By Rabiu Sanusi
The Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC) has called on the Federal Government to declare a national emergency on insecurity following the worsening wave of kidnappings, banditry, and violent attacks across Nigeria.
The organisation described the death of retired Major General Rabe Abubakar in bandits’ captivity as a tragic symbol of the country’s deepening security crisis.
In a statement signed by its Executive Director, Comrade Auwal Musa Rafsanjani, CISLAC expressed grave concern over the persistent deterioration of security despite the trillions of naira allocated annually to defence and security operations.
Rafsanjani said the death of the retired military officer underscores the growing reach of insecurity across the country, leaving even former senior military commanders vulnerable to criminal elements.
According to him, Nigeria has continued to lose military officers, security personnel, traditional rulers, community leaders, and ordinary citizens to criminal groups, raising serious questions about the effectiveness of the nation’s security architecture.
“The death of a retired Major General in captivity is not only a personal tragedy but a national one that reflects the alarming state of insecurity in the country.
If a decorated military officer who dedicated his life to defending Nigeria can fall victim to bandits, then ordinary Nigerians face even greater risk,” Rafsanjani said.
He noted that the country has continued to lose highly ranked military officers and security personnel in the line of duty, while criminal groups operate with increasing boldness across several regions.
Rafsanjani said the situation reflects a collective failure of the political class to adequately address the nation’s security challenges.
“We have reached a stage where even those who once occupied strategic positions in government and security institutions are no longer safe after leaving office. This should concern every political leader because insecurity does not discriminate,” he stated.
Rafsanjani also lamented the rise in kidnappings, particularly the abduction of schoolchildren and attacks on rural communities, warning that the trend is eroding public confidence and discouraging school attendance in affected areas.
He cited an April 2026 report by Amnesty International, which indicated that at least 1,100 people were abducted between January and April 2026 in northern Nigeria, particularly in rural communities and internally displaced persons’ camps.
The CISLAC Executive Director noted that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, in his Democracy Day address, disclosed that the Federal Government had committed N5.41 trillion to defence and security in the 2026 budget—the largest security allocation in Nigeria’s history.
However, he argued that despite unprecedented spending on security, Nigerians continue to face daily threats from kidnappers, bandits, and terrorists.
“The Federal Government must urgently address the horrifying spate of abductions and violent attacks targeting innocent Nigerians. The situation has reached an unacceptable level and requires immediate, coordinated, and decisive action,” he said.
Rafsanjani also faulted recent comments by senior defence officials, describing them as evidence of a troubling lack of urgency and accountability in addressing the country’s security crisis.
He specifically criticised remarks attributed to the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Mohammed Matawalle, suggesting that only God can ultimately bring an end to insecurity in Nigeria.
While acknowledging the importance of faith, Rafsanjani argued that such statements are inappropriate coming from public officials whose constitutional responsibility is to protect lives and property.
“Nigerians did not appoint Ministers of Defence to tell them that only God can solve insecurity.
“They were appointed to develop strategies, mobilise resources, strengthen security institutions, and deliver results. Leadership requires action, not excuses,” Rafsanjani said.
According to him, hundreds of Nigerians, including women, children, and elderly citizens, remain in captivity across different parts of the country, while political leaders appear more focused on political calculations than on the security emergency confronting the nation.
He argued that if political actors can mobilise massive support and resources during election campaigns, they should demonstrate the same level of commitment and urgency in mobilising national resources against insecurity.
Rafsanjani also questioned comments by the Minister of Defence, Christopher Musa, who attributed difficulties in procuring military equipment to global conflicts involving Russia, Ukraine, Israel, Iran, and the United States.
While acknowledging that global conflicts may affect defence procurement, Rafsanjani said such explanations cannot excuse years of insecurity despite enormous allocations to the defence sector.
“Criminal groups operating across Nigeria do not appear to be suffering from shortages of weapons. Nigerians deserve answers about how terrorists, bandits, and kidnappers continue to access arms while citizens are told that procurement challenges are responsible for the failure to defeat insecurity,” he stated.
He stressed that the continued reliance on external factors and official explanations does little to comfort families who have lost loved ones or those still held hostage by criminal groups.
Rafsanjani further argued that the comments by both ministers highlight a broader governance problem in which public officials often offer explanations instead of measurable solutions.
“The death of General Rabe should be a wake-up call. This crisis will not spare anyone.
“Today it is ordinary citizens, community leaders, and retired military officers. Tomorrow it could affect those currently occupying positions of authority. No one should assume they are immune from the consequences of a failing security system,” he warned.
He also expressed concern over systemic failures, weak intelligence coordination, negligence, and corruption within the security sector.
Rafsanjani questioned how criminal groups continue to organise and operate across the country despite the existence of multiple intelligence institutions, including the Office of the National Security Adviser, Department of State Services, National Intelligence Agency, and Defence Intelligence Agency.
“There is an urgent need to strengthen intelligence gathering, improve inter-agency coordination, and dismantle the networks supporting these criminal activities,” he said.
He further called for transparency and accountability in security spending, noting that despite huge annual budgetary allocations to defence and security agencies, insecurity continues to worsen.
Rafsanjani therefore demanded a comprehensive and independent audit of defence expenditure and security votes at both federal and state levels to determine whether public resources are being effectively utilised.
He also criticised the National Assembly for failing to exercise sufficient oversight over security spending and outcomes, arguing that increasing budgetary allocations without corresponding improvements in public safety raises serious questions about accountability.
The CISLAC Executive Director urged improvements in the welfare, training, equipment, and operational capacity of security personnel, stressing the need for proactive, intelligence-led operations and measurable performance benchmarks.
While acknowledging ongoing discussions on state policing, he cautioned that any implementation must be guided by strong legal and accountability frameworks to prevent abuse.
CISLAC reiterated its call for comprehensive security sector reforms, stronger intelligence coordination, enhanced community engagement, greater transparency in defence spending, and sustained political will to restore peace and security across Nigeria.