By Francesca Hangeior

About 73 non-governmental organisations, NGOs, have jointly lambasted claims that the civil society is part of the reason Boko Haram and other terrorists groups are thriving in the country.

They described it as “stigmatizing, smearing, defaming and targeting the NGO sector which is inconsistent with meaningfully attending to the genuine threats of terrorism in our country.”

“It is unconscionable to malign NGOs that work tirelessly, often at great personal risk, to bring hope and relief to conflict-affected communities.

“These accusations, devoid of proof, serve only to erode public trust, distract from the real issues, and undermine the critical work being done in some of the country’s most challenging environments,” they added.

Recall that retired generals across the three arms of the military, who have been involved in the war against insurgency in Nigeria, especially Boko Haram, have x-rayed the situation and came up with the conclusion that “some non-governmental organisations, NGOs, international agencies and vested interests have helped to sustain terrorism and other violent crimes in the country”.

However, 73 NGOs reacted in a statement entitled “Baseless and Unsubstantiated Allegations Against NGOs on ‘Why Boko Haram, bandits thrive: How NGOs, others aid terrorists — Former generals, commanders’.

In the statement, the NGOs recommended what government should do.

“The Nigerian government and military leadership (should) address the real reasons terrorism persists, including but not limited to rampant poverty and inequality, porous borders, corruption and inefficiency in defence spending.

“The Nigerian security apparatus should focus its efforts and manpower on disrupting terrorist funding and logistics networks rather than scapegoating civil society.

“It must also enhance intelligence gathering and operational capacity to secure lives and properties.

“The government must engage constructively with NGOs to address the root causes of insecurity and alleviate the suffering of affected communities understanding that civil society can meaningfully generate peace and development, including implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and can clearly articulate the sources of grievances identified as factors leading to terrorist and extremist violence,” the NGOs suggested.

‘We are concerned’
The group noted that they “are deeply concerned about the inflammatory claims by an unnamed former Air Officer Commanding (AOC) of the Nigerian Air Force recklessly accusing NGOs in the North-East, North-West, and North-Central regions of providing covert sponsorship and funding to terrorists.

“Rather than confronting the systemic failures that have allowed terrorism to thrive in Nigeria, these claims attempt to shift blame onto the very organisations that have stepped into the void to support communities abandoned by the Nigerian state.

“It is a known fact that a civilian-led approach, engaging civil society and communities, is the most effective way to prevent violent extremism demonstrating the necessity of the role of civil society in channelling discontent and allowing for constructive engagement with states, and in directly undermining the factors leading individuals to be drawn to terrorism and violent extremism.

“One of the most fundamental norms of international humanitarian law is the need to protect the provision of impartial medical care to all wounded and sick persons, including members of adversarial parties and the population under its control.

“This is a norm that must be factored into any counter-terrorism strategy. To abide by these norms is not a sign of weakness, it is an obligation of civilized Nation States.

“The cost of stifling civil society to prevent any perceived threat of terrorism far outweighs its benefits.

“Any effective counter-terrorism strategy needs to strengthen, not weaken, civil society. There is growing evidence that the instrumentalisation of agendas to counter-terrorism and to prevent and counter violent extremism is leading to a lack of trust in State authorities.

“The United Nations Human Rights Committee recognized that the right to life should not be interpreted narrowly, noting that it places not only negative obligations on States (e.g. to not kill), but also positive obligations (e.g. to protect life), to ensure access to the basic conditions necessary to sustain life,” the statement read in part.

The civil society groups said inflammatory statements such as the one attributed to an unnamed former Air Officer Commanding (AOC) of the Nigerian Air Force could lead to attacks on humanitarian actors “further deepening the crisis we are aiming to solve”.

Signatories
The NGOs that signed the statement are:

