Northern groups, Middle Belt Forum, Ijaw Leaders, others to FG: No political will to decimate terrorists,
•Urge sustained crackdown on terrorism sponsors
By Samuel Oyadongha; Peter Duru; Egufe Yafugborhi; Emma Unah; Ochuko Akuopha; Steve Oko; Daniel Abia & Ibrahim Hassan-Wuyo
Kaduna-based Islamic scholar, Sheikh Abubakar Gumi, a couple of days ago, stirred the hornets’ nest when he claimed that the Nigerian government was aware of the identities and locations of terrorists operating in the country. Gumi, who made the allegation while speaking during a recent interview with DRTV was responding to suggestions that he personally knows and interacts with terrorists and that he advocates on their behalf. He categorically asserted that “the government knows every terrorist by name and by location”, declaring that he had always gone to negotiate with terrorists accompanied by the police, the military and other security agencies. His assertion has remained unchallenged by the relevant authorities. In their reactions however, security experts, activists and other stakeholders argued that the Islamic cleric was right in his assertion and tasked the government to muster the political will to deal decisively with the terrorists who have been terrorising Nigerians for two decades. They also urged the government to immediately prosecute all the sponsors of terrorism who are well known to the authorities.
Inaction points to complicity —Prof. Okaba
Reacting to Sheikh Gumi’s assertion, the President of the Ijaw National Congress (INC), Prof. Benjamin Okaba, said: “To me, this is an extremely grave and weighty allegation coming from a respected Islamic scholar like Sheikh Abubakar Gumi. Unfortunately, it is not a novel one; it echoes frustrations that have been voiced for years by traditional rulers, religious leaders, and even some retired military officers.
“If we take these claims at face value—that the government indeed knows the identities and hideouts of these criminal elements—then we are forced to move beyond a conversation about capacity and into a deeply troubling discussion about complicity and vested interests. When a government lacks the political will to confront a clear and present danger, it suggests one of two things: either there are powerful individuals within the system profiting from the chaos, or the state has been so deeply infiltrated that its apparatus no longer functions in the interest of the majority of its citizens.
“From a sociological perspective, this points to a profound failure of the social contract. The primary duty of any government is the security of life and property. When citizens believe—rightly or wrongly—that the government possesses the information to stop the killing and kidnapping but chooses not to act, it erodes the very legitimacy of the state. People begin to lose faith in the institutions meant to protect them, which leads to self-help, the proliferation of armed local vigilantes, and a further breakdown of law and order.
“This brings us to the critical question: why the lack of political will? One must interrogate the political economy of insecurity. In a country where security votes are opaque and the defence budget is one of the largest in Africa, perpetual low-level conflict becomes a lucrative enterprise for a cabal of political and security elites. Furthermore, instability often serves as a tool for political manipulation, population displacement, and economic control in specific regions. Therefore, my reaction is one of deep concern, but not surprise. The government must understand that it cannot manage the perception of this war forever. To regain the trust of the citizenry, it must move beyond denials and rhetoric. If Sheikh Gumi or anyone else possesses credible intelligence, the security agencies must be mandated to act on it decisively and transparently. The time for half-measures and selective enforcement of the law is over. We have reached a point where the cost of this inaction is nothing less than the soul of the Nigerian nation.”
Political will needed to dismantle terrorists criminal networks — Coalition of Northern Groups
In its reaction, the Coalition of Northern Groups called on the Federal Government to intensify efforts to identify and prosecute individuals sponsoring terrorism across the country. In a statement, the National President of the coalition, Jamilu Aliyu Charanci, said “the persistent violence in several communities in the region has been sustained by networks of collaborators, informants and financiers who must be identified and brought to justice. Recent comments attributed to Islamic scholar Abubakar Gumi have further drawn attention to the longstanding concerns about the existence of sponsors and collaborators aiding terrorist and bandit groups.
