The Conference of Autochthonous Ethnic Nationalities Community Development Associations, CONAECDA, warned yesterday that forests and grazing reserves across Nigeria have become operational bases for terrorist groups and armed criminals.
At a briefing in Jos, CONAECDA's Secretary-General Suleman Sukukum and President Danladi Jeji said attacks in Niger, Kwara, and Kogi states proved insecurity was spreading rapidly to new areas. Violent incidents continue in Benue, Plateau, Nasarawa, Taraba, Borno, Adamawa, Bauchi, and Kaduna states, they said.
"There are reports indicating that nearly all forests and grazing reserves across the country now host sleeper cells or active terrorist groups," the leaders stated. They expressed particular concern about a massive influx of herders into remote parts of the Federal Capital Territory, saying this posed serious security threats to Abuja residents and surrounding communities.
The death of a top Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) commander recently underscored Nigeria's growing strategic importance within the global terrorist network, CONAECDA said. However, the group rejected attempts to politicise or ethnicise insecurity, insisting that both Christians and Muslims have been victims of terrorist attacks. Terrorist groups exploit religious, ethnic, and political differences to recruit members and sustain operations, they argued.
On the indigene-settler debate, CONAECDA maintained that native rights and traditional identities remain legally recognised within Nigeria's governance structure and should not be eroded under universal citizenship claims. Local governments and traditional institutions remain the recognised authorities for issuing indigene certificates, the group said, adding that Plateau State and the Middle Belt should not be treated differently from other regions.
CONAECDA noted the Constitution guarantees every Nigerian the right to contest elective offices anywhere in the country, provided they have electoral support. The organisation accused some political actors of suppressing indigenous communities' aspirations through control of political structures and urged affected groups to organise democratically to reclaim their rights. It called on the Independent National Electoral Commission to ensure free, fair, and credible elections ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Meanwhile, the Joint Task Force headquarters for Operation HADIN KAI in the North-East raised alarm yesterday over possible terror attacks during Eid-el-Kabir celebrations. Spokesman Lt.-Col. Sani Uba said credible intelligence indicated Boko Haram and ISWAP remnants could exploit the festive period to attack crowded locations using suicide bombers and improvised explosive devices. Security forces are heightening surveillance in densely populated areas across the North-East ahead of the celebrations.
