The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Federal Government, and state governors to take urgent and decisive measures to address the worsening security situation across the country, following a stark warning by former Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Tukur Yusuf Buratai (Rtd.), over the growing threat posed by terrorists, insurgents, and bandits.
In a statement issued on June 16, 2026, and signed by its National Coordinator, Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko, the rights advocacy group said Buratai’s recent comments should not be viewed through a political lens but rather as a serious national security alert from a seasoned military leader with extensive experience in Nigeria’s security architecture.
According to HURIWA, the former army chief’s warning that ministers, governors, senators, and other high-ranking public officials could soon become direct targets of terrorists and criminal gangs reflects the dangerous level of confidence and operational capacity that non-state actors have attained in recent years.
The group noted that Buratai’s remarks, coming shortly after reports of the abduction and killing of senior military officer Major General Rabe Abubakar, highlight an increasingly troubling security environment in which criminal elements appear emboldened enough to challenge the authority and legitimacy of the Nigerian state.
HURIWA stated that Nigeria has reached a critical stage where insecurity can no longer be treated as an ordinary governance challenge but must be recognized as a full-scale national emergency requiring extraordinary intervention.
The organization therefore called for the immediate declaration of a National Security Emergency across the country, arguing that such a move would signal the seriousness of government’s commitment to restoring public safety and strengthening national stability.
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According to the group, the persistent wave of terrorism, insurgency, banditry, kidnapping, and violent criminality has continued to undermine public confidence in the ability of security institutions to protect lives and property.
As part of its recommendations, HURIWA demanded a comprehensive review of the nation’s security leadership structure, including the performance of top security officials entrusted with safeguarding the country.
The rights organization specifically called for an objective assessment of the National Security Adviser, the Inspector-General of Police, and other key security chiefs, insisting that officials found wanting in the discharge of their responsibilities should be replaced in the overriding interest of national security.
According to HURIWA, accountability within the security sector remains essential if Nigeria hopes to reverse the growing tide of violence and insecurity.
The association also backed Buratai’s call for a more aggressive military and intelligence-driven strategy against terrorists and bandits.
Reiterating a position it has maintained over the years, HURIWA criticized policies involving the negotiation, rehabilitation, and reintegration of former terrorists and violent extremists into society without what it described as adequate accountability mechanisms.
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The group argued that such initiatives have failed to deter criminal behavior and may have inadvertently encouraged impunity by creating the perception that violent offenders can evade meaningful consequences for their actions.
HURIWA stressed that government should prioritize justice for victims and support for communities devastated by insurgency rather than programmes aimed at rehabilitating perpetrators while thousands of citizens remain displaced, widowed, orphaned, traumatized, or killed by violent groups.
The organization further urged the Federal Government to launch what it described as a total and uncompromising war against terrorism, insurgency, banditry, kidnapping, and all forms of violent criminality threatening Nigeria’s unity and territorial integrity.
It emphasized that any effective strategy must go beyond military operations to include dismantling the financial, logistical, and intelligence networks that enable criminal organizations to recruit, fund operations, and sustain their activities across different regions of the country.
HURIWA also expressed concern over recurring allegations of corruption in defence procurement and security-related contracts, warning that such practices continue to weaken the country’s capacity to combat insecurity effectively.
The group urged the Federal Government to thoroughly investigate all claims of financial misconduct involving military procurement, intelligence funding, and security contracts, insisting that funds allocated for national defence must be used strictly for their intended purposes.
According to the association, corruption remains one of the greatest obstacles to operational effectiveness within the security sector, often resulting in inadequate equipment, poor troop welfare, weakened intelligence gathering, and reduced combat readiness among frontline personnel.
The rights group warned that if the scenario outlined by General Buratai eventually materializes, Nigeria could face an unprecedented security crisis capable of threatening constitutional democracy and the stability of state institutions.
It noted that the successful targeting of top government officials by terrorists or bandits would represent a significant erosion of state authority and could trigger widespread instability, insecurity, and loss of public confidence in government.