The former Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria and President of the African School of Governance, Prof. Kingsley Moghalu, has attributed Nigeria’s long drawn war against terrorism to what he called failure of nationhood and absence of a common national identity.

Moghalu, who spoke on ARISE News, said the failure of the country to establish a common political, civic, ethnic and historical identity has undermined collective responses to security challenges.
Terrorism is still thriving because many Nigerians do not see the challenge as a common problem that requires a united response, he said.

Nigeria is unable to be a nation and that is why it cannot defeat terrorism. “We don’t see our problem as a common problem,” Moghalu said.

Countries under external threat can often mobilize effectively when citizens have a strong sense of nationhood and common purpose, the former presidential candidate said.

He said Nigeria’s internal divisions have made it difficult to achieve the level of unity needed to confront violent extremist groups and other security challenges.

“There is no nationhood, no common political, civil, ethnic and historical identity, and we are not internally united to resist external threats from terrorists,” he said.

Moghalu also cited persistent allegations of collusion between security agents and terrorist groups as further illustration of the deeper problems facing the country.

“We see this in the allegation of collusion between the security forces and the terrorists,” he said.

Nigeria has been fighting insurgency, banditry, kidnapping and other forms of violent crime, especially in parts of the North-East and North-West regions for over a decade.

Moghalu’s remarks come amid ongoing debates about the root causes of insecurity in Nigeria, with many analysts arguing that resolving the crisis requires not only military action but also stronger institutions, national cohesion and inclusive governance.

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The National Leader of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) for Persons with Disabilities (PWDs), Dr Chike Okogwu, has lambasted Nigeria’s approach to tackling insecurity, warning that military intervention alone cannot solve the country’s security crisis.

“Effective governance, accountability, justice and strong leadership are key to achieving sustainable peace,” Okogwu said in an article titled “The Man, The Rottweilers and The Marauders: Nigeria Can’t Afford to Keep Holding the Leash.”
He said despite sacrifices by security personnel fighting terrorism, banditry, kidnapping and other violent crimes, insecurity still persists, fueled by governance failures, corruption, intelligence gaps and political interference.

Okogwu compared the situation to a wealthy estate owner who refused to let his trained Rottweiler dogs loose as looters attacked his property. “Nigeria’s security forces are frequently asked to produce results while operating under severe constraints,” he said.

“The dogs are the security forces and the owner is the political leadership. “Sometimes men and women on the frontlines are asked to win battles with restrictions, insufficient support, conflicting directives and political interference,” he said.
Security, he said, should not be seen only as a military task but as a national challenge that must be handled through coordinated efforts of all government institutions and society.

“Security cannot be purchased with weapons. Security requires good governance, economic opportunity, trust in community, technology, intelligence and justice. “Most importantly, security needs leadership,” he said.

Okogwu also expressed concern about the devastating effect of insecurity on the PWDs, saying that attacks and displacement put them at greater risks due to their limited mobility and support systems.

“The fast acceptance of violence as a normal thing in life is a great danger to the future of Nigeria,” he said.

“The most dangerous thing in front of us is not simply the continuation of violence. “The biggest danger is that violence becomes normal, that we believe nothing can change,” he cautioned.

The ADC chieftain urged leaders at all levels to strengthen institutions, improve accountability, support security agencies and adopt a comprehensive strategy to restore public confidence and secure the country.

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President Bola Tinubu has assured Nigerians that his administration will step up efforts to ease the economic hardship facing citizens while remaining resolute in tackling insecurity and securing the release of all persons held captive across the country.

The assurance was given by Tinubu in a message delivered by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Sen. George Akume, at the National Inter-Denominational Church Service held on Sunday in Abuja as part of activities marking the 2026 Democracy Day celebration.

The service, with the theme, “God of Hope, Actualise Our Dreams”, was attended by prominent government officials, religious leaders and other dignitaries.

Others in attendance were Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Deputy Speaker of House of Representatives Benjamin Kalu, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu and Head of the Civil Service of the Federation Didi Walson-Jack.

