The Joint Action Committee of Northern Youth Associations (JACON) has condemned the sealing of the national headquarters of the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) by operatives of the Nigeria Police Force, describing the action as illegal and unconstitutional.
In a statement jointly signed by Muhammad Isa, Director of Public and Strategic Communication of JACON, and the group’s Secretary, Comrade Raphael Terkolar, they stated that the closure of the ACF headquarters represented “a dangerous assault on the rule of law, fundamental rights of association, and the sanctity of civil society organization's in Northern Nigeria.”
The youth groups said there was no justification for the shutdown of the ACF office without due legal process.
“This draconian action… represents a dangerous assault on the rule of law,” the statement said, adding that the development was being viewed “not as an isolated act but as a calculated pattern of intimidation against voices of reason and conscience in our region.”
JACON accused the police of exceeding its constitutional powers, insisting that sealing a private property and civil society office without a court order amounted to abuse of power.
The group called on the Inspector-General of Police to identify and sanction officers allegedly involved in the action.
“We strongly condemn the Nigeria Police Force for overstepping its constitutional mandate,” the statement added.
The youth coalition further alleged that the action may have been aimed at silencing the ACF over its positions on governance and national issues.
It urged the leadership of the ACF to institute legal action against the Nigeria Police Force and any other parties connected to the sealing of the headquarters.
According to the group, the ACF should seek judicial pronouncement declaring the action unlawful and resist “any backdoor negotiations that legitimise the act.”
JACON also warned that northern youths may mobilise for peaceful protests and civil action should the ACF headquarters remain sealed.
The development comes amid an ongoing leadership crisis within the ACF, which has pitched the Board of Trustees (BOT) against the National Executive Committee (NEC) over tenure disputes, constitutional interpretation and allegations of financial misconduct.
The internal rift has led to parallel claims of legitimacy by both camps, further deepening tensions within the influential northern socio-political organisation.
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