Leaders of the Middlebelt Forum have called on the federal government to immediately implement the report of the 2014 National conference to address the various challenges facing the country and the region.
The forum after a meeting of its leaders and the inauguration of new executive members in Abuja on Thursday, also urged the government to put an immediate end to the incessant killing of people in the area and the destruction of their farmlands.
According to a communique signed by the new President of the forum, Bala Takaya and Ben Dikki, the General Secretary, the forum said the government should make changes in the nation’s security architecture.
They said the current security structure has created a feeling of alienation by peoples of the Middlebelt “as these security agencies have failed, refused or neglected to respond to distress calls of middle belt communities when under attack by herdsmen.”
"Government should immediately commence the restructuring of the nation by implementing the report of the 2014 Conference. The implementation of the 2014 National Conference will address some of the serious concerns of the peoples of the Middle Belt who feel that they have been unjustly treated in the Nigerian project.
"Adopt measures to protect citizens from gender-based discrimination and abuse, as well as the use of cultural practices to subjugate women to deny them full participation in the affairs of community and state.
They also called on government and the security agencies to bring to book individuals accused of the kidnapping, forceful conversion and marriage of girls in the Middle Belt.