21st Century Community Empowerment for Youth Initiative
Abuja School of Social and Political Thought
Accountability Lab, Nigeria
Africa Network for Environment and Economic Justice (ANEEJ)
African Centre for Leadership, Strategy & Development (Centre LSD)
African Centre for Media & Information Literacy (AFRICMIL)
Amnesty International Nigeria
Borno Coalition for Democracy and Progress (BOCODEP)
BudgIT Foundation
Centre for Fiscal Transparency and Public Integrity
Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD)
Centre for Community Empowerment in Conflict and Peacebuilding – Kaduna
Centre for Democratic Research and Training (CRDDERT)
Centre for Global Tolerance and Human Rights
Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD)
Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development (CJID)
Centre LSD
Centre for Social Centre for Justice Reform
Centre for Transparency Watch
Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC)
CLEEN Foundation
Community Life Project (CLP)
Conscience for Human Rights and Conflict Resolution (CHRCR)
Connected Development (CODE)
Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA)
EIE Nigeria
Elixir Trust Foundation
Emma Ezeazu Centre for Good Governance and Accountability
Environmental Rights Action
Environmental Rights Action/Friends of the Earth, Nigeria (ERA)
Falana and Falana’s Chambers
Global Rights
Good Governance Team
Goodluck Jonathan Foundation
Health of Mother Earth Foundation (HOMEF)
Hope Behind Bars Africa
Human and Environmental Development Agenda (HEDA Resource Centre)
Human Rights Social Development and Environmental Foundation
INVICTUS AFRICA
Kebetkache Women Development & Resource Centre
Lawyers Alert
Media Initiative for Transparency in Extractive Industries (MITEI)
Media Rights Agenda
Mothers and Marginalized Advocacy Centre (MAMA Centre)
Nigeria Network of NGOs
Open Society on Justice Reform Project
Order Paper
Organization for Community Civic Engagement (OCCEN)
Paradigm Initiative Nigeria
Partners West Africa
Policy Alert
Praxis
Prisoners’ Rehabilitation and Welfare Action (PRAWA)
Procurement Observation and Advocacy Initiative
Public and Private Development Centre (PPDC)
Resource Centre for Human Rights and Civic Education (CHRICED)
RULAAC – Rule of Law and Accountability Advocacy Centre
Say NO Campaign – Nigeria
Say No Campaign
Sesor Empowerment Foundation
Social Action
Socio-Economic Research and Development Centre
Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP)
State of the Union (SOTU)
Tax Justice and Governance Platform
Transition Monitoring Group (TMG)
West Africa Civil Society Forum (WASCSOF)
Women Advocate Research and Documentation Centre (WARDC)
Women in Media Communication Initiative (WIM)
Women in Mining, Nigeria
World Impact Development Foundation
Yiaga Africa
Zero Corruption Coalition (ZCC) 74. Fix Politics

By Francesca Hangeior

The Nigeria Police Force said on Monday that following efforts to combat crime across the nation, its operatives foiled multiple bandits attacks across several states at the weekend resulting in the elimination of eleven bandits/terrorists in Kogi and Katsina states.

The Police also said a total of 207 kidnapped children were rescued from Ondo and other states following an intensified fight against human traffickers.

Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Muyiwa Adejobi who made this known said operatives recorded achievements through intelligence-led policing.

He said, “On January 18th 2025, Police operatives attached to the Kogi State Command got information of a group of armed bandits holding a strategic meeting for possible attack at a forest in Budon, Kogi State.

“Gallant operatives of the Command were mobilized and deployed to the scene.

“Upon sighting the police operatives, the bandits engaged the police operatives in a fierce gun duel.

“Fortunately, the bandits were overpowered, with one bandit neutralized and 4 others arrested.

“The operatives also recovered 1 AK-47 rifle, 2 magazines, 30 rounds of live ammunition and 2 motorcycles.

“Similarly, on January 18th 2025, a distress call was received at the Dutsinma Divisional Police Headquarters, Katsina State that some suspected armed bandits, armed with dangerous weapons, were headed to attack Ruwan Doruwa Village, Dutsinma LGA of the State.

“Upon receipt of this call, Police operatives in collaboration with other security agencies mobilized, intercepted the armed bandits and engaged them in a fierce gun battle ultimately leading to the neutralization of 7 of the bandits, with the rest of the gang fleeing and abandoning 109 livestock suspected to be rustled animals.
“In a significant development, the Nigeria Police Force has escalated its initiatives to combat human trafficking and the operation of illegal baby factories, successfully rescuing more than 207 abducted children from suspected traffickers nationwide.

“A significant breakthrough was achieved with the arrest of a syndicate involved in child abduction and trafficking by the Ondo State Police Command, following intelligence regarding a missing child at Okuta Elerin-Nla, Akure.

“The operatives apprehended members of the syndicate, identified as Abosede Olanipekun, Lukman Isiaka and Sabira Izuorah and rescued 14 children between the ages of 1 week — 7 years old.

“The success of these operations is a significant blow against those who serve as threats to our nation’s security, contributing to the overall efforts of the Force to enhance public safety.

“The Nigeria Police Force remains steadfast in the dedication to duty and commitment to safeguarding the lives and property of all citizens.

