Northern Elders Condemns Massacre of Soldiers in Niger, Declares North Under Siege

DDM News

The Northern Elders Forum (NEF) has strongly condemned the brutal killing of more than 20 Nigerian soldiers in a terrorist ambush near Bangi, in Mariga Local Government Area of Niger State.

The ambush occurred on Tuesday, June 24, 2025, and has been described by the NEF as a “clear declaration of war against the Nigerian state.”

Diaspora Digital Media (DDM) reports that the attack has further exposed the extent of Nigeria’s security collapse, particularly across the northern region.

In a statement released on Saturday by the NEF’s spokesperson, Professor Abubakar Jika Jiddere, the forum expressed deep outrage over what it called a consistent pattern of state failure and abandonment of northern communities.

Jiddere described the slain soldiers as “defenders of the nation” who were “slaughtered like animals” in a “brazen, coordinated ambush” by well-armed terrorists.

He warned that this is not an isolated tragedy, but part of an “unrelenting campaign of terror, mass murder, and state failure” sweeping across Northern Nigeria.

He lamented that homes have been destroyed, communities wiped out, and innocent citizens left at the mercy of killers who roam freely and without consequence.

The NEF statement outlined the scope of the violence, mentioning simultaneous crises across Benue, Plateau, Kwara, Kaduna, Zamfara, Sokoto, Borno, and now Niger State.

According to the forum, Northern Nigeria is now effectively a war zone.

Jiddere accused the Nigerian government of “failing abysmally and consistently in its constitutional duty to protect lives and property.”

He declared that the NEF and millions of Northern citizens will no longer accept what he termed “hollow condolences, tired speeches, or sterile press releases.”

Instead, the group is demanding immediate and aggressive national action to reverse the bloodshed.

“The blood of Northern Nigerians is not cheap. Our soldiers are not cannon fodder,” Jiddere stated.

He added that continued federal inaction would only provoke widespread resistance from the people who feel abandoned and under siege.

The NEF is now calling for the urgent declaration of a State of Emergency on Security across the entire North.

The forum insists this must be followed by joint military and intelligence operations to locate and eliminate every terrorist or armed group currently threatening the region.

Jiddere said no individual, community, or politician should be allowed to shelter such groups any longer.

He further warned that the government’s legitimacy is on the line.

“A government that cannot or will not protect its citizens has lost its moral and constitutional authority,” he said.

The forum emphasized that Northern elders, leaders, and communities are rapidly losing patience with what they see as dangerous complacency from the federal government.

This recent massacre is one of many attacks on military personnel in the North, a region now plagued by increasing insurgent violence, banditry, and ethno-religious killings.

Observers say June 2025 has been one of the bloodiest months in recent northern history, marked by a surge in coordinated terrorist activity.

In response, civil society groups and community leaders have urged the federal government to overhaul the security architecture and engage local stakeholders more effectively.

However, the absence of visible and sustained security interventions has raised serious concerns about the federal government’s commitment and capacity to end the crisis.

Jiddere’s statement ends on a grave note: “The North will not kneel before terror. Enough is enough. We will not be silent.”

This declaration signals a shift in tone from the NEF, which has often opted for diplomatic appeals in the past.

Now, the group appears to be preparing for a more confrontational stance if the government fails to act decisively.

As Nigeria continues to confront insecurity nationwide, the outcry from northern elders adds further pressure on the presidency and the military to reassert control over a region drifting into lawlessness.

👇👇👇

Kindly follow our Whatsapp channel 

https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vajkwdc4dTnFHl19vW3g

For Diaspora Digital Media Updates click on Whatsapp, or Telegram. For eyewitness accounts/ reports/ articles, write to: citizenreports@diasporadigitalmedia.com. Follow us on X (Fomerly Twitter) or Facebook