Northern Youths Coalition, a civil society organisation, lamented that insecurity in the region was affecting economic development.

The coalition stated that the insecurity of the north has pushed it backwards several years.

In a joint statement, President Ishyaku Bello and Secretary Gaius Gyang called for the region's people to cooperate with the military to end the insecurity in the North.

“Presently, it is a risk to make a meaningful economic investment in the Northern region. This insecurity has taken the North several years backward. We cannot continue like this.

“We appeal to our people in that region to cooperate with the Armed Forces of Nigeria to ensure life returns to normal and means of livelihood are restored.

“We also appeal to the insurgents to lay down arms or face the wrath of the law when apprehended by the military. The military has shown that unrepentant criminals will not have a breathing space,” they said.

However, they congratulated Gen. Lucky Irabor (Chief of Defence Staff) on the award of the Commander of the Order of the Federal Republic.

They claim that the CDS is a man who has demonstrated total dedication to the cause for a peaceful Nigeria.