Akume told Nigerians that the 27 years of unbroken democratic rule since 1999 was a tribute to their resilience, commitment and sacrifices in the struggle for the restoration of democracy.

He paid tribute to pro-democracy activists and patriots of the June 12 struggle, saying many suffered persecution, injuries and death in the quest for democratic governance.

The SGF said the President was still committed to fulfilling his constitutional responsibility and would double his efforts to ensure that the socio-economic challenges facing Nigerians were substantially reduced through the delivery of sustainable democratic dividends.

He recognised the hardship many households face, including insecurity, kidnappings and displacement in some communities.

“Government is sensitive to all these pains. Government shares in these pains. Government has heard you cries,” Akume said.

He says Tinubu is spearheading efforts to tackle the challenges with compassion and a strong sense of responsibility.

On security, the SGF said the safety of Nigerians remained the Federal Government’s top priority, noting that the recent attacks and abductions were painful reminders that more work needed to be done.

He assured citizens that the safe return of all persons in captivity remains a national priority, adding that security agencies were being provided with the necessary support and resources to protect lives and property.

He said, “The government will never bow to terror, banditry or any form of criminal intimidation.

Political activities slowly picking pace ahead of the 2027 general elections, Akume has urged Nigerians to shun violence, hate campaigns and divisive rhetoric.

He also cautioned young people against involvement in thuggery, political violence, misinformation, ethnic abuse and religious intolerance.

“Don’t sell your conscience for money, drugs, political patronage or online applause. “Your future is more precious than any politician’s momentary convenience,” he said.

As the nation gears up for yet another election cycle, the SGF urged religious leaders, traditional rulers, civil society organisations, the media and families to promote tolerance, peaceful coexistence and responsible conduct.

He reiterated Nigeria’s commitment to democratic governance, interfaith harmony and peaceful engagement with the international community, assuring that Nigeria’s democratic institutions were strong and resilient in the face of current challenges.

Akume praised members of the Armed Forces and other security agencies for their sacrifices in defending the nation and sustaining democratic rule.

He urged Nigerians to honour the sacrifices of the heroes of June 12 by working for a country where elections are peaceful, leaders are accountable, communities are safe and citizens live with dignity.410

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In a recent interview with OLUSEYE OJO, he said that Nigeria’s growing insecurity, characterised by banditry and terrorism cannot be solved with cold statistics or routine military updates.

Instead, he says, real resolution would only come when President Bola Tinubu sees the gruesome murder, torture or abduction of any citizen through the agonising lens of a grieving parent, where every single victim is not a collateral casualty of statehood but the heart-breaking loss of the President’s own child.
The cleric delivers a prophetic, non-partisan charge to the nation’s political elite against the backdrop of heightened grassroots vulnerabilities, rural displacements, and an economy losing vital foreign investments to safer continental neighbours.

In this interview, Bishop Oke explains the structural constraints of the body of Christ, exposes the sophisticated economic syndicates behind rural terror and takes off the veil on the massive, multi-million naira, humanitarian relief interventions the church quietly deploys across Nigeria’s worst hit regions.

What is the central message the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) is trying to pass across to the authorities at this moment as the level of insecurity across the nation reaches a boiling point?

“We are burdened for Nigeria today because we have lost our sense of value for human life and its sanctity. The level of banditry, kidnapping, violence, insecurity and savage killings all over the Nigerian landscape has risen to an intolerable height. It has come to a point when every single Nigerian ought to cry out against it to God for divine intervention, and to our governments for immediate and effective action.

In Nigeria it is more than taking lives. It shatters our national cohesion, discourages critical foreign investors, is causing a huge brain drain as our brightest minds flee, and fatally erodes the link between the people and the state. It has created a pervasive wave of insecurity and terror that ensures that the Nigerian people no longer feel safe anywhere in their own country. “We are under great pressure as this intolerable violence is tragically being normalised in Nigeria.

You spoke of the loss of humaneness. Can you paint a picture of the specific systemic failures and regional carnage that prompted this urgent cry from the PFN?