“The Force will continue to take a firm stance against criminal activities and ensure that offenders are brought to justice, reaffirming its role as the protector of peace and security of our society.”

The Chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal, Dr. Mainasara Kogo, has called for aggressive military action against bandits and terrorists in Nigeria, including the bombardment of nine forests across the North.

Speaking at the 2025 Sir Ahmadu Bello National Annual Memorial Conference held at the Arewa House in Kaduna on Saturday, Kogo emphasised the need for decisive action to tackle terrorism and insecurity across the region.

The conference, which attracted dignitaries from the North, was with the theme: ‘Nigeria’s Leadership for National Cohesion and Stability, Under The Contemporary Governance.’

The CCB Chairman, who was the guest speaker on the occasion, noted that in order to address the security challenges, the nine forests in northern Nigeria that provide shelter to terrorists be bombed to ashes by the military.

He identified the forests as Sambisa(Borno) Mandara mountains(located in Lake Chad), Falgore forests(Kano), Rugu forests(Katsina), Sabon Birni forests(Sokoto), Dansadau,(Zamfara) Birnin-Gwari(Kaduna) and Kontagora(Niger) and Birnin Kogo forests in Katsina states.

According to him, once these forests, which harbour the bandits and terrorists are bombed, the activities of these hoodlums would automatically cease.

Umar said, “The nine bushes that provide shelter to the terrorists in northern Nigeria (the Sambisa, the bushes around Mandara mountains up to the enclave of Lake Chad, the Falgore forests, the Rugu forests up to Shinkafi, the Sabon Birni forests, the Dansadau down to Birnin Kogo forests, the Birnin Gwari, the Kontagora to Yau’ri back to Funtua), must be bombed into ashes! This will automatically kill the terrorists and deny the remnants of the shelter they get from the bushes.

“Then, turn the area into belts of industrial commercial agriculture, which will take care of the 2nd terrorist (hunger) through bumper agricultural production, which will equally gain employment for our teeming unemployed youths.

“Then create industrial farms with a network of roads, farming housing settlements, the nucleus of which will spring up new hamlets and towns Then cluster industries will spring up, e.g. textiles, confectioneries, noodles, factories, flour industries, oil milling factories, will beef up economic activities that will gain foreign exchange earnings for the country.”

The CCT chairman also called for a comprehensive overhaul of the nation’s security architecture while recommending the creation of specialised security bodies, such as “National Border Security Police, National Ports Police, National Airports Police, National Cyber Crime Police, and National Anti-Terrorism Police.”

He also emphasised the importance of auditing security spending over the past 20 years to ensure accountability and transparency.

The CCT boss said, “Punish the guilty; punish the perpetrators e.g. several container loads with Arms and Ammunition have, at different times, been arrested, apart from the informants and international collaborators, but to date, we do not know if anyone has ever been convicted. The leadership in Nigeria must be ready to punish.

“Re-jig the security architecture; the President should unbundle the provisions of Section 153 of the Constitution that provides for the National Security Council, the National Police Council and the National Defense Council and make the councils to create the following security bodies:

National Border Security Police, National Ports Police, National Airports Police, National Cyber Crime Police, National Anti-Terrorism Police

“After this, incorporate all the changes in sections 214 – 216 of the Constitution, which gives the power of territorial internal security to the Nigeria Police and sections 217 – 219 of the Constitution that says the police can seek reinforcement from other security formations if the problems before them are overwhelming. In short, leave the police to coordinate all matters of internal-security.

“We want a comprehensive audit of all the monies released for security in the past 20 years. By the time you audit all the monetary spending vis-a-vis what is on ground, you then find out why despite ‘purchase of drones’, Torcanos, and no rat has visibly been brought to public glare.”

Earlier in his welcome address, the National President of Gamji Heritage, Ahmed Abdullahi, called on Nigerians to unite and find lasting solutions to the country’s pressing challenges.

Abdullahi highlighted the achievements of the late Sir Ahmadu Bello, including transformative institutions and projects such as Arewa House, Ahmadu Bello University, and the Kainji and Jebba Hydroelectric Projects.

“Our commitment to progress remains unwavering. With Allah’s guidance, we will overcome these challenges and build a stronger, united Nigeria,” he said.

Other speakers at the conference included the Vice Chairman of the Arewa Consultative Forum, Ambassador Ibrahim Mai Sule; Justice Mainasara Kogo Umar; and the Director-General of the Centre for Democratic Development Research and Training, Zaria, Prof. Abubakar Mohammed.