Former presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has called for an immediate and independent probe into allegations that government officials supplied arms and logistics to suspected terrorists, following the circulation of a video from Kwara State showing detainees making such claims.
In a statement posted on X, Obi described the allegations as disturbing and said they raised serious questions about accountability within Nigeria’s security architecture. The video reportedly shows individuals arrested by security forces claiming that ammunition and other support were provided to them by officials. Nigerian authorities have not confirmed the claims.
Obi said successive governments had collected trillions of naira and billions of dollars for security, yet insecurity continues to spread across the country. “Over the years, trillions of naira and billions of dollars have been collected in the name of security. Yet insecurity has only expanded, and in an increasingly brazen manner,” he said.
He cited the persistence of kidnapping, banditry, and terrorism despite Nigeria’s control over intelligence and monitoring systems, referencing former military ruler Sani Abacha’s remark that prolonged insurgency implies government involvement and former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s criticism of negotiating with terrorists despite advanced tracking capabilities.
Obi recalled that Nigeria previously invested in police communication and tracking infrastructure to monitor criminal movements, questioning why these systems are not used to tackle current threats.
He also highlighted recent school abductions, noting that while some victims were released, no arrests have been announced for others still in captivity.
“When insecurity persists day after day, it points either to complicity or to a failure of leadership”, he said.
Obi stressed that Nigeria requires competent, transparent, and accountable leadership, warning that without it, insecurity will persist, undermining public trust and national stability.
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