Security crisis: Shehu Sani, AFF warn FG to act, seek international help

Senator Shehu Sani

Security Crisis: A Nation on the Brink

-SEB EDITORIAL-

Nigeria’s worsening security situation has once again been thrust into the spotlight, this time by the urgent warnings of Senator Shehu Sani and the Africa Freedom Foundation (AFF).

At a one-day summit in Abuja themed “Conversation on the Search for Peace in Nigeria”, stakeholders from across religious, political, and security sectors gathered to confront the grim reality of relentless killings, kidnappings, and human rights violations.

Their message was clear: the Federal Government must act decisively, and if overwhelmed, seek international assistance to prevent total collapse of public safety.

Shehu Sani, a former senator and long-time critic of government complacency, emphasized the fragility of Nigeria’s unity. He questioned the opaque management of billions allocated annually to security agencies, insisting that accountability is non-negotiable. His words carried a sobering weight: “Muslims are killed in Katsina, Christians are killed in Benue. Muslims are killed in Zamfara, Christians are killed in Plateau. Every day people are being buried. What are we talking about?” This lament underscored the indiscriminate nature of violence, cutting across ethnic and religious lines, and eroding the very fabric of coexistence.

Religious leaders echoed his concerns. Archbishop James Malgit condemned the escalation of violence and impunity, urging immediate government intervention to restore justice and peace.

Chief Imam Abubakar Sadik Yusuf decried the rising tide of kidnappings and killings, warning that ignoring the plight of ordinary Nigerians would only deepen the crisis. Their joint communique stressed transparency in the allocation of security resources, arguing that only through accountability and effective governance can lasting peace be achieved.

The summit’s collective voice carried a sense of urgency and humility. Governance, they argued, requires openness and dialogue, not arrogance or isolation. 

Sani reminded leaders that power does not confer a monopoly of wisdom; solutions must be sought through collaboration, even beyond national borders if necessary. 

This call for international help is not a sign of weakness but a recognition that Nigeria’s crisis has reached a scale that demands global solidarity.

At its core, the warning is both a plea and a challenge. A plea for the government to prioritize the lives of its citizens over political calculations, and a challenge to confront corruption and inefficiency within the security apparatus. 

Nigeria is running out of time, and the summit’s participants made it clear: decisive action is the only path to prevent the descent into chaos.

This editorial is not merely a reflection of the summit’s proceedings but a reminder of the stakes. The nation stands at a crossroads where silence and inaction could prove fatal. 

The voices of Shehu Sani, AFF, and the religious leaders must not be dismissed as routine rhetoric. They represent the conscience of a nation demanding peace, justice, and responsible governance before the crisis consumes all.