THE former presidential candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Party, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, has raised alarm over the deepening insecurity across the country, warning that Nigeria’s unity and stability are increasingly under threat.
In a statement shared on his X handle today, the former Minister of Defence said that addressing the rising wave of violence remains the core responsibility of the Federal Government in collaboration with states, local governments, and relevant stakeholders but noted that the situation now appears beyond the government’s control.
Kwankwaso faulted the growing dependence on state backed vigilante outfits, many of whom he said lack proper training and have contributed to the spread of illegal weapons nationwide.
Regrettably, it appears the Federal Government is overwhelmed, he wrote. Its tacit approval for state governments to establish and deploy vigilante groups with little or no professional training has inadvertently fuelled the widespread circulation of small arms and light weapons.
He also expressed concern over increasing incidents of ethnic and regional profiling, describing reports of citizens being targeted, harassed, detained, or even tortured in some parts of the country as disturbing.
According to him, some political actors are now exploiting insecurity to form private militias, further endangering Nigeria’s fragile peace.
He continued, The rising wave of ethnic and regional profiling, harassment, intimidation and hate speech often driven by ethnic and religious sentiments poses a grave danger to national cohesion.
Kwankwaso urged the Federal Government to take urgent and decisive steps to halt the deteriorating security situation before it worsens.
As a former Minister of Defence and Chairman of the Committee on the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons, I find the free movement of arms across the country deeply alarming and unacceptable, he said.
He also congratulated retired General Christopher Musa on his appointment as Minister of Defence, expressing confidence in his capacity to help stabilise the country if given the necessary political support.