DON’T ALLOW TRUMP PROMOTE RELIGIOUS WAR IN NIGERIA, FALANA WARNS FG
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By: Sefiu Ajape
Human rights lawyer, Femi Falana (SAN) has said Nigeria’s armed forces are capable of defeating terrorism and banditry without foreign intervention if they are properly funded and motivated. He also cautioned the Federal Government against allowing United States President Donald Trump to promote a religious narrative around Nigeria’s security challenges.
Falana, who spoke with journalists in his hometown of Ilawe Ekiti on Saturday, expressed concern that terrorists, judging by videos in circulation, appear better equipped than Nigerian soldiers. He blamed years of neglect and corruption for the situation and urged the government to adequately equip the military to secure victory in the war against insecurity.
“If the members of the armed forces are well equipped and motivated, they can deal with terrorism and banditry.
“But as a result of the neglect of vital security institutions over the years, the ragtag armies of criminal elements are winning the war on terror. It is a shame,” he said.
The senior advocate lamented that funds meant for arms procurement had allegedly been stolen by some influential individuals, calling for urgent steps to recover such monies and deploy them for their intended purpose.
“How do you fight terrorism in an environment where the money budgeted for the procurement of arms and ammunition is stolen by well-known criminal elements in society?” he queried.
Falana said his experience defending military officers charged with offences under the Armed Forces Act had shown that many soldiers were willing to prosecute the counter-insurgency war but lacked essential equipment.
“From time to time, I defend military officers and soldiers who are charged with war crimes and other offences under the Armed Forces Act. I know that they are prepared to prosecute the counter-insurgency operation, but they lack vital equipment.
“The money earmarked for the procurement of arms and ammunition was stolen by a coterie of military officers and their civilian collaborators. The courts are not helping, as they hide under dubious technicalities to free indicted criminals who stole billions of naira in procurement funds,” he said.
Citing specific cases, Falana added, “For instance, a service chief was charged with stealing ₦22.8bn. The Federal High Court freed him on the ground that he was not charged before a court-martial. Meanwhile, he was charged with money laundering, which can only be tried exclusively by the Federal High Court.
“A former governor was charged with stealing ₦6.9bn from the Office of the then National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki. A judge has just freed him without even allowing him to defend himself.
“A few other military officers and civilians who stole about ₦200bn have been asked to go home and enjoy the stolen funds earmarked for the purchase of military hardware. Meanwhile, our soldiers are ill-equipped because of the criminal diversion of huge funds.”
He stressed the urgency of recovering stolen defense funds, saying, “So, the government must put in place a mechanism for the recovery of money meant for the procurement of arms and ammunition which has been stolen, with a view to using the funds for the purpose for which they were meant as a matter of urgency.
“If you equip your armed forces and motivate the members, Nigeria can fight terrorism and banditry without the intervention of any country. To secure Nigeria is not the business of any foreign nation; it is the duty of the government under the constitution, and that duty must be carried out by the government.”
Reacting to reports of a US airstrike in Sokoto and claims that Nigeria provided intelligence for the operation, Falana warned against framing the fight against terrorism as a religious conflict.
“Let the Nigerian government be warned not to allow US President Mr. Donald Trump to promote religious war in Nigeria. Trump is saying his intervention is to protect Christians.
“The criminals that are killing Nigerians do not care about religion; those who are collecting ransom after kidnapping Nigerians do not worry about religion. Therefore, the war against terror in Nigeria must be carried out without any attempt to divide our people along religious and ethnic lines,” he said.
Falana also linked insecurity to social and economic challenges, particularly unemployment among youths.
“Also, you cannot end insecurity in a country without addressing social insecurity. If young people are unemployed and unemployment is on the increase, some of them are likely to be driven to criminality. It is often said that ‘the devil finds work for idle hands.’
“So while the government is being pressured to fund and equip the armed forces and the Nigerian Police Force, sufficient attention must be paid to youth unemployment,” he added.
Nigeria has witnessed a surge in banditry, killings and kidnappings in recent months.
The situation drew international attention after Trump described the violence as attacks on Christians and ordered airstrikes reportedly carried out on a terrorist base in Sokoto on Christmas Day, with the Federal Government confirming that it provided intelligence for the operation.
The development has since generated mixed reactions nationwide.
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