that the Middle Belt has borne the brunt of banditry, terrorism, and communal attacks for years, often without meaningful intervention. They insist that any security cooperation must be built on trust, transparency, and a demonstrated commitment to fighting insurgency—not on political convenience.
They also reiterated that the Middle Belt’s identity and interests are distinct from the core North, and that forcing both blocs into a single security structure ignores the underlying tensions, historical injustices, and present-day realities in the region.
The Forum is now calling for an independent Middle Belt Security Network—one structured around community vigilance, state collaboration, and federal support—rather than a joint arrangement they believe could compromise their people’s lives.
This latest rejection deepens the ongoing debate over regional security models and highlights the widening political rift between the Middle Belt and the core Northern establishment.
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