A disability rights advocacy group, Joshua K B Disabilities Rights and Support Initiatives, has called on the Federal Government to thoroughly investigate and prosecute individuals allegedly involved in the sponsorship of terrorism, banditry and other violent crimes in Nigeria.
The non-governmental organisation made the call on Tuesday in Abuja, citing recent allegations by retired Nigerian Army Major General Danjuma Hamisu Ali-Keffi, a former head of a covert Presidential Task Force on counter-terrorism known as Operation Service Wide (OSW) under the late President Muhammadu Buhari.
In a statement signed by its Executive Secretary, Dr. Joshua Kingsley Benneth, the group warned that sweeping the allegations under the carpet could amount to complicity and further entrench a culture of impunity.
The NGO said the activities of armed groups and their alleged sponsors have resulted in widespread loss of lives and livelihoods, noting that more than 10,000 Nigerians have been left physically, emotionally and economically disabled due to years of insurgency and banditry.
Dr. Benneth urged the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu-led administration to demonstrate political will and moral courage by ordering a comprehensive inquiry into the allegations, stressing that such action would reassure Nigerians and the international community of the government’s commitment to national security.
He added that a decisive response would also signal to key global partners, including the United States, that Nigeria is serious about sustaining its renewed anti-terrorism campaign.
Citing available records, the group noted that as of June 2021, over 7,000 soldiers and personnel of other security agencies had been wounded in counter-insurgency operations, while a Nigerian Army report from November 2020 indicated that more than 700 soldiers had undergone amputations due to injuries sustained in the fight against Boko Haram.
According to the statement, the figures are likely to have increased significantly in the years since, given the continued violence across several parts of the country.
The organisation cautioned the Federal Government against complacency amid the renewed push against insecurity, while commending President Tinubu for appointing former Chief of Army Staff, General Christopher Musa, as Minister of Defence. It, however, urged the administration to match such decisions with firm action against those found culpable.
Failure to do so, the NGO warned, could deepen public fears that some individuals are above the law and beyond the reach of the presidency.
The group also expressed concern over what it described as a growing trend of Nigerians petitioning foreign governments due to perceived loss of confidence in the country’s ability to tackle insecurity decisively.
The NGO maintained that a transparent investigation into the allegations could help uncover deeper truths, restore public and international confidence, strengthen the economy, improve citizens’ welfare and contribute to a lasting legacy for future administrations.
It further called on the government to take proactive steps to reduce the growing population of persons with disabilities in the country, while providing adequate support for those already living with disabilities.
