President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's failure to prioritize security as promised on his inauguration day has emboldened bandits and terrorists to kill and kidnap Nigerians with impunity, according to a scathing analysis by Professor Jibrin Ibrahim, a Senior Fellow at the Centre for Democracy and Development.
Symbolic Attacks on Elite Institutions
On Monday night, armed bandits engaged security personnel in a gun battle at the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS) in Kuru, Nigeria's foremost policy institute where senior government officials undergo leadership training. The attack was a political statement, demonstrating that bandits can operate unchallenged. In another symbolic incident, retired General Rabe Abubakar was kidnapped alongside his wife on May 30 along the Marabar Musawa-Kafinsoli road in Katsina State and later killed. The military managed to rescue his wife but failed to save the General, prompting questions about why action was not taken earlier.
State Resources Misallocated
Ibrahim argues that the Nigerian state is not investing sufficient resources to defeat insurgents, while the ruling class focuses on looting the treasury and destabilizing opposition parties to secure a second term for President Tinubu. He notes that a small percentage of resources used to bribe and threaten opposition politicians could have equipped the armed forces with modern weapons to defeat bandits. The government's priority, he claims, is not providing security for Nigerians but ensuring electoral dominance.
Judicial Controversy Over Party Deregistration
The article highlights a controversial Federal High Court judgment by Justice Peter Lifu that sought to deregister key opposition parties, including the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Action Peoples Party, Action Alliance, Accord Party, and Zenith Labour Party, for alleged failure to meet constitutional performance thresholds. However, the Court of Appeal reversed the decision on Monday, stating that Justice Lifu had violated a May 22 appellate court order restraining him from delivering the ruling. ADC National Chairman Senator David Mark described the move as an abuse of incumbency powers to pressure judges into making illegal rulings favoring the ruling party.
Bandits Winning the War
Ibrahim concludes that bandits and terrorists are winning the war against the Nigerian state because leaders and security personnel watch helplessly. He warns that unless the tendency is reversed, the situation will continue to deteriorate. The article calls for a reallocation of resources from political manipulation to security infrastructure and personnel.
