A civil society organisation, the Southern Zone and Middle Belt Alliance for Peace (SZMBAP), has raised serious concerns over what it describes as the involvement of influential Nigerians in efforts to destabilize the country and sabotage President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration.
At a press briefing in Abuja, the group’s National Chairman, Dr. Amaechi Okolie, alleged that some prominent figures were actively working to undermine Nigeria’s sovereignty through indirect support of non-state actors.
Dr. Okolie urged the Federal Government to adopt decisive and strategic measures to curb the escalating insecurity across the country. Highlighting the severity of the situation, he emphasized the need for swift and lawful action to dismantle the operations of armed groups responsible for widespread violence and displacement.
“We call on the Nigerian government to urgently take very legal and radical steps to put immediate stop to insecurity and forms of insurgency perpetrated by gun-wielding non-state actors,” he said.
According to SZMBAP, the unchecked activities of these groups have led to the forceful occupation of communities and the emergence of more internally displaced persons (IDPs) across the country.
Okolie decried the growing influence of non-state actors who, he said, have seized portions of Nigerian territory. He stressed that the continuation of such actions posed a grave threat to the nation’s territorial integrity and must be halted with urgency.
The group also expressed concern over alleged internal complicity in the country’s worsening security challenges. “We suspect that the violent and criminal non-state actors do not act without the support of highly placed and influential Nigerians, home and abroad,” Okolie stated. He called for an investigation into such claims, urging security agencies to act without fear or favor in bringing complicit individuals to justice.
While acknowledging that security is a shared responsibility, the SZMBAP leader called for stronger collaboration between federal and state governments. He stressed that protecting citizens’ lives and property remains a core mandate of governance. Okolie also advocated for inclusive regional cooperation, stating that national unity was essential to defeating insecurity.
In addition, Okolie encouraged Nigerians to engage with security agencies and exercise their constitutional right to self-defense where necessary. He advised communities to remain vigilant and proactive in protecting themselves while working within legal boundaries. “Security is not the job of government alone. Every Nigerian must take responsibility for the peace of this nation,” he added.
The CSO reaffirmed its support for President Tinubu’s “Renewed Hope” agenda, expressing optimism in his administration’s capacity to lead Nigeria toward lasting peace. “We fully and wholeheartedly support the ongoing efforts by President Bola Tinubu to restore peace and stability in the country,” Okolie concluded.
Leave a comment