We are burdened for the loss of our own humanity. Witness the unchecked rampage of bandits and murderous herdsmen slaughtering Nigerian farmers on their own farms. Look at the Boko Haram insurgents, who are using the noble religion of Islam to perpetrate heinous violence against peaceful Nigerians, completely unchecked across our national landscape.

The destructive historical and ongoing trajectory of this failure. Many Chibok girls remain in captivity years after being abducted en masse by Boko Haram insurgents. “Leah Sharibu remains in chains of bondage by religious kidnappers purely because she refused to renounce her Christian faith and the Nigerian state did nothing. Nothing happened to the killers of Deborah Samuel who was brutally burnt to death in Sokoto by a murderous mob for mentioning the name of Jesus.

Since then, Taraba, Plateau, Benue states and Southern Kaduna have become daily killing fields. Edo, Kogi and Ondo states have similarly not been spared.

“Today, as we speak, some communities in Kwara State have been completely sacked by rampaging bandits armed with sophisticated guns and dangerous weapons.

Innocent people are being killed, raped and kidnapped over and over again in large numbers in Borno, Niger, Sokoto, Kaduna and other states of the federation.

Oyo State is the latest killing field. This culminated in the recent horrific abduction of several teachers and students, with one of the teachers, Mr. Michael Oyedokun, gruesomely beheaded and another shot dead.

During these satanic acts our political elite continued business as usual, as if nothing was going on. “This is an unspeakable and despicable act of terror,” he said.

You have rightly said that the President has to see every citizen as his child. How should that paternal responsibility shape the government’s response to the current socioeconomic collapse and the flight of foreign investment?

Basically, all Nigerians are sons and daughters of the president. The president is the father of all Nigeria and that is a basic principle of leadership and governance. So when one person is killed, one of his children is killed. It should hit home to the leadership in that personal and painful way. When a citizen is brutally beheaded, humiliated, tortured and tormented, crying while they cut off his head, it means one of the president’s children has undergone that horrible treatment.

It should never be a common news item. When the reality truly touches the hearts of our government leaders and they feel the deep personal pain of a father losing a child, then they will stand up and handle these situations decisively. That is what the Nigerian people want. They want a government that feels pain when its people suffer, and a leadership that acts with unwavering resolve to safeguard its home.

In terms of farming, all this violence is definitely affecting not only the farming profession, it is affecting every profession.

Farmers can’t tend their fields for fear of being raped, slaughtered or kidnapped, and this sets off a catastrophic chain reaction throughout the entire economic ecosystem. Food prices go through the roof, supply chains fall apart, and hunger stares the nation in the face. It cripples markets and livelihoods well beyond the agricultural sector.

Look at our position in the world and our economy overall. Right now, there are investors from developed countries who were planning to come to Nigeria because of our strategic advantage as the largest black nation in the world with a massive percentage of highly mobile and enterprising young men. We have a very vibrant, very energetic and very intelligent youth population and this makes Nigeria a particularly attractive market for global capital. They are keen to invest here but the absence of reliable power and the insecurity are forcing them to move their capital to countries like Ghana and South Africa where they consider the business environment to be safer and more predictable.

We are losing billions of dollars in potential investments, losing jobs for our teeming youth, losing our competitive edge on the continent because we have failed to secure our territory.

Therefore, the Nigerian government must rise to the occasion and deal decisively with these criminals in our forests, on our farms, in our cities, and those attacking churches and mosques to slaughter citizens. No criminal should get away with it, no matter where they operate or who they target.

In many of these theatres of conflict the military has been deployed but the killings continue. Where does the disconnect lie?

Our Government clearly lacks firm political will to crush these horrible evils. They have let this cancer grow unchecked, making empty promises that have done absolutely no good.

Our governments are busy rehabilitating so-called repentant Boko Haram killers and even drafting them into our security network instead of crushing terrorism, banditry and the likes! Thus the Nigerian military is getting demilitarised.

And this is why our brave Generals and their brave soldiers are being slaughtered like chicken. Why? Because our security system has been thoroughly infiltrated and internally fatally compromised.

Nigerians are tired of this evil. They are tired of the apparent misplaced attention of the political class on winning elections by all means, rather than focusing the full weight of our law and federal might to crush the killers of Nigerians.

