IN JUNE 2009
The ACF said in the statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Anthony Sani, that it would amount to irresponsibility on the part of the Federal Government if it folded its arms and watched some “few misguided elements” hold the nation to ransom.

It said: “Nobody with a head, with a heart and with patriotic courage, can withhold support for the JTF and, thus, the Federal Government over the current campaigns against the militants. This is because no responsible government can afford to fold its hands and watch a few misguided elements of its citizens hold the nation, including their own people/communities, to ransom.
“More depressing, the will of the Armed Forces is being challenged when their members are also killed in the course of their national assignment. In such circumstances, the government cannot reasonably be expected to shirk its responsibility of maintaining law and order.

“Hence, the recent campaigns by the ‘’Operation Restore Hope’’ by the military aimed at ridding the Niger Delta region of criminal activities of militants.

“The campaigns must necessarily come with collateral damages, which the JTF must maintain at its possible minimum. That is how the current actions of the military in the Niger Delta should be viewed by all fair minded individuals with patriotic courage.”

ACF, the unbrella organisation of socio-political and cultural organisations in the North, is headed by Maj.- Gen. IBM Haruna.
“The military operations against the militants‘ camps to an extent is understandable, but the campaign against criminals and militants in civil Ijaw communities of Gbaramatu in Delta State and with a promise of extending it to other Ijaw communities in Bayelsa, Ondo and River State is clearly a cleansing agenda.[b]The ACF said in the statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Anthony Sani, that it would amount to irresponsibility on the part of the Federal Government if it folded its arms and watched some “few misguided elements” hold the nation to ransom.

It said: “Nobody with a head, with a heart and with patriotic courage, can withhold support for the JTF and, thus, the Federal Government over the current campaigns against the militants. This is because no responsible government can afford to fold its hands and watch a few misguided elements of its citizens hold the nation, including their own people/communities, to ransom.
“More depressing, the will of the Armed Forces is being challenged when their members are also killed in the course of their national assignment. In such circumstances, the government cannot reasonably be expected to shirk its responsibility of maintaining law and order.

“Hence, the recent campaigns by the ‘’Operation Restore Hope’’ by the military aimed at ridding the Niger Delta region of criminal activities of militants.

“The campaigns must necessarily come with collateral damages, which the JTF must maintain at its possible minimum. That is how the current actions of the military in the Niger Delta should be viewed by all fair minded individuals with patriotic courage.”

ACF, the unbrella organisation of socio-political and cultural organisations in the North, is headed by Maj.- Gen. IBM Haruna.
“The military operations against the militants‘ camps to an extent is understandable, but the campaign against criminals and militants in civil Ijaw communities of Gbaramatu in Delta State and with a promise of extending it to other Ijaw communities in Bayelsa, Ondo and River State is clearly a cleansing agenda.[/b]The ACF said in the statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Anthony Sani, that it would amount to irresponsibility on the part of the Federal Government if it folded its arms and watched some “few misguided elements” hold the nation to ransom.

It said: “Nobody with a head, with a heart and with patriotic courage, can withhold support for the JTF and, thus, the Federal Government over the current campaigns against the militants. This is because no responsible government can afford to fold its hands and watch a few misguided elements of its citizens hold the nation, including their own people/communities, to ransom.
“More depressing, the will of the Armed Forces is being challenged when their members are also killed in the course of their national assignment. In such circumstances, the government cannot reasonably be expected to shirk its responsibility of maintaining law and order.

“Hence, the recent campaigns by the ‘’Operation Restore Hope’’ by the military aimed at ridding the Niger Delta region of criminal activities of militants.

“The campaigns must necessarily come with collateral damages, which the JTF must maintain at its possible minimum. That is how the current actions of the military in the Niger Delta should be viewed by all fair minded individuals with patriotic courage.”

ACF, the unbrella organisation of socio-political and cultural organisations in the North, is headed by Maj.- Gen. IBM Haruna.
“The military operations against the militants‘ camps to an extent is understandable, but the campaign against criminals and militants in civil Ijaw communities of Gbaramatu in Delta State and with a promise of extending it to other Ijaw communities in Bayelsa, Ondo and River State is clearly a cleansing agenda.

IN MAY 2013

The communique signed by the Deputy National Publicity Secretary of ACF, Fati Ibrahim further reads that: “the National Executive Council of the Arewa Consultative Forum met today, the 15th of May, 2013 at its national headquarters Sokoto Road Kaduna. The meeting which was presided over by Alhaji Aliko Mohammed, the Chairman, was attended by large delegations from all the states of the North.

“After reviewing and discussing recent developments in the country, the meeting resolved to issue the following communiqué:

“The ACF takes notice of the proclamation of the state of emergency in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states by the Federal Government on the grounds that attacks and killings by insurgents and other terrorist groups require more massive military response. The meeting was concerned that the President appears to invest more faith in a military solution even where evidence from our experiences so far bears no such optimism.

“It is the hope of the ACF therefore that the Federal Government does not consider the increased military deployments as a superior option or alternative to the slower and more tedious path of dialogue, negotiation and conciliation.

“In particular, the ACF calls on the military to avoid the temptation of deploying heavy handed tactics or adopt measures that will cause increased civilian casualties and bloodshed under the cover of emergency rule. They are well advised to involve the local populace in their operational plans in order to minimize collateral civilian suffering.

http://www.adakaboro.org/resources/articles/252-acf-backs-military-operations-in-n-delta

http://ireports-ng.com/2013/05/16/boko-haram-northern-leaders-oppose-state-of-emergency-in-borno-yobe-adamawa-say-dialogue-is-better-option/

This has always been the problem we face in this country, sentimental judgement...so it was good for Military to intensify operations in Niger Delta regardless of the fact that it will cause some collateral damages but it sint good for such to be carried out on Terrorists and insurgents that have killed many innocent lives. i am not justifying the inimical acts of boko haram but comparing to that of the boko haram, every right thinking person will no that this boko haram members are by far very deadly, and deserve all what they are facing now.

i expected a respected group like the ACF to either proffer better solution and support government than come out to indirectly show their support for boko haram.

It all boils down to the insencerity of most Nigerians in the fight against insecurity, the only try to fustrate the effort of the President making him look bad, letz all contribute our own quota, and the phase of insecurity will be long forgotten.

WHAT IS GOOD FOR THE GOOSE IS GOOD FOR THE....