Nigeria Security Scandal Tinubu Urged to Probe NSA

A call has been made for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to investigate allegations that National Security Adviser Mallam Nuhu Ribadu and Kwara State Governor Abdul Rahman Abdul Razaq are involved in arming Fulani bandits and other non‑state actors in the state. The appeal was issued by Timi Frank, a former Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress.

The allegations emerged after Nigerian soldiers arrested armed men in the Ifelodun Local Government Area of Kwara State. The detainees were found with AK‑47 rifles and a patrol vehicle that was allegedly linked to the state government, and they claimed that the arms and vehicle had been provided by that government.

Initially, Kwara State officials said the suspects were members of Miyetti Allah and were operating under a federal security arrangement coordinated by the Office of the National Security Adviser. The state later confirmed that the arrested individuals were part of a security operation linked to the NSA’s office. The NSA’s office first acknowledged that arms had been issued to vigilantes under “hybrid security operations” in line with the Terrorism Prevention and Prohibition Act, but then abruptly denied arming kidnappers, militias, or socio‑cultural groups, stating that those involved were merely vigilantes known to the NSA.

These conflicting accounts have raised serious questions about the authorization and recruitment of the armed men, as well as the repeated changes in official statements. Timi Frank has criticized the NSA’s office for its “sudden and suspicious U‑turn,” suggesting either gross incompetence or a deliberate cover‑up. He described the situation as a “national security scandal” that requires immediate attention.

Frank has urged President Tinubu to order an independent probe into the roles of the NSA and the Kwara State Government, to investigate the contradictory statements from the NSA’s office, and to ensure that any official found to have armed or enabled non‑state actors outside the law is held accountable. He also called on the United States government to consider imposing visa restrictions on the two officials and to exercise caution in sharing intelligence with Nigeria until the matter is thoroughly investigated. The outcome of the investigation is expected to have significant implications for Nigeria’s national security architecture.