*regret that Nigeria now second most terrorised country after Iraq
*insist on total overhaul of national security architecture
*say Nigeria sliding into a failed state
*call for action, not rhetoric
By; VICTOR DAZANG, Kaduna
Some security experts in the country have called on President Muhammadu Buhari to take charge as Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, saying that the latest report by the Global and International Terrorism Research/Analysis group, Jihad Analytics, placing Nigeria as the second most terrorised country in the world, is not only shameful, but regrettable.
In the report, which has continued to generate intense debate among Nigerians, the research group claimed that Nigeria ranks second among nations struggling under the weight of terrorism, insurgency, banditry, and kidnapping, after Iraq.
The development triggered angry reaction from the security experts, who reiterated their call for the immediate and unconditional sack and probe of the National Security Adviser (NSA), Major General Mohammed Babagana Monguno (rtd), and the service chiefs.
While insisting that the report has exposed the incompetence of the military and other security agencies, the group of experts charged President Buhari to activate his constitutional power of hiring and firing.
The experts, who operate under the aegis of Forum of Security Experts in Nigeria (FSEN), said that apart from the fact that the report indicates that very little or nothing has been done in the past to contain the ravaging insecurity in the country, it also confirms fears that the country is fast assuming the status of a failed state.
In a statement jointly signed by the National Coordinator, Prof. Kolade Babatunde and National Secretary, Dr. Ibrahim Bulama Mongonu, the concerned experts said, “The report by The Global and International Terrorism Research/Analysis group, Jihad Analytics, ranking Nigeria as second most terrorised country in the world, just after Iraq, did not come to us as a surprise.
“We wish to remind Nigerians that severally, we have raised concerns about the deteriorating security situation in the country, and the urgent need to reverse the trend”.
The group warned against grandstanding by presidential spokespersons, as well as other handlers, urging deliberate action, in the circumstance.
The statement reads thus, “The Forum of Security Experts in Nigeria is almost certain that in the coming days, spokespersons for our dear President will come out smoking, in failed attempts to discredit the globally-acclaimed terrorism research group.
“But, as security experts, we say action, not grandstanding or rhetoric, is the way to go, more so that facts on ground to support the said report”.
It reads in full, “We received with sad feelings the 2022 Global Terrorism index report which declared Nigeria as the second most terrorized nation after Iraq.
“This report from a very credible international organisation as sad and heart broken as it appeared, further vindicated our earlier press statement that Nigeria is sliding into a near failed state unless something is done urgently.
“We raised an alarm recently that the entire security architecture have failed in intelligence and kinetic operations and therefore needed to be totally overhauled but our sincere advice fell on deep ears.
“This report has, therefore, laid credence to our position once again and we are still restating that there’s an urgent need for the immediate sack of the nation’s number one security employee the national security adviser and the service chiefs without further delay.
“We don’t know why Mr president have continued to retain this failed public servants against public interest. Mr President, we wish to inform you that this report has further exposed the incompetence of your security chiefs and by extension your administration to the world over and for your honour that you are known for, we kindly suggest once again that you show this incompetent officers the way out.
“This is a disgrace of international magnitude and your actions or inaction on the security architecture will make or mar your legacies and what you stand for. Nigerians voted for you based on three pillars; security, anti corruption and power.
“We wish to kindly advise Mr. President to use the remaining months left in the life of his administration to rejig the entire security architecture and redeem his name and past track records. The appointment of good and committed officers can still reverse the negative trend in security even within 3 months, its not rocket science”.