“If credible intelligence exists regarding the identities or locations of such individuals, Nigerians expect concrete action from security agencies. Long before now, we have consistently called on the Federal Government to expose and prosecute those sponsoring terrorism and banditry. Nigeria already has established security institutions responsible for counter-terrorism operations, what is required is strong political will, transparency and a deliberate effort to dismantle criminal networks operating both in rural and urban areas. Tackling the root causes of terrorism would require not only military operations against armed groups but also a sustained crackdown on those who provide them with funding, information and other forms of support”.
There is more to insurgency in this country — Akpaisong
According to Ms. Nkoyo Akpaisong, a lawyer, “We have always known that there is more to insurgency in this country. The painful part is that our young men and women are being sent to die needlessly in a fight orchestrated by greed and wickedness. Our people are dying in the military every hour because they are ill-equipped, poorly paid, and plagued by treachery. Our people are being kidnapped, tortured, and killed, and those at the top are collecting billions of naira every month in the name of ‘security votes. For 19 years, we have been fighting these insurgents and yet have not been able to make any headway. The terrorists seem more well-armed. The remnants of ISWAP that a few years ago came from Iraq and Libya to join Boko Haram in terrorizing Nigeria were roundly defeated and sent packing from those countries in a few years. They are having a field day here because of collusion and treachery from within.
“I sincerely feel Gumi knows the locations of the terrorists and those behind their activities in Nigeria. That is why he has the confidence to meet with them and also function as a go-between for them (the insurgents) and the authorities. Now that it has come from his lips openly—that the Nigerian government has all along known where these people are—he should provide Nigerians with their location too. Since those in authority do not want to eliminate them, perhaps we, the ordinary people, can go and face the terrorists.
“The Nigerian Civil War lasted for just three years. Nigerian soldiers sent to Liberia and Sierra Leone did not die in as great numbers as those who have been killed in the fight against terrorism these past two decades. The carnage is just too high and must stop. Gumi has the answer and must tell us. He should tell us where these people are operating from.”
President should wield the big stick – Ambakederimo
In his submission, Joseph Ambakederimo, Convener of the South South Reawakening Group (SSRG), said: “If Sheikh Gumi knows the identity of the terrorists, then the onus lies on him to make the identities of these people available to the government, lest he be identified as an accomplice and the necessary instruments of the law be invoked against him. It is some of these reckless talks and the politicization of insecurity that has emboldened the terrorists. Our utterances have given the terrorists the leverage to ride roughshod over the nation and embarrass the government. The era of using kid gloves on the terrorist groups and their sympathizers should be over. The red line has been crossed many times, and the President should wield the big stick.”
The solution lies in political will of the government —Omare
Also, Eric Omare, a legal practitioner and former President of the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) Worldwide, said: “In my opinion, there is nothing special about this allegation. It is something that the ordinary Nigerian is aware of. The reason is that there is no way terrorists or militants can occupy any territory without the knowledge of the security agencies. That is why my position is that the dividing line between terrorism and the solution to ending it lies in the political will of the government. Once the government summons the political will, the problem will be addressed.”
Nobody has debunked Gumi’s allegation – Adima
Also speaking, Mr. Blessing Adima, an activist, said: “Nobody has come out to say that what Gumi has said is not correct. Nigerians are crying. We need help from the international community. This government is not ready to deal with terrorism. The government has shown a lack of willingness; the military has shown lack of capacity. And we, the citizens who value lives, are calling for full-scale international military intervention to stop terrorism in Nigeria.”
Lack of political will, infiltration fuel insecurity——Middle Belt Forum
The National President of the The Middle Belt Forum (MBF), Dr. Bitrus Pogu, who reacted to Gumi’s statement, said the cleric only stated the obvious, maintaining that security forces have always known where terrorists and other criminal elements operate across the country.
According to him, “The security forces have always known where the bandits are located. It is unfortunate that this situation persists, either because of a lack of political will or the growing infiltration of the security network by people who believe in the dangerous ideology of insurgency and use religion as a tool to perpetrate evil against Nigerians. Nigeria’s security architecture has the capacity and intelligence needed to track criminal elements and dismantle their operations. Nigeria has satellites, and the movements of these criminals can easily be tracked by the government. Surveillance drones are also available, and the government can afford them.
