Ahead of the 2019 general elections in the country, the Middle Belt Forum (MBF) has vowed that the people of the North-Central zone will not work with other parts of Northern Nigeria.

The Chairman of the MBF, Bala Takaya stated this in Jos, the Plateau State capital on Wednesday at a one-day summit with the theme ‘Political and Security Situation of Middle Belt: The Need for Roadmap.’

While citing the recent handshake across the Niger by leaders of the South-South, South-East and South-West, Takaya said the decision to severe relations with the North was to ensure that the zone was recognised as an important region in the country in the build-up to 2019 and a reaction to the security situation in the North-Central.

“The handshake across the Niger especially with South-South, South-East and South-West is to address salient issues affecting the zones. We are not standing aloof, we are working together in the struggle for equitable Nigeria through restructuring,” Takaya said.

“Leaders from these regions of the country were received by the leadership of the Middle Belt in Benue State in solidarity with the people and government of Benue State over the recent killings.

“We have solid relationship and we are in support of what the Benue State governor is doing. He should not waiver, an attack on one is an attack on all.”

He called on the youth of the geo-political zone to be more proactive in defending their God-given land as according to him, the zone is currently vulnerable to attacks by herdsmen because the youth were not united and hence lack the synergy needed to forestall the attacks.

“Middle Belt youths must work together to overcome these challenges. The zone now is under the carpet. In some states, you have to be their surrogates to win elections in spite of your strength and population. If you win, it can be upturned but I believe all these can stop if our youths are united for common front,” Takaya added.

The keynote speaker at the conference and a former gubernatorial aspirant in Kwara state, John Dara called for the unity of the zone and unalloyed support for all its elected public office holders.

Dara said the youth of the zone should form a Middle Belt Frontier Force to defend their territory from attacks from outside, urging them not to lament or wait until they are appointed into positions of authority before playing their part.