In response to this crisis, the PFN announced a three-day national fasting and prayer session from May 22 to 24, 2026. Could you tell me about the background, the strategic aims and the real political position of the PFN behind this exercise?

The National Executive Council of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria met in the night of May 19, 2026, for fervent prayers and deliberations on the scary state of affairs in the country.

We as a Pentecostal community spread across every single state of Nigeria resolved that we would stand together in spiritual warfare and fast and pray to God our Almighty Father to arise and scatter the enemies of Nigeria.

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Many parts of Nigeria still suffer insecurity, bandit attacks and kidnappings. The Senate has said it will fast-track work on the constitutional amendments needed to create state police.

The disclosure came from the Chairman, Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Yemi Adaramodu, speaking on the plans of the National Assembly to make the country’s security system stronger.

“The Senate is ready to initiate the constitutional processes for the establishment of the state police and will give the process urgent attention,” he said.

He said lawmakers are resolute to complete the legal framework needed for state policing as soon as possible to enhance security and tackle criminal activities across the country.

The development comes as many Nigerians are sounding the alarm over the rising cases of kidnapping, banditry and violent attacks in different states.

There are also rising calls for the decentralization of policing powers, with greater roles for state governments in tackling security challenges across their territories.

“The lawmakers are ready to fast-track legislative action on the matter as part of their efforts to support the Federal Government in tackling the country’s security challenges,” Adaramodu said.

“The Senate stands ready to immediately begin the constitutional processes for the establishment of state police.

“We will ensure that the necessary legislative action is taken to establish state police to keep Nigerians safe and secure and drive out bandits and other criminals. “The legislature is ready to support President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Nigerians to confront the country’s security challenges.”

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The Presidency has reacted to comments made by a former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal against the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Atiku Abubakar.

It was reported that Lawal, while announcing his resignation from the ADC on Monday, had accused Atiku of influencing the outcome of the recently held primaries of the party.

He alleged the primaries were rigged to favour the former Vice-President.

The former SGF alleged that the primaries at all levels were “massively rigged in favour of Kachalla Abubakar Atiku.”

He also claimed that the results of the polls were “just written or rewritten to favor him and his coven.”

In a reaction on 𝕏, the Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Policy Communication, Daniel Bwala, said Lawal’s comments, if verified, raised serious national security concerns.

WOW, Did Babachir Lawal use ChatGPT or Grok in writing the ratio decidendi of his resignation from ADC? “What he said about the ADC candidate if validated or verified is scary and will undermine the national security of Nigeria,” Bwala wrote.

The presidential aide also lambasted the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC). He alleged the party’s candidate also held wrong views on democracy and governance.

He continued, “The NDC that Babachir wants to join also has a candidate whose ideological beliefs about democracy and good governance is also equally a flawed thought process and repugnant to natural justice, equity and good conscience.

“You need to hear Babachir’s own words on Arise primetime and Channels TV interviews on Peter Obi, which aired only a few weeks ago, to know what in law we call ‘confessional statement.’

Recent developments have exposed the motives of opposition figures who once described themselves as a united coalition, Bwala said.

“Just two or three months ago, these people were talking about how they were made from heaven as one indivisible and indissoluble coalition sent by God to come and rescue Nigeria; and alas, all their intentions and plans have been exposed.

Never has the choice for 2027 been so obvious with this. To be fair, President Tinubu is a million miles ahead of them. Take this to the bank, and cash it.”

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The former Chief of Army Staff, Lt-Gen Turkur Buratai, has said that the Nigerian military has the capacity to locate bandits if they can locate ordinary citizens of the country.

Buratai made this known on Monday while responding to questions during an interview on TVC.

He was speaking on the capacity of the Nigerian troops to rescue the abducted Oyo schoolchildren and teachers.

Recall that gunmen kidnapped school children and teachers in Oyo State and beheaded one of the teachers.

“I don’t believe security agencies cannot find bandits if they can find ordinary citizens and social media influencers.

