Former Senate President and chairman of Senate Committee on Defence, Senator Ahmad Lawan, has raised concerns over the resurgence of security threats across Nigeria, warning that recent developments pointed to a disturbing evolution in the nation’s security landscape.
Speaking in Abuja, Senator Lawan acknowledged past successes in counter-insurgency operations, particularly in the North-East, but expressed worry that recent attacks suggested a renewed attempt by insurgent elements to regain visibility and relevance.
“It is unfortunate that the security situation is now taking another dimension,” he said. “Previously, our security forces dealt very fatal blows to insurgency in the Northeast. Any serious-minded person would admit that we had an improvement. But recent events show that insecurity appears to be coming back.”
He attributed the resurgence to remnants of insurgents attempting to assert their presence, even though, according to him, “they are not as important as they used to be.”
Lawan noted that the federal government has been making significant investments in the country’s security architecture, including the armed forces and other security agencies.
However, he emphasised that safeguarding the nation was not the responsibility of the government alone.
“Our armed forces and security agencies are doing their best. The rest is for us—to support them through genuine information, through prayers, through anything we can offer,” he said. “Security personnel are Nigerians like us. Theirs is to fight; ours is to support them.”
He urged the government to sustain heavy investment in national security and called on citizens to play a more active role in supporting law enforcement efforts.
“I know how much the federal government is putting into this because I chair the Senate Committee on Defence. But all hands must be on deck,” Lawan said. “Every citizen should become part of the security architecture by volunteering information and providing the support our security agencies need.”
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