Arewa People's Congress
Encyclopedia
The Arewa People's Congress (APC) is a group in Northern Nigeria
established to protect the interests of the Muslim Hausa
and Fulani
of the area. It has been described as a militant wing of the Arewa Consultative Forum
.
The group was formally launched on 13 December 1999. It was chaired by a retired army officer, Brigadier General Sagir Muhammed, who had been an operative in the Directorate of Military Intelligence. The APC has a motto "to preserve the indivisibility of the country".
The group said it would begin full self-defence training for northern residents in reaction to attacks on Hausas by the Oodua Peoples Congress
(OPC), a Yoruba pressure group in the south.
The emergence of increasingly militant groups such as the APC and OPC is one of the factors fuelling communal violence in Nigeria.
The Oodua People's Congress secretary general, Kayode Ogundamisi, has blamed the APC for the ethnic violence.
In January 2000 the Inspector General of police, Musiliu Smith
, announced a reward of N100,000 for Gani Adams, leader of the militant youth wing of the OPC. The APC promptly raised the ransom to N300,000.
Speaking to the Conference of Southern Governors in January 2001, Chimaroke Nnamani
, the governor of Enugu State
, said the emergence of these groups was due to the inability of the federal police to provide adequate policing due to shortage of manpower.
In November 2006, Sagir Muhammed described the impeachment of Plateau State
Governor Chibi Joshua Dariye as an affront.
Nigeria
Nigeria , officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal constitutional republic comprising 36 states and its Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The country is located in West Africa and shares land borders with the Republic of Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, and Niger in...
established to protect the interests of the Muslim Hausa
Hausa people
The Hausa are one of the largest ethnic groups in West Africa. They are a Sahelian people chiefly located in northern Nigeria and southeastern Niger, but having significant numbers living in regions of Cameroon, Ghana, Cote d'Ivoire, Chad and Sudan...
and Fulani
Fula people
Fula people or Fulani or Fulbe are an ethnic group spread over many countries, predominantly in West Africa, but found also in Central Africa and Sudanese North Africa...
of the area. It has been described as a militant wing of the Arewa Consultative Forum
Arewa Consultative Forum
The Arewa Consultative Forum is a political and cultural association of leaders in Northern Nigeria formed in 2000 which has considerable influence in the political scene...
.
The group was formally launched on 13 December 1999. It was chaired by a retired army officer, Brigadier General Sagir Muhammed, who had been an operative in the Directorate of Military Intelligence. The APC has a motto "to preserve the indivisibility of the country".
The group said it would begin full self-defence training for northern residents in reaction to attacks on Hausas by the Oodua Peoples Congress
Oodua Peoples Congress
The Oodua Peoples Congress is a militant Yoruba nationalist organization situated in Nigeria. The Yoruba people, who live in the South Western part of Nigeria, as well as neighbouring countries such as Benin, are a large ethno-linguistic group; the majority of them speak the Yoruba language...
(OPC), a Yoruba pressure group in the south.
The emergence of increasingly militant groups such as the APC and OPC is one of the factors fuelling communal violence in Nigeria.
The Oodua People's Congress secretary general, Kayode Ogundamisi, has blamed the APC for the ethnic violence.
In January 2000 the Inspector General of police, Musiliu Smith
Musiliu Smith
Alhaji Musiliu Adeola Kunbi Smith, was an Inspector General of Police of Nigeria appointed in May 1999, who retired in March 2002 following a police strike.-Background:Alhaji Musiliu Smith was born on April 17, 1946...
, announced a reward of N100,000 for Gani Adams, leader of the militant youth wing of the OPC. The APC promptly raised the ransom to N300,000.
Speaking to the Conference of Southern Governors in January 2001, Chimaroke Nnamani
Chimaroke Nnamani
Chimaroke Nnamani is a Nigerian politician from Enugu State. He was Governor of Enugu State from 1999 to 2007 and is currently a People's Democratic Party Senator for Enugu East.-Education:...
, the governor of Enugu State
Enugu State
Enugu State is a mainland state in southeastern Nigeria. Its capital is Enugu, from which the state - created in 1991 from the old Anambra State - derives its name. The principal cities in the state are Enugu, Agbani, Awgu, Udi, Oji, and Nsukka....
, said the emergence of these groups was due to the inability of the federal police to provide adequate policing due to shortage of manpower.
In November 2006, Sagir Muhammed described the impeachment of Plateau State
Plateau State
Plateau State is the twelfth largest state of Nigeria, and is roughly located in the center of the country. It is geographically unique in Nigeria because its boundaries totally surround the Jos Plateau, having the Jos Plateau totally in its central and northern part...
Governor Chibi Joshua Dariye as an affront.