The recent rise in ambushes and killings of Nigerian soldiers in the northern region is deeply alarming and heartbreaking. These men and women risk their lives daily to protect citizens, yet many are being attacked and killed in brutal and dehumanising ways by terrorists and bandits. No country should watch its security personnel suffer such losses without urgent intervention.
There is growing public concern regarding the integration of so-called “repented” terrorists and bandits into security formations across the country. Evidence and observations suggest that this practice may be compromising operational safety, as some of these individuals may still hold loyalty to the groups they originally belonged to. This raises the troubling possibility that sensitive information is being leaked, making it easier for criminal groups to carry out coordinated ambushes against military personnel.
The government is therefore urged to thoroughly review and reform this approach. National security must never be placed at risk by policies that allow infiltration or weaken the integrity of the armed forces. A transparent audit of all security recruitment processes is necessary, along with stronger vetting, monitoring, and accountability mechanisms.
Since the rise of insecurity under past and present administrations: from the era of late President Muhammadu Buhari to the current leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Nigeria has witnessed escalating violence, particularly in the northern states. Communities continue to grieve, soldiers continue to be lost, and the nation’s global image continues to suffer.
Nigeria cannot afford to normalise these tragedies. The lives of its security personnel and citizens must be protected with the highest level of seriousness. Immediate, decisive, and strategic action is required to restore confidence in the security sector and to bring lasting peace to affected regions.
A safer Nigeria is possible, but it demands courage, accountability, and unwavering political will.
By Viewers Corner News