The Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC) has called on the Federal Government to declare a national emergency on insecurity following the worsening wave of kidnappings, banditry, and violent attacks across Nigeria, describing the death of retired Major General Rabe Abubakar in bandits’ captivity as a tragic symbol of the country’s deepening security crisis.
In a statement by its Executive Director, Comrade Auwal Musa Rafsanjani, CISLAC expressed grave concern over the persistent deterioration of security despite the trillions of naira allocated annually to defence and security operations.
Rafsanjani said the death of the retired military officer underscores the expanding reach of insecurity across the country, leaving even former senior military commanders vulnerable to criminal elements.
According to him, Nigeria has continued to lose military officers, security personnel, traditional rulers, community leaders, and ordinary citizens to criminal groups, raising serious questions about the effectiveness of the nation’s security architecture.
‘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’, Rafsanjani said.
He noted that the country has continued to lose highly ranked military officers and security personnel in the line of duty, while criminal groups operate with increasing boldness across several regions.
Rafsanjani said the situation reflects a collective failure of the political class to adequately address the nation’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.
Rafsanjani also lamented rising kidnappings, especially schoolchildren abductions and attacks on rural communities, warning that the trend is eroding public confidence and discouraging school attendance in affected areas.
He cited Amnesty International’s April 2026 report which indicated 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, with the figure rising further following recent mass kidnappings.
Rafsanjani noted that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, in his 12 June Democracy Day address, disclosed that the Federal Government had committed N5.41 trillion to defence and security in the 2026 budget, the largest security allocation in the country’s history.
The President also highlighted ongoing military cooperation with international partners, including the United States, France, and other European countries, as well as recent operations that reportedly degraded an ISWAP command centre in Arege, Borno State. However, Rafsanjani argued that despite these significant investments and operational claims, insecurity continues to worsen across many 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 systemic failures, negligence, weak intelligence coordination, and corruption within the security sector.
He questioned how criminal groups continue to organise and operate across the country despite the existence of multiple intelligence institutions, 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.
Rafsanjani further called for transparency and accountability in security spending, noting that despite huge annual budgetary allocations to defence and security agencies, insecurity continues to worsen.
He called for a comprehensive audit of security spending and security votes at federal and state levels.
Rafsanjani also urged improvements in the welfare, training, equipment, and operational capacity of security personnel, stressing the need for proactive, intelligence-led operations.
While acknowledging discussions on state policing, he cautioned that any implementation must be guided by strong legal and accountability frameworks to prevent abuse.
He criticised political leaders for prioritising elections and political positioning over urgent security challenges, warning that governance becomes meaningless without citizen safety.
Rafsanjani further urged the National Assembly to intensify oversight of security institutions and ensure proper utilisation of security resources.
CISLAC reiterated its call for comprehensive security sector reforms, stronger intelligence coordination, enhanced community engagement, and sustained political will to restore peace and security across Nigeria.
