SMBLF Issues Stern Warning to FG Over National Insecurity, Rejects Emergency Rule in Rivers State
By Exponent News, Akure | June 19, 2025
The Southern and Middle Belt Leaders Forum (SMBLF) has issued a scathing communiqué at the end of its emergency meeting held on Wednesday, June 18, 2025, declaring that Nigeria is on the brink of collapse due to the Federal Government’s continued failure to ensure the safety of lives and property. The forum condemned what it described as “genocidal attacks” by Fulani terrorists and their foreign allies, particularly in Benue State and other parts of the Middle Belt.
In a strongly worded resolution, the forum accused both the Federal Government and the National Assembly of gross negligence, stating that their inaction has emboldened terrorists to overrun indigenous communities. The communiqué calls for urgent decentralization of Nigeria’s policing system, allowing states to establish independent police commands and deploy officers within their states of origin. The forum also rejected the proposed National Forest Guards, labeling it another ploy to expand federal control over state resources, especially land.
The SMBLF warned that if these security reforms are not urgently implemented, citizens may be forced to resort to self-defense, including arming themselves against further attacks. “The current unitary security structure is a sham that renders state governors powerless, while citizens are massacred,” the statement read.
The forum also took a firm stance against the reintroduction of the controversial RUGA settlement scheme under any guise, especially as allegedly planned in Plateau State. They described it as a disguised attempt to seize ancestral lands for nomadic Fulani herders, including foreigners.
On the political crisis in Rivers State, the SMBLF declared the recent imposition of emergency rule as illegal and damaging to democracy. The forum demanded an immediate return to democratic governance and condemned all actions taken by the military-appointed administrator as unconstitutional and null.
SMBLF further urged the National Assembly to assert its oversight role and resist any unconstitutional manipulation of state institutions. It warned that any attempt to subvert democratic processes in Rivers State would be vigorously opposed by Nigerians committed to democracy.
The emergency meeting was attended by key leaders from Afenifere, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, PANDEF, and the Middle Belt Forum, including Senator Kofoworola Bucknor-Akerele, Chief Nnia Nwodo, Hon. Bassey Ekefre, Chief Sola Ebiseni, and Dr. Bitrus Pogu, among others.
The communiqué concluded with a thunderous declaration: “Enough is enough!”
Full text
BEING THE COMMUNIQUE ISSUED AT THE END OF THE EMERGENCY MEETING OF THE SOUTHERN AND MIDDLE-BELT LEADERS FORUM (SMBLF) ON THE STATE OF THE NATION.
1.00 PREAMBLE
COMMUNIQUE ISSUED AT THE END OF THE EMERGENCY MEETING OF THE SOUTHERN AND MIDDLE-BELT LEADERS FORUM (SMBLF) ON THE STATE OF THE NATION, HELD ON WEDNESDAY 18TH JUNE 2025.
1.00 PREAMBLE
1.01 At the Emergency Meeting of the Southern and Middle Belt Leaders Forum (SMBLF) held on Wednesday the 18th day of June 2025 issues on the state of the Nation were discussed at the end of which this Communique was issued.
2.00 National Security.
2.01 The Federal Government of Nigeria and particularly the National Assembly must now accept their failure to provide the most fundamental security of life and property across the country whilst we witness the impunity of Fulani terrorists and their foreign collaborators wrecking genocidal attacks on indigenous communities across the nation and particularly in the Middle Belt region as happening currently in Benue state.
2.02 For the umpteenth time, SMBLF calls on the President and the National Assembly to rise to their constitutional responsibility and duty to protect life and property of Nigerians as we propose as follows:
(1) That the Nigerian federation should ensure enhanced autonomy of the federating states such that each state shall have its own independent Police Command with complimentary Divisions at the Local Government and community levels.
(2) That all police officers from the rank of a Chief Superintendent and below should be deployed within their state of origin.
(3) That MBLF condemns the planned National Forest Guards as an additional Federal Security structure in the states and DEMANDS that all security institutions or formations apart from the armed forces, police, civil defence and the State Security Services should be part of the security architecture of the states, more so as lands and forests are exclusive constitutional prerogatives of the federating states.
(4) That SMBLF condemns the rituals of fire-brigade deployment of members of the armed forces to troubled areas spread across the country as ineffective and put unnecessary pressures on the military from its constitutional roles of defending the nations territorial integrity.
(5) That pending full-fledged restructuring towards true federalism, governments of the states of the federation should take immediate measures to provide security for their people in the nature of the Amotekun South West Security Network with the full compliments of weapons to face and deter insurgency and terrorism.
(6) That these security measures are considered more effective than the current unitary architecture in a Federation which renders Governors as Chief Security Officers of their states only in name.
(7) That states with prevailing culture of animal husbandry and with the assistance of the Federal Government should encourage ranching within their territories but the SMBLF REJECTS unequivocally the re-introduction of RUGA or howsoever described with a view to discriminatingly acquire land in states for private businesses as being now illegally proposed for Plateau State. It is an invitation to occupation of indigenous people’s lands for nomadic Fulani herds families in Nigeria and beyond.
(8) That Government should immediately liberate occupied communities by terrorist herdsmen and put an end to the shameful policy of creating IDP Camps for indigenous peoples while their communities are taken over by invaders including foreign nationals.
(9) That the President and the National Assembly should treat these issues with the utmost urgency it deserves such that Nigeria as a sovereign state shall be saved the unenviable image of a banana and prospective failed State
10. That these proposals should be the irreducible minimum as the alternative to calling out the people to take their destinies in their hands and procure instruments of self-defence from wherever possible if this carnage persists.
3.00 EMERGENCY RULE IN RIVERS STATE.
3.01 SMBLF reiterates that the state of emergency declared in Rivers State is illegal and of no utilitarian value in a democratic state and calls that it be immediately terminated particularly because of the irreversible damaging effects it portends for our democratic journey and welfare of the people generally.
3.02 SMBLF considers any appointment into state agencies and Local Governments or attempts to conduct elections by the military Administrator as illegal and that Rivers State be returned to normal democratic dispensation without further delay.
3.03 SMBLF also calls on the National Assembly to uphold their oversight responsibilities with dignity and without compromise. Attempts by the Interim Administrator to impose his choices on the constitutional structures of the State must not be tolerated as such actions will be perceived as prejudicing amicable resolutions and prematurely ambushing democratic freedom of citizens of the State.
ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!!ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!!!
Delegates in attendance:
H. E Senator Kofoworola Bucknor-Akerele, former Deputy Governor of Lagos State—–Afenifere
Chief Nnia Nwodo
Former President-General, Ohanaeze.
Hon Bassey Ekefre
Deputy National Chairman, Pandef
Prince Okey Nwadinobi. Deputy President-General
Chief Sola Ebiseni
Secretary General, Afenifere.
Mr Luka Binnyat
National Publicity Secretary, Middle Belt Forum.
H.E Emeka Sibeudu Secretary-General, Ohanaeze.
Mark Jacob Nzamah Esq, National Legal Adviser, Middle Belt Forum.
Engr Bekinbo Dagogo-Jack.
National Secretary, Pandef.
Emmanuel Alamu
National Organising Secretary, Middle Belt Forum.
Signed:
Afenifere -HRM Oba Oladipo Olaitan
Middle Belt Forum -Dr. Bitrus Pogu
Ohanaeze Ndigbo World-Wide -Senator John Azuta-Mbata
PANDEF…Amb. Godknows Igal
