Obasanjo Advise Nigeria to Seek Foreign Help to Tackle Insurgency

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has declared that Nigerians have “the right” to call on the international community for intervention if the federal government fails to protect citizens from worsening insecurity.

Obasanjo made the remarks on Friday while speaking at a Christmas Carol in Jos, Plateau State, against the backdrop of a sharp rise in kidnappings, killings, and terrorist attacks across the country.

In recent weeks, more than 200 schoolchildren were kidnapped in Niger and Kebbi states, while worshippers in a church in Kwara were abducted during a livestreamed service.

In Borno, fighters of Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) ambushed a military convoy, capturing Brigadier General M. Uba alive before executing him.

Other states, including Zamfara, Sokoto, and Yobe, have also witnessed abductions and killings, fueling public anxiety and criticism of the government’s handling of security.

Obasanjo’s Criticism

Obasanjo accused the Bola Tinubu administration of being “incapable of protecting” Nigerians, urging authorities to stop “apologizing” and “negotiating” with terrorists and instead confront them with force.

“No matter what religion you belong to, no matter where you come from, no matter what profession you are in, we Nigerians are being killed, and our government seems to be incapable of protecting us,” he said.

“We are part of the world community, and if our government cannot do it, we have the right to call on the international community to do for us what our government cannot do for us.”

The former president added that Nigeria now has the technological capacity, including drones, to track and eliminate criminals, questioning why such tools are not being deployed effectively.

On Wednesday, President Tinubu declared a national security emergency and ordered the immediate recruitment of more security personnel.

The administration has framed the move as part of its efforts to respond to the insecurity challenge by strengthening policing frontline and fortifying military operations.