The Southern Kaduna Autochthonous Community Development Associations Forum on Tuesday raised a strong alarm over fresh threats by terrorists, militias, and bandits to launch coordinated attacks on communities in Kachia, Chikun, and Kajuru Local Government Areas.

In a press statement issued by its Chairman, Dr Samuel T. Achie, the Forum said intelligence about the planned attacks has been circulating in the media over the past four days, sparking fear across the region.

The group expressed deep concern that similar threats in the past decade have almost always been followed by deadly assaults, leading to loss of lives, mass abductions, and the destruction of entire communities.

The Forum lamented what it described as a lack of visible and decisive action by federal, state, and local authorities to neutralise the threats, warning that hundreds of residents have already been kidnapped in the affected areas within the last three months.

Describing the situation as urgent, the group called on government and security agencies to act swiftly to prevent a repeat of past tragedies.

It urged the Kaduna State Government to strengthen security presence in vulnerable communities and fulfil earlier commitments to provide critical infrastructure such as roads, healthcare facilities, and security posts to improve access for security operatives.

The Forum also appealed to political leaders and appointees from Southern Kaduna to unite and work with community stakeholders in developing a comprehensive strategy for lasting peace.

It stressed the need for collaboration among neighbouring local government councils to eliminate safe havens for criminal groups across the region.

While rejecting claims that local collaborators are responsible for the violence, the Forum maintained that anyone found aiding criminal elements should be treated as such, insisting that this must not excuse security agencies from carrying out their duties.

The group further linked the renewed threats to the build-up to the 2027 general elections, alleging that attacks in the past were used to suppress voter turnout in Southern Kaduna, warning that ongoing insecurity and displacement could again disenfranchise thousands of residents.

In a controversial note, the Forum called on communities under threat to remain vigilant and take necessary steps to protect their lives and ancestral lands while also urging stronger partnerships between government and community associations to enhance local security efforts.

Reiterating its commitment to peace, the Forum emphasised that addressing developmental challenges and youth unemployment in Southern Kaduna would play a critical role in achieving long-term stability in the region. (The Sun)