The Southern and Middle Belt Leaders Forum (SMBLF) has strongly opposed any form of foreign military intervention in Nigeria, despite growing terrorist attacks nationwide.
This stance follows US President Donald Trump’s threat to deploy American troops to Nigeria over alleged persecution and killings of Christians.
The SMBLF described the US designation of Nigeria as a “Country of Particular Concern” as a serious warning signal, urging the government to take urgent action to halt the ongoing mayhem and killings.
Call for Government Action
The SMBLF urged the government to confront the issues head-on by disarming and prosecuting militias, killer herdsmen, and extremist groups responsible for violence.
They also demanded the return of occupied ancestral lands to rightful owners across affected states, including Benue, Plateau, Kaduna, Taraba, Gombe, Borno, and Kebbi.
The group welcomed the recent shake-up in the military but called for further reforms in the national security structure.
National Security Restructuring
The SMBLF suggested that President Bola Tinubu should extend the reform to the Office of the National Security Adviser, the Minister of Defence, and the Minister of State for Defence, noting that all three currently hail from the same region.
This restructuring, they argued, would ensure a comprehensive overhaul of the national defence architecture while reflecting Nigeria’s diversity.
Promoting National Unity and Reconciliation
The SMBLF reaffirmed its commitment to Nigeria’s unity and peaceful coexistence, calling for fairness and inclusion of all ethnic groups. The group also urged President Tinubu to release IPOB leader Nnamdi Kanu to promote reconciliation and national healing.
Additionally, the leaders endorsed the continuation of the presidency in the South by 2027, in line with Nigeria’s rotational power agreement.
