Retired senior military officers and associates of the late Major General Rabe Abubakar have called on Nigerians to stop attributing the country’s insecurity challenges to the northern region, insisting that terrorism, banditry, and kidnapping have become nationwide threats affecting all parts of the country.
The call was made during a press briefing in Kaduna held in honour of the late General Abubakar, who died while in captivity after being abducted alongside his wife near the Matazu area of Katsina State. His death, the retired officers said, underscores the deepening security crisis confronting the nation.
Speaking on behalf of the group, Brigadier-General Ismaila Abdullahi (rtd) said it was misleading and divisive to frame Nigeria’s insecurity as a regional or ethnic issue, stressing that criminal violence has spread across multiple geopolitical zones.
He warned that continued attempts to assign blame to a particular region risk undermining national unity and distracting from the collective effort required to address the crisis.
The briefing brought together several senior retired officers and diplomats, including Ambassador A. Mohammed Musawa, Air Commodore Yusuf Anas (rtd), Brigadier-General Maharazu Tsiga (rtd), Ambassador Ibrahim Usman Gafai, and Brigadier-General Abdulkadir Abubakar (rtd), all of whom shared concerns about the worsening security situation.
According to the group, the persistent wave of kidnappings, terrorism, and armed banditry should be viewed as a national emergency rather than a geographically isolated problem. They questioned what they described as “selective outrage” in public discourse, where incidents in some regions receive disproportionate attention while similar violence elsewhere is overlooked.
“Why are we so quick to assign blame based on geography? Are kidnappings and terrorism truly confined to one region of the country? Can any part of Nigeria claim immunity from the current wave of insecurity?” Abdullahi asked.
The retired officers said the death of Major General Abubakar in captivity represents a painful reminder of the dangers faced by citizens and security personnel alike. They described his killing as a reflection of systemic weaknesses in Nigeria’s security architecture and the urgent need for reform.
While acknowledging the efforts of both the federal and Katsina State governments in responding to the incident—particularly the successful rescue of the general’s wife, —the group insisted that more proactive and coordinated measures are required to address insecurity nationwide.
They argued that existing responses to security threats have often been reactive rather than preventive, allowing criminal networks to expand and adapt over time.
The officers also highlighted factors contributing to the crisis, including ethnic and religious tensions, weak intelligence coordination, and insufficient political will at different levels of government. According to them, these challenges have hindered efforts to build trust and cooperation among security stakeholders.
While supporting ongoing international security partnerships, the group stressed that Nigeria must take primary responsibility for its own security. They cautioned against over-reliance on foreign assistance, noting that sustainable solutions must be domestically driven.
“No external country can secure Nigeria for us. International cooperation is important, but the responsibility lies first with our institutions and leadership,” they said.
The retired officers further urged the 19 northern state governors to strengthen regional collaboration in addressing insecurity. They recommended the development of a coordinated security framework focused on tackling illegal arms proliferation, improving intelligence sharing, and strengthening community-based surveillance systems.
They also called for improved welfare support for families of security personnel and civilians affected by kidnappings and terrorism, emphasizing the need for sustained efforts to secure the release of all persons still held in captivity across different parts of the country.
Security analysts note that Nigeria’s insecurity challenges have evolved into a complex mix of insurgency, criminal banditry, communal conflict, and kidnapping-for-ransom operations, making it increasingly difficult to isolate causes along regional lines.
As the country continues to grapple with these threats, the retired officers’ message adds to growing calls for a unified national strategy that prioritizes cooperation, intelligence-led policing, and long-term structural reforms over ethnic or political blame.
Their appeal concludes with a broader warning that failure to adopt a collective approach could further deepen divisions and weaken the national response to one of Nigeria’s most pressing security challenges.
