FLASH POINT

By Shehu Yahaya

The Arewa Cohesion for Peace, Unity and Development Initiative (ACI) has called for stronger collaboration among governments, traditional rulers, religious leaders, civil society organisations, security agencies and the media to address the growing insecurity confronting Northern Nigeria.

Speaking during a pre-event press briefing in Kaduna on Sunday, the Director-General of ACI, Dr. Abdullahi Idris, said sustainable peace could only be achieved through collective action, stressing that security should not be left to government and security agencies alone.

He said the organisation was convening the Arewa Awareness Summit on Unity Against Insecurity to mobilise stakeholders towards finding practical and lasting solutions to the region’s security challenges.

According to him, the summit, themed “Unity, Cooperation and Collective Action Against Insecurity in Northern Nigeria,” will hold on Wednesday, August 5, 2026, at Arewa House, Kaduna, beginning at 10:00 a.m.

Dr. Idris noted that insecurity has continued to displace families, disrupt economic activities and threaten peaceful coexistence across Northern Nigeria, adding that the situation requires the active participation of every segment of society.

He explained that the summit would bring together policymakers, security experts, traditional rulers, religious leaders, civil society groups, youth and women organisations, academics, development partners, private sector operators and media practitioners to deliberate on strategies for tackling insecurity and strengthening unity.

“The objective is not only to discuss the security challenges facing the region but also to inspire action, strengthen collaboration among communities and institutions, encourage intelligence sharing, promote peaceful coexistence and support community-driven initiatives capable of addressing both the immediate and underlying causes of insecurity,” he said.

The ACI Director-General also underscored the role of community ownership in peacebuilding, saying every citizen, family, traditional institution, religious body, educational institution and media organisation has a responsibility to contribute to building a safer Northern Nigeria.

He described dialogue as one of the most effective tools for resolving conflicts, rebuilding trust and fostering unity among the region’s diverse communities.

Dr. Idris further appealed to media organisations to continue promoting responsible, balanced and constructive journalism, noting that accurate reporting could help counter misinformation, discourage hate speech and strengthen national cohesion.

He urged all relevant stakeholders and well-meaning Nigerians to participate actively in the summit, expressing optimism that collective efforts would promote peace, stability and sustainable development across Northern Nigeria.