Stop Blaming North for Insecurity, Ex-Generals tell Nigerians
Retired military officers and associates of the late Major General Rabe Abubakar have cautioned Nigerians against blaming the North for the country’s worsening insecurity, insisting that terrorism, banditry and kidnapping have become a national challenge affecting every region. The group made the submission at a press briefing held in Kaduna in honour of the late general, […]
Retired military officers and associates of the late Major General Rabe Abubakar have cautioned Nigerians against blaming the North for the country’s worsening insecurity, insisting that terrorism, banditry and kidnapping have become a national challenge affecting every region.
The group made the submission at a press briefing held in Kaduna in honour of the late general, who died in bandits’ captivity after being abducted alongside his wife near Matazu area of Katsina State.
Speaking on behalf of the retired officers, Brig.-Gen. Ismaila Abdullahi (rtd) said the persistent insecurity across the country should not be viewed through an ethnic or regional lens.
Those present at the briefing were Ambassador A. Mohammed Musawa, Air Commodore Yusuf Anas (rtd), Brig.-Gen. Maharazu Tsiga (rtd), Ambassador Ibrahim Usman Gafai and Brig.-Gen. Abdulkadir Abubakar (rtd).
Brig General Abdullahi lamented that some commentators had continued to attribute Nigeria’s security challenges to the northern region, describing such narratives as divisive and counterproductive.
“These incidents of insecurity have attracted not only condemnation but also taken ethnic colouration, with some commentators blaming the northern region for all the ills of the Nigerian state,” he said.
The retired officers questioned what they described as “selective outrage” over insecurity, noting that kidnappings, terrorism and banditry were no longer confined to any particular part of the country.
“We need to ask ourselves certain fundamental questions: Why are we so good at selective outrage and justice? Are the rising terrorism and kidnapping activities in the country truly isolated northern problems? Can any part of this nation remain unconcerned by the current onslaught of kidnappings, banditry and terrorism?” Abdullahi asked.
The officers said the death of General Abubakar was a painful reminder of the deteriorating security situation in the country and the inability of the system to adequately protect citizens.
According to them, the killing of the retired general in captivity was not merely another headline but a reflection of a system struggling to guarantee safety for Nigerians.
They acknowledged the efforts of both the federal and Katsina State governments, particularly the operation that secured the release of the deceased officer’s wife, Hajia Amina Rabe Abubakar.
However, they maintained that the country’s response to insecurity must become more proactive and realistic, warning that many previous measures had either failed or produced limited results.
“The current terrorism and kidnapping trend in Nigeria, across the states, makes it difficult to separate regions of conflict and regions of peace,” the statement said.
The retired officers argued that ethnic rivalry, religious intolerance and lack of national cohesion had complicated efforts to address insecurity, leading to weak cooperation among stakeholders.
They further identified insufficient political will at various levels of government as a major obstacle to defeating terrorism and banditry.
While welcoming Nigeria’s growing security partnerships with the United States and other countries, the group stressed that the responsibility for securing the nation ultimately rested with Nigerians and their institutions.
“No nation can defend our country, and certainly a strategy based solely on any foreign power cannot succeed without our country taking the lead,” they stated.
The former military officers also called on the 19 northern governors to work together to develop and implement a regional security framework aimed at curbing illegal arms proliferation and tackling banditry and kidnappings.
They urged governments at all levels to provide prompt support to families of serving and retired security personnel affected by terrorism and kidnapping, while intensifying efforts to secure the release of all Nigerians still being held captive.