CISLAC demands probe of defence spending, blames Gen Rabe’s death on security failure

The Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC) has called on the Federal Government to declare a national emergency on insecurity. In a statement issued, CISLAC Executive Director, Auwal Musa Rafsanjani, expressed concern over the continued wave of kidnappings, banditry and violent attacks across the country despite huge budgetary allocations to the security sector. Rafsanjani said […]

The Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC) has called on the Federal Government to declare a national emergency on insecurity.

In a statement issued, CISLAC Executive Director, Auwal Musa Rafsanjani, expressed concern over the continued wave of kidnappings, banditry and violent attacks across the country despite huge budgetary allocations to the security sector.

Rafsanjani said the death of Major General Abubakar Rabe (rtd)in bandits’ den reflects Nigeria’s worsening security crisis.

“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,” he said.

According to him, Nigeria has continued to lose military personnel, traditional rulers, community leaders and ordinary citizens to criminal groups operating across various parts of the country.

He noted that the situation raises serious concerns about the effectiveness of the nation’s security architecture and the ability of security agencies to protect lives and property.

Rafsanjani described the development as a collective failure of the political leadership to adequately address the country’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.

The CISLAC boss also decried the increasing cases of kidnappings, particularly the abduction of schoolchildren and attacks on rural communities, warning that the trend was undermining public confidence and discouraging access to education in affected areas.

He cited a report by Amnesty International indicating 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.

Rafsanjani further noted that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had disclosed during his June 12 Democracy Day address that the Federal Government allocated N5.41 trillion to defence and security in the 2026 budget, the largest security allocation in the country’s history.

According to him, despite the huge investment and ongoing military cooperation with international partners, insecurity continues to persist in several parts of the country.

“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 expressed concern over what he described as systemic failures, weak intelligence coordination, negligence and corruption within the security sector.

He questioned how criminal groups continue to operate across the country despite the existence of multiple intelligence and security agencies, including the Office of the National Security Adviser, the Department of State Services, the National Intelligence Agency and the 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.

The CISLAC executive director called for greater transparency and accountability in the utilisation of security funds, stressing the need for a comprehensive audit of security spending and security votes at both federal and state levels.

He also advocated improved welfare, training, equipment and operational capacity for security personnel, saying proactive intelligence-led operations remain critical to tackling insecurity.

While acknowledging ongoing discussions on the establishment of state police, Rafsanjani cautioned that any implementation should be backed by strong legal and accountability mechanisms to prevent abuse.

He further criticised political leaders for focusing more on electoral calculations and political realignments than on the country’s security challenges.

According to him, governance loses its essence when citizens can no longer live safely in their communities.

Rafsanjani urged the National Assembly to strengthen its oversight of security institutions and ensure that resources allocated to the sector are properly utilised.