The Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Saad Abubakar III, and four Northern governors, including Borno State Governor Babagana Umara Zulum, are expected to attend the security summit of the Arewa Broadcast Media Practitioners Forum (ABMPF) in Kebbi State.

National Chairman of ABMPF Alhaji Abdullahi Yelwa, who stated this in a statement made available to newsmen in Birnin Kebbi, disclosed that the summit, in collaboration with the Kebbi State Government, would be held on Monday, 10 November 2025.

According to him, “the summit, with the theme ‘The North: Existential Threats and National Security,’ is conceived as a strategic intervention aimed at addressing the escalating security challenges confronting Northern Nigeria.

“It seeks to provide a robust platform for dialogue, collaboration, and collective action among stakeholders committed to restoring peace and strengthening national cohesion.”

Yelwa explained that the Forum expressed deep concern over the devastating impact of the insecurity on lives, livelihoods, and infrastructure across the North, stressing that previous interventions have yielded only minimal and unsustainable outcomes.

According to the statement, “the 2025 summit will bring together broadcasters, policymakers, security professionals, and development partners to develop practical communication strategies capable of enhancing public trust, countering violent extremism, and supporting ongoing national security reforms.

“The quest for peace in Nigeria must be continuous, comprehensive, and coordinated. The summit will therefore rally all relevant actors to explore innovative media-driven approaches to peace building and national stability.”

The Governor of Kebbi State, according to the statement, will host the event, which will also have the Governors of Borno, Kaduna, Katsina, Niger, and Sokoto States in attendance as Special Guests, reflecting the collective commitment of Northern leaders to addressing the region’s complex security and socio-economic challenges.

Yelwa said that the summit will be chaired by His Eminence, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, the Sultan of Sokoto, while Lt. Gen. Abdulrahman Bello Dambazau (Rtd), former Chief of Army Staff and former Minister of Interior, is billed to deliver the Keynote Address.

“Over one hundred delegates drawn from radio and television stations across Northern Nigeria, alongside security experts, traditional and religious leaders, civil society organisations, and government representatives, are expected to participate in the high-level discussions.”

Yelwa said the deliberations during the summit will centre on conflict-sensitive reporting, misinformation, radicalisation, inter-agency collaboration, and the ethical obligations of broadcasters during periods of national crisis.

He said that the summit aims to reposition the broadcast media as a vital instrument for countering terrorism, promoting reconciliation, and fostering unity among Nigeria’s diverse population.

According to Yelwa, the 2025 Broadcast Media Security Summit will serve as a major milestone in reaffirming the media’s role as a stabilising force and a cornerstone of peace building in a democracy under threat from disinformation and extremism. The event will conclude with a joint communiqué outlining actionable recommendations and frameworks for sustained partnerships between media institutions, government agencies, and security actors across Northern Nigeria.

While speaking on the recent misrepresentation of insecurity in Nigeria, the ABMPF cautioned against framing the ongoing crisis along religious or ethnic lines.

“The victims of insecurity in Nigeria cut across all ethnicities, faiths, and regions,” the statement stressed. “It is, therefore, wrong to suggest that only members of a particular sect or group are being targeted. The killings ravaging parts of the country are not acts of genocide but acts of terrorism driven by criminality and extremist ideologies that must be confronted collectively.”

The Forum further warned against any attempt by individuals, groups, or external actors to undermine Nigeria’s sovereignty under the guise of advocacy or foreign interference.

“The Arewa Broadcast Media Practitioners Forum takes strong exception to any leader, group, or external entity seeking to threaten or undermine Nigeria’s sovereignty under any guise. Nigeria remains an independent, sovereign nation, fully capable of addressing its domestic challenges within the framework of its constitution and territorial integrity,” the statement concluded. (Daily Sun)