Insecurity national embarrassment, Tinubu must act decisively — Kalejaye

Michael Olumide

A prominent legal practitioner and Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Asiwaju Kunle Kalejaye, has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to declare a national emergency on banditry, kidnapping, terrorism, and other forms of violent crimes threatening Nigeria’s stability.

Kalejaye, who is also the Chairman of Eagle 102.5 FM, an Ijebu-based radio station with a rapidly growing audience across the country, appealed in his Democracy Day message, warning that the nation’s worsening security situation requires urgent and extraordinary measures.

The legal luminary described the persistent wave of insecurity across various parts of the country as a national embarrassment, arguing that the continued activities of terrorists, bandits, kidnappers, and other criminal elements are damaging Nigeria’s image both locally and internationally.

According to him, the Federal Government must move beyond conventional responses and adopt more decisive strategies capable of restoring public confidence and safeguarding lives and property.

Kalejaye warned that failure to confront the security challenge with greater urgency could further weaken citizens’ trust in the nation’s security institutions, particularly the Nigerian Army, which he noted is increasingly being associated with insecurity due to the activities of criminals disguising themselves in military uniforms.

He lamented that many criminal gangs now operate while impersonating military personnel, thereby creating confusion among citizens and eroding the respect traditionally enjoyed by the armed forces.

“The reputation of our military institution is gradually being undermined by the activities of criminal elements who now freely wear military uniforms while carrying out kidnappings, robberies, and other violent crimes. If this trend is not urgently addressed, public confidence in the military may continue to decline,” he stated.

While acknowledging efforts already being made by the Tinubu administration to tackle insecurity, Kalejaye maintained that such efforts may not achieve the desired impact unless they are backed by a bold national declaration that clearly demonstrates the government’s commitment to defeating terrorism.

He argued that declaring a national emergency on terrorism would send a powerful signal to both citizens and the international community that Nigeria is determined to mobilize all available resources toward ending the menace.

According to him, such a declaration would also serve as a rallying point for stronger collaboration among security agencies, state governments, local communities, and other stakeholders in the fight against violent crimes.

The Senior Advocate further expressed concern over the increasing boldness of criminal groups, noting that their operations are no longer restricted to remote forests and rural communities.

He observed that terrorists and kidnappers are gradually extending their activities into urban centres and major cities, creating widespread fear and uncertainty among citizens.

Kalejaye stressed that the essence of democracy cannot be fully realized in an environment where people live under constant threat of violence and insecurity.

He argued that the protection of lives and property remains one of the primary constitutional responsibilities of government and should therefore receive the highest level of attention.

“Democracy thrives where citizens feel safe and secure. When insecurity becomes widespread, it weakens public confidence in governance and undermines the gains of democratic rule,” he said.

The legal icon also emphasized the need for proactive security management, urging government agencies to strengthen intelligence gathering and early warning mechanisms capable of identifying emerging threats before they escalate.

According to him, successful security administration requires anticipating threats and neutralizing them before they become too powerful to contain.

Kalejaye therefore renewed his appeal to President Tinubu to immediately declare a national emergency on terrorism and related criminal activities, insisting that the move would demonstrate Nigeria’s total rejection of violence and its determination to eliminate those responsible for it.

“It is left to President Tinubu to save our nation at this perilous time,” he declared.
His remarks add to the growing calls from concerned Nigerians, civil society groups, and public affairs commentators urging the Federal Government to adopt stronger measures in response to the country’s persistent security challenges.

As Nigeria marks another Democracy Day, the call by Kalejaye underscores the widespread concern that the success of democratic governance ultimately depends on the ability of the government to guarantee the safety and security of its citizens.