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Banditry, kidnapping threaten democracy, Kalejaye warns Tinubu
…Urges Tinubu to Launch Full-Scale Offensive Against Terrorism
By James Ogunnaike, Abeokuta
A prominent legal practitioner and Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Asiwaju Kunle Kalejaye, has urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to declare a national emergency on terrorism, banditry and kidnapping, warning that the growing insecurity across the country threatens Nigeria’s unity, stability and democratic progress.
Kalejaye, a respected legal figure based in Ibadan and Chairman of Eagle FM, Ilese-Ijebu, made the appeal in his Democracy Day message, adding his voice to increasing calls for stronger and more decisive measures to address the nation’s security challenges.
He described the persistent attacks by terrorists and criminal gangs as a national disgrace, noting that the situation has damaged Nigeria’s reputation both at home and abroad.
According to him, the Federal Government must adopt more aggressive and comprehensive strategies to tackle insecurity before it further undermines the country’s security framework.
“The responsibility now rests on President Tinubu to rescue the nation from this dangerous situation,” Kalejaye stated.
The senior lawyer cautioned that continued delays in addressing the security crisis could further weaken public confidence in the nation’s security agencies, particularly the Nigerian Army, which may increasingly be viewed as unable to effectively protect citizens from criminal elements.
He expressed concern over the widespread use of military uniforms by bandits, kidnappers and other armed groups during their operations, stressing that the trend has negatively affected the image and credibility of the armed forces.
“Public trust in the military has been seriously eroded because criminals now disguise themselves in military attire while carrying out their unlawful activities,” he said.
Kalejaye warned that if immediate action is not taken to halt the development, the dignity, reputation and public esteem traditionally enjoyed by the military could suffer even greater damage.
While acknowledging efforts already made by the government to improve security, he argued that such initiatives may not yield the desired outcome without a clear national declaration that demonstrates the country’s determination to confront and defeat terrorism.
According to him, declaring a state of emergency on terrorism would signal Nigeria’s firm commitment to rejecting violence and deploying every necessary resource to eliminate those threatening national peace and unity.
The legal luminary also called on the Federal Government to design and implement practical strategies aimed at dismantling terrorist networks, warning that criminal groups have become increasingly daring in their activities.
He noted that insecurity is no longer confined to rural areas, as incidents of attacks and violence are now being recorded in urban centres across the country.
Kalejaye further observed that celebrating democratic achievements while citizens continue to live under the constant fear of attacks diminishes the true meaning of democracy and weakens public trust in governance.
“The protection of lives and property remains one of the primary constitutional duties of government. Effective security management requires proactive steps to identify threats early and neutralise them before they escalate beyond control,” he said.
He therefore renewed his call on President Tinubu to immediately declare a national emergency on terrorism and related crimes, insisting that such action would demonstrate Nigeria’s collective resolve to eradicate insecurity.
“Nigeria must send a clear message that terrorism, banditry and kidnapping will not be tolerated. The moment for firm and decisive action has arrived,” he added.