The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) has raised concerns over the continued attacks on truck drivers transporting goods from the North to the South-East.

The group accused suspected members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and the Eastern Security Network (ESN) of being responsible for these violent incidents.

In a statement, ACF’s National Publicity Secretary, Professor Tukur Muhammad-Baba, said that truck drivers were being attacked, their vehicles burned, and their goods stolen. He warned that these attacks pose a serious threat to national security, which could lead to chaos in the country.

The ACF criticized security agencies and the government for failing to address the situation. It alleged that the attackers openly claim to be IPOB and ESN members and target only northerners and northern-owned property. Some of these attackers even share videos of their violent acts on social media.

The group also pointed out that the National Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO) and the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) recently protested in Plateau State to highlight the issue. Reports claim that over the past eight years, more than 50 drivers and about 100 trailers have been burned.

The ACF expressed disappointment over the silence of the federal and state governments. It fully supports NARTO and NURTW’s plan to stop transporting goods to and from the South-East until the security situation improves.

The group also called on security agencies to take action, urging them to bring the attackers to justice. Additionally, it advised the government to declare a state of emergency over the issue.

ACF further demanded that the Enugu and Imo state governments compensate the families of those killed and injured, as well as those who lost their goods in the attacks. It also urged South-East leaders to speak up and condemn the violence.

The forum extended its condolences to the victims’ families and urged authorities to act swiftly to prevent further violence.