Insecurity: Diaspora group urges Tinubu to sack underperforming security heads
City Beats
The Congress for the Defence of Citizens (CDC), a London-based civil society group, has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to overhaul Nigeria’s security architecture by removing underperforming security chiefs.
In a statement issued on Tuesday and signed by its Global Convener, Prince Ugo, the group decried the worsening security situation across the country, citing a surge in kidnappings and killings.
The CDC expressed outrage over recent developments in the northeast, where soldiers were reportedly abducted by terrorists in Marte Local Government Area of Borno State.
“What we are seeing is beyond failure—it is a total collapse. The military is no longer able to defend even itself. Just recently, terrorists seized billions of naira worth of weapons, and now they’ve taken our soldiers into hiding,” the statement read.
The group described the situation as unacceptable and urged those holding key security positions to resign voluntarily if they can no longer deliver, rather than wait to be dismissed.
“The Congress for the Defence of Citizens is shaken by the sheer audacity of these attacks. We are horrified that Nigerian soldiers—those meant to protect us—are now being captured by terrorists in Borno,” the statement added.
“The implications are terrifying: If the military cannot defend its own, what hope is there for ordinary Nigerians? What more evidence does President Tinubu need to see that the current service chiefs are not fit for purpose?”
The organisation called on the President to act swiftly and decisively, insisting that “the honeymoon is over” for the current leadership of Nigeria’s armed forces.
“This is not a time for diplomacy or delay. We call on President Tinubu to immediately relieve the service chiefs of their duties,” CDC said.
The group also condemned what it described as “reactionary and scattered” responses by the armed forces to attacks on civilian communities and military infrastructure.
“The military’s conduct reveals a complete breakdown of strategy and leadership. The terrorists are emboldened because they know they can strike and get away with it—sometimes even from within earshot of a barracks.”
CDC warned that unless President Tinubu undertakes a sweeping overhaul of the military’s top leadership, Nigeria risks descending further into chaos.
“Our soldiers are no longer seen as symbols of safety. Instead, they are now victims—overwhelmed, outgunned, and outmanoeuvred. This should never be the case,” the statement read.
Prince Ugo said the CDC is now in consultation with Nigerian diaspora communities and international rights organisations to escalate global awareness of the deteriorating security situation.
“As Nigerians abroad, we will not stand by while our homeland becomes a wasteland of fear and failure. We are preparing a full dossier of security lapses, equipment losses, and civilian casualties. Nigeria must be held accountable, and so must those who lead its defence forces,” he said.
He stressed that the CDC’s campaign would continue until “a genuine and sweeping reform” of the security leadership is achieved.
The CDC’s call came amid growing outrage in Nigeria following reports of deadly attacks across several states by insurgents.
