Nigerian security chiefs, including the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Christopher Musa, Chief of Army Staff, Lt-Gen. Olufemi Oluyede, Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Hassan Abubakar, Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla, and Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, are facing growing scrutiny as terrorism and banditry continue to escalate across the country. These security leaders, along with the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, Minister of Defence, Mohammed Badaru, and Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, are under intense pressure after a wave of violent attacks claimed over 250 lives in recent weeks.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

In Plateau State, at least 113 people were killed when suspected Fulani militants raided several villages in the Bokkos and Bassa local government areas. Meanwhile, in Benue State, an attack by armed herders resulted in 55 deaths, exacerbating the already dire situation. Additionally, a new terror group, Mahmuda, has claimed responsibility for the deaths of 15 vigilantes and villagers in Kwara State, further highlighting the growing insecurity.

Notorious bandit leader Bello Turji continues to wreak havoc in the North-West, despite a directive from President Bola Tinubu for military chiefs to focus on eliminating Turji and his group. Critics claim the military has made little progress in capturing Turji, who is responsible for numerous attacks and kidnappings in the region.

Civil society organizations and lawmakers are increasingly vocal in their criticism of the government’s inaction. Usman Anache, Secretary-General of the Association for Peace and Good Governance, expressed outrage over the continued killings, while Representative Daniel Asama of the Bassa/Jos North constituency accused security agencies of failing to act on intelligence about the attackers.

Security experts, including retired General Ishola Williams, argue that the current leadership is more focused on maintaining their positions than addressing the root causes of insecurity. Kabir Adamu, a security consultant, emphasized the lack of coordination among security agencies, which has allowed criminals to exploit gaps in the system.

As calls for greater accountability grow, the National President of the Committee for the Defence of Human Rights (CDHR), Debo Adeniran, has demanded that the service chiefs be given specific security targets and dismissed if they fail to meet them. Patrick Agbamu, CEO of Security Watch Africa, called for improved resources for security forces to ensure they can effectively combat these threats.

Retired Lieutenant Colonel Abdulwahab Ademola has warned that replacing the service chiefs may not solve the problem and called for a national security summit to explore long-term solutions. He suggested empowering local communities to defend themselves and imposing stricter measures, such as banning group motorcycles, which are frequently used by criminals.

In light of these growing concerns, experts are urging the government to take more decisive action to restore security across Nigeria.