However, I would not like to say a capacity building challenge but I think they may have their reasons but what I know is that there must be capacity building of all the security agencies.

“We need more troops to be recruited, more operatives, more policemen to be recruited, trained and retrained,” he said.

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Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde has said he cannot solve Nigeria’s insecurity totally until he becomes president, saying governors in Nigeria do not have constitutional power over federal security agencies.

He made the statement while receiving the Allied People’s Movement (APM) Presidential Nomination for the 2027 general elections.

Makinde said that although he is the Chief Security Officer of Oyo State, governors are relatively incapacitated in times of crisis without the requisite authority such as command over the police.

He has been an advocate for the decentralization of national security and the establishment of state police.

His recent remarks are coming on the heels of a surge in kidnappings and abductions in the state including the recent kidnap of school children and teachers in Oriire local government.

He described the continued captivity of the abducted school children and other residents of Oyo State as ‘painful’.

“Today, innocent schoolchildren and citizens taken away by criminals are still being held captive in Oyo State,” he said.

He said the security system in Nigeria should be re-organised because the governors should not be held fully responsible for security without the power to act decisively.

Asked about the 2027 elections, Makinde said that if he were to be elected president, he would focus on security reform such as decentralisation of security management to give states more capacity to deal with local threats.

As President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, by the grace of God, I will work to reform our national security architecture so that states are more not helpless in moments of crisis,” he said.

He said Nigeria needs a new way of governance and security, adding that leadership should be based on accountability, competence and action.

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The First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu, said Nigeria was too strong and resilient to be cowed by insurgents.

She spoke Saturday at the Government House, Ado-Ekiti, while meeting members of the Ekiti State Traditional Rulers’ Council.

The First Lady expressed confidence that the security challenges facing the country would soon be overcome.

The President is committed to tackling insecurity in the country and is working round the clock for lasting peace, she said.

She acknowledged the support Nigeria continues to get from foreign partners in tackling security challenges, expressing optimism that the situation would improve substantially in the near future.

Insurgents cannot intimidate the mighty Nigerians. Let us keep hope and continue praying for the nation.

God will not abandon the country in its bid to overcome its challenges, she said.

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The Minister of Defence, Christopher Musa, said terrorism has been reduced drastically across Nigeria, giving the country’s security efforts a performance score of between 65 and 70 per cent.

This was disclosed by him in an interview with Arise Television on Friday, where he said no nation is free from crime and criminality.

He said that though terrorism and kidnapping still occur, the situation has improved greatly compared to previous years.

The defence minister blamed many of the security challenges on the breakdown of family values and poor social orientation.

“Many people who do kidnappings and other crimes are looking for ways of making easy money instead of hard work,” Musa said.

He added that some of the criminal activities could be politically motivated and intended to make the government appear weak or give an impression that the country is ungovernable.

Musa said, “The armed forces and other security agencies are working round the clock to address insecurity across the country despite the challenges.”

He said: “Yes, I would give ourselves a mark of 65 to 70%. There is no country which is completely free of crime and criminality but the level of terrorism across the country has actually tremendously reduced.

“Now we have acts of terrorism, and terrorism like I said, its a social vice, a failure of family values. We have seen fathers who kidnap children, children who kidnap children, brothers who kidnap sisters.

“It tells you there’s something wrong in the family and we have to also look inward to see how we can now develop those aspects again, like the issue of education. Work really hard, don’t look for shortcuts. People have to understand that to make money.

“Most of these people who are involved in these kidnappings and all these things are looking for shortcuts.

And again you can’t rule out politics, because most of these people they are kidnapping are people that don’t have anything to offer, and you’re asking for one billion naira, knowing that the individual you are kidnapping cannot offer, so what are you doing? Who are you waiting for to pay that money?

And that’s to tell you that there are some times that you can look at it as acts of sabotage to make the government look weak, or to make the country look ungovernable, or whatever.

“But the armed forces and security forces are working 24/7 to address those issues. I can tell you, Nigerians working with us, and I want to appreciate Nigerians. “The level of support that we’re getting is a lot better than what we used to get in the past and we’re making more in-roads.

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