Security Agencies Urged To Profile NGOs, CSOs Over Illicit Activities

Citing the worrisome activities of non-state actors and their unsavoury effects on Nigeria, the Save Nigeria Movement (SNM) has appealed to security agencies to profile non-governmental organisations and civil society organisations (CSOs).

The group expressed concern that their activities were denting the image of the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

SNM, a frontline CSO in Nigeria, said it was time for the security agencies to activate the necessary channels to curb the groups‘ menace.

These views were contained in a statement jointly signed by Rev Solomon Semaka and Dr Richard Oduma, the Task Force on Illegal CSOs co-conveners, released to journalists in Abuja yesterday.
They called on the Inspector-General of Police and the Intelligence Services to strengthen their efforts and beam the searchlight on the rising reports of activities of some criminal syndicates which specialised in blackmailing and extorting unsuspecting government officials using the Freedom of Information Act.

Semaka said, „While we have consistently advocated for public officials to be accountable to the people, we do not support the abuse of the process in any form, much less the criminalisation of it as a tool for blackmail, extortion, and intimidation by non-state actors who are entrenched in their activities.

Sadly, the federal government agencies are the worst victims due to the unrestricted and unrealistic Freedom of Information Act provisions.

The right to interrogate public officials should not become a weapon of blackmail, intimidation and extortion by unpatriotic elements,“ Semaka warned.

He lamented that the proliferation of illegal CSOs in the country had worsened the situation. The activities of non-state actors had become rampant, negatively affecting the government‘s activities.

Reacting to the most recent discovery of one of such criminal syndicates parading as an NGO (name withheld), Semaka alerted security agencies, public officials, government and the general public to beware of this particular syndicate that uses the names of prominent serving and retired security personnel and other elder statesmen to promote their unwholesome activities. He said the so-called NGO that has turned itself into an anti-corruption body freely intimidating, blackmailing, and extorting public officials has extended its illegal activities to some agencies in the presidency and many other MDAs under the guise of fighting corruption. „The security agencies must live up to their responsibilities,“ he said.

While explicitly calling on the inspector general of police to investigate the individuals behind the new syndicate, Semaka said the group had also impersonated a former IGP, Chief Mike Okiro, retired DIG D.J. Doma, Chief Maxwell Okudo, CP Ibrahim Bichi (rtd), Alhaji Tijjani Hassim as their patrons, a position the former police chief has personally distanced himself from.

Chief Mike Okiro does not know and does not have anything to do with any NGOs or CSOs involved in illicit activities and called on the security agencies to investigate and stem the rising tide of the activities of non-state actors within the country‘s public service, noting its negative effect on the general administration and development.

The group noted that if security agencies take the necessary steps to profile CSOs, NGOs, and media houses in the country, the government will soon be able to manage the activities of non-state actors, hence the need for urgent action.

A situation where the fate and stability of government agencies are left at the mercy of non-state actors under the guise of freedom of information or anti-corruption crusade is highly unacceptable. We must strengthen our regulations to serve the common interests of the government and the general public.

„We have various anti-corruption agencies in the country, such as the EFCC, ICPC, The Nigerian Police, DSS, etc, that have a responsibility to check the excesses of public officials.

It is, therefore, counterproductive for non-state actors to be allowed to have a free day demanding outrageous information and secret documents which they use to strengthen their illegal trade.

“As a frontline civil rights advocacy group, we call for and appreciate public officials‘ demand for transparency and accountability. However, it must be sought within the ambit of the law, hence the need for security agencies to profile CSOs, NGOs, and the Media going forward.

The group insisted that unless the activities of non-state actors are regulated and closely monitored, they will continue to hinder development and negatively impact the overall public perception of the government.

Citing the worrisome activities of non-state actors and their unsavoury effects on Nigeria, a group, Save Nigeria Movement (SNM), has appealed to security agencies to profile the non-governmental organisations and civil society organisations (CSOs).

The group expressed concern that their activities were denting the image of the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

SNM, a frontline CSO in Nigeria, said it was time for the security agencies to activate the necessary channels to curb the groups‘ menace.

These views were contained in a statement jointly signed by Rev Solomon Semaka and Dr Richard Oduma, the Task Force on Illegal CSOs co-conveners, released to journalists in Abuja yesterday.

They called on the Inspector-General of Police and the Intelligence Services to strengthen their efforts and beam the searchlight on the rising reports of activities of some criminal syndicates which specialised in blackmailing and extorting unsuspecting government officials using the Freedom of Information Act.

Semaka said, „While we have consistently advocated for public officials to be accountable to the people, we do not support the abuse of the process in any form, much less the criminalisation of it as a tool for blackmail, extortion, and intimidation by non-state actors who are entrenched in their activities.

Sadly, the federal government agencies are the worst victims due to the unrestricted and unrealistic Freedom of Information Act provisions.

The right to interrogate public officials should not become a weapon of blackmail, intimidation and extortion by unpatriotic elements,“ Semaka warned.

He lamented that the proliferation of illegal CSOs in the country had made the situation worse, where the activities of non-state actors had become rampant and negatively affected the activities of the government.“

Reacting to the most recent discovery of one of such criminal syndicates parading as an NGO (name withheld), Semaka alerted security agencies, public officials, government and the general public to beware of this particular syndicate that uses the names of prominent serving and retired security personnel and other elder statesmen to promote their unwholesome activities. He said the so-called NGO that has turned itself into an anti-corruption body freely intimidating, blackmailing, and extorting public officials has extended its illegal activities to some agencies in the presidency and many other MDAs under the guise of fighting corruption. The security agencies must live up to their responsibilities,“ he said.

While explicitly calling on the inspector general of police to investigate the individuals behind the new syndicate, Semaka said the group had also impersonated a former IGP, Chief Mike Okiro, retired DIG D.J. Doma, Chief Maxwell Okudo, CP Ibrahim Bichi (rtd), Alhaji Tijjani Hassim as their patrons, a position the former police chief has personally distanced himself from.

Chief Mike Okiro does not know and does not have anything to do with any NGOs or CSOs involved in illicit activities and called on the security agencies to investigate and stem the rising tide of the activities of non-state actors within the country‘s public service, noting it‘s negative effect on the general administration and development.

The group noted that if security agencies take the necessary steps to profile CSOs, NGOs, and media houses in the country, the government would soon be able to manage the activities of non-state actors, hence the need for urgent action.

A situation where the fate and stability of government agencies are left at the mercy of non-state actors under the guise of freedom of information or anti-corruption crusade is highly unacceptable. We must strengthen our regulations to serve the common interests of the government and the public.

We have various anti-corruption agencies in the country, such as the EFCC, ICPC, The Nigerian Police, DSS, etc, that have a responsibility to check the excesses of public officials.

It is, therefore, counterproductive for non-state actors to be allowed to have a free day demanding outrageous information and secret documents which they use to strengthen their illegal trade.

As a frontline civil rights advocacy group, we call for and appreciate the demand for transparency and accountability from public officials, but it must be sought within the ambit of the law, hence the need for security agencies to profile CSOs, NGOs and the Media in the future.

The group insisted that unless the activities of non-state actors are regulated and closely monitored, they will continue to hinder development and negatively affect the overall public perception of the government.