The Middle Belt Forum (MBF) has rejected the newly established Northern Nigeria Security Trust Fund (NNSTF), describing it as unacceptable to the people of the Middle Belt and warning that it will challenge the legality of state governments contributing N1 billion monthly to the initiative.
In a statement issued on Tuesday by its National Spokesman, Luka Binniyat, the group said while it supports the creation of state police and genuine efforts to combat terrorism, banditry, kidnapping and other violent crimes, it opposes the decision of Northern governors to commit public funds to the regional security trust fund.
The NNSTF Board of Trustees was inaugurated on July 8, 2026.
Grievances Over Losses and Perceived Neglect
The MBF argued that the Middle Belt has suffered the highest human and economic losses from years of insecurity across Northern Nigeria, with thousands killed, hundreds of communities destroyed, millions of hectares of farmland abandoned, and countless families displaced.
According to the group, despite the devastating impact of the violence, the Northern States Governors’ Forum had failed to consistently condemn attacks on Middle Belt communities or demonstrate solidarity with victims.
“The painful truth is that throughout these years of bloodshed, the Northern States Governors’ Forum has rarely spoken with one voice to condemn the repeated massacres of Middle Belt communities. Many victims have never received solidarity visits from the governors despite suffering some of the worst atrocities in Nigeria’s history,” the statement said.
Call for State-Level Investment
The forum maintained that governors should deploy any funds earmarked for the NNSTF to strengthen security within their respective states instead of contributing to a regional pool. It further alleged that the security trust fund was designed to advance the interests of the Sokoto Caliphate and Borno Sultanate rather than effectively address insecurity.
“The MBF believes that the idea of the NNSTF is a well-crafted design by the Sokoto Caliphate and Borno Sultanate to raise funds to be deployed to promote their interest and those of the terrorists that the fund was supposed to fight,” the statement added.
Challenge to the Northern Region’s Existence
The group also questioned the continued participation of Middle Belt governors in the Northern States Governors’ Forum, arguing that the old Northern Region ceased to exist following the abolition of regional governments in 1966.
“As far as we are concerned there is no such thing as the Northern Region. It was a vexatious, exploitative, suppressive and backward creation of colonial rule which died in 1966 with the abolition of regional government,” the statement read.
Legal Action and Alternative Proposals
The MBF said it would institute legal action to challenge the withdrawal of public funds for the NNSTF. According to the group, if states can afford to contribute N1 billion monthly, the money should instead be invested in community-based security initiatives, intelligence gathering, surveillance technology, emergency response systems, and collaboration with approved security agencies.
It also urged governors to prioritise rebuilding communities destroyed by violence, rehabilitating schools and hospitals, compensating victims, and permanently resettling internally displaced persons.
Concerns Over “Repentant” Terrorists
The forum expressed concern that the trust fund could eventually be used to finance the rehabilitation of “repentant” terrorists and bandits while victims of violence continue to receive little or no support. It further stated that the Middle Belt did not create the terrorist groups operating in Northern Nigeria and argued that those who understand the origins of such criminal networks are within the core North.
The MBF therefore called on governors of Middle Belt states to establish their own regional security framework to address what it described as “the genocide originating from the Sokoto/Borno Caliphate.”
Call for Withdrawal and Citizen Opposition
It stressed that lasting peace could not be achieved through funding alone but required justice, accountability, effective prosecution of criminals and strong political will. The forum called on governors of Middle Belt states to withdraw from the Northern Nigeria Security Trust Fund and urged citizens across the region to oppose any financial contributions to the initiative.
“Let every state invest its resources directly in protecting its people, rebuilding destroyed communities, supporting victims of violence and restoring hope to citizens who have paid the highest price for insecurity,” the statement concluded.