“We have always maintained that our security agencies are capable of handling the situation, but over time, infiltration of the security system by agents of these criminals has occurred. Some of these people occupy high positions in government and within the security agencies, and they are aiding and abetting this criminality. How can it be that with all the modern facilities available, we have still lost many commanding officers within the last few weeks? These criminals continue to move freely despite available intelligence and are able to override military formations. Whatever game they are playing, I can assure you that intelligence is already available on who is doing what. When the time comes, which will soon become clear to everyone, the facts will be before all Nigerians to see”.
Gumi is right – Nasiru Braimah, security expert
A retired Commander of Narcotics with the NDLEA and currently Director of Operations at Prime Verse Royal, a security consulting firm, Nasiru Braimah, said: “When you say the government has a hand in insecurity, in broader terms, the government is ubiquitous and must share the blame for insecurity. That bandits cohabit with the government in some states cannot be ruled out. We have seen instances where bandits claimed that some state governors harbour them. Who is fooling who? Of course, the government does not have the political will to tame them because of corruption. It will be very difficult to dislodge terrorists because they have gained ground in all nooks and crannies of northern states. Gumi is very right in his assertion because he is part and parcel of them. His involvement in negotiations gives a clearer insight into government involvement”.
Gumi, FG playing games over insecurity in Nigeria – ‘Corporal Nwafor’
Mr Sasa Ugwumba Nwoke, popularly known as “Corporal Nwafor” for his bravery during the Nigerian-Biafra war, questioned Gumi’s sudden decision to speak out. He said, “Why is it only now that Gumi has chosen to speak? Why now? Sheikh Gumi and the federal government are playing games. This shows they don’t love this country. Those in power who know the identities and locations of the terrorists but do nothing should be in prison for destroying lives. If Gumi’s claims are true, it means the federal government is complicit in the killings of Nigerians. God will never forgive them.”
FG, Gumi have a case to answer——Archbishop Opoko
Archbishop Chibuzor Opoko of the Umuahia Methodist Diocese echoed Nwafor’s concerns, insisting that both Gumi and government officials implicated in the claims “have a case to answer.”
According to him, “Sheikh Gumi has been mediating between terrorists and the federal government. If someone in that position now says that the government knows about the terrorists’ activities, there could be legitimacy in his claims. Those who have knowledge of massacres, IDP camp crises, and atrocities against women, including pregnant women, and remain silent, are answerable to God. The federal government must investigate these serious allegations. Anyone involved should resign and face justice”.
NYCN urges stronger political will
Also, the Northern Youth Council of Nigeria called for stronger political commitment and greater deployment of modern technology in Nigeria’s fight against terrorism. The National President of the council, Isah Abubakar, said that while the country has made significant investments in military hardware and security operations, the persistence of violent attacks in several regions continues to raise concerns among citizens. According to him, “the ongoing security challenges require not only improved intelligence but also decisive action against criminal networks responsible for attacks and kidnappings. Improved deployment of surveillance tools, alongside better coordination among security agencies, could help reduce risks faced by troops operating in remote forest areas often used as hideouts by armed groups. Transparency, accountability and sustained political commitment remain essential to addressing insecurity and restoring public confidence in the country’s security institutions.
“Tackling terrorism requires a comprehensive strategy that includes effective intelligence gathering, community cooperation, technological support and the prosecution of individuals found to be aiding criminal networks”.
The post Northern groups, Middle Belt Forum, Ijaw Leaders, others to FG: No political will to decimate terrorists appeared first on Vanguard News.
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•Urge sustained crackdown on terrorism sponsors By Samuel Oyadongha; Peter Duru; Egufe Yafugborhi; Emma Unah; Ochuko Akuopha; Steve Oko; Daniel Abia & Ibrahim Hassan-Wuyo Kaduna-based Islamic scholar, Sheikh Abubakar Gumi, a couple of days ago, stirred the hornets’ nest when he claimed that the Nigerian government was aware of the identities and locations of terrorists operating in […]
The post Northern groups, Middle Belt Forum, Ijaw Leaders, others to FG: No political will to decimate terrorists appeared first on Vanguard News.
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