Fresh tension has emerged within the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) after police operatives sealed off the group’s secretariat in Kaduna on Tuesday.
The move prevented members of the ACF National Executive Committee (NEC) from gaining access to the venue ahead of a key meeting scheduled for Wednesday.
The development has sparked confusion and anxiety, particularly among members who had travelled from across the 19 northern states, only to be denied entry upon arrival.
Reacting to the situation, NEC member Muritala Abubakar described the police action as unjustified, maintaining that there is no internal crisis within the forum to warrant such intervention. He added that officers at the scene claimed they were acting on directives from a former Inspector General of Police, raising further concerns.
Earlier, the Chairman of the ACF Board of Trustees, Bashir Dalhatu, had declared the planned NEC meeting illegal and advised members to stay away to prevent a breakdown of law and order. He argued that the notice convening the meeting was issued by a former Secretary-General whose tenure had expired, and therefore lacked the authority to call for such a gathering.
However, the NEC leadership has insisted the meeting remains valid, citing provisions within the forum’s constitution and urging members to proceed as planned.
Despite the standoff, the forum has indicated that efforts are ongoing to resolve the situation, regain access to the secretariat, and identify those responsible for the police action.