Enough of the Excuses: APC Chieftain Demands Ruthless Military Onslaught Against Terrorists
A prominent chieftain of Nigeria’s ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Olatunbosun Oyintiloye, has issued a stark call to the nation’s service chiefs, urging them to adopt a more ruthless and uncompromising stance against terrorist elements responsible for the relentless killings of innocent citizens. The plea comes against a backdrop of escalating violence in several northern states, casting a long shadow of fear and anxiety across the country.
Speaking with journalists in Osogbo, the capital of Osun State, on Sunday, Mr. Oyintiloye, a respected member of the defunct APC Presidential Campaign Council, acknowledged the efforts already being made by security agencies. However, he stressed that the current trajectory of bloodshed demanded a significant escalation in the military’s operational tempo and ferocity.
A Nation Gripped by Fear
The APC stalwart expressed profound concern over the recent surge in brutal attacks by suspected bandits and terrorists in states like Kwara, Borno, Zamfara, and Niger. These regions have become epicenters of violence, with communities routinely subjected to raids, abductions, and mass murders. The human cost is staggering, leaving behind trails of grief and displacement.
“Nigerians are living in fear and anxiety across the country despite the efforts of the security agencies to bring the situation under control,” Oyintiloye stated, capturing the national mood of trepidation. His comments reflect a growing public sentiment that the security situation, despite official assurances, requires a more decisive and visible turning point.
Taking the Bull by the Horns
In a metaphor that resonated with the urgency of the moment, the former lawmaker insisted that the heads of security agencies must now “take the bull by the horns.” This, he elaborated, means going harder not only on the foot soldiers carrying out the atrocities but also on their shadowy sponsors who fuel the violence from afar.
“There is no doubt that the service chiefs are doing their best against these terrorists, but they need to be more ruthless with them,” he asserted. This call for ruthlessness is not a plea for lawlessness but a demand for an overwhelming, sustained, and strategically sound military pressure that leaves no safe haven for the adversaries of the state.
The Critical Need for Internal Purge
Perhaps one of the most critical points raised by the APC chieftain was the imperative for the security high command to “look inwards.” He advised the service chiefs to diligently fish out any bad elements within their own ranks who might be “working against their relentless efforts to crush the activities of terrorists in the country completely.”
This issue of internal compromise has long been a subject of public discourse and intelligence reports. The infiltration of security formations or the existence of saboteurs leaking operational details could severely undermine even the most well-planned counter-insurgency campaigns.
“This is important and necessary to restore public confidence in the security agencies and restore peace and security in the country,” Oyintiloye emphasized. Rebuilding this trust is seen as a cornerstone for winning the broader war, as citizen cooperation is often the lifeblood of effective intelligence.
Harnessing Local Intelligence Networks
Beyond kinetic military action, the party chieftain highlighted a strategic need for deeper collaboration with local communities. He championed the involvement of local security networks, such as vigilante groups and community watch organizations, in the crucial process of intelligence gathering.
“People, especially stakeholders living in different communities, must be engaged in intelligence gathering,” he noted, pointing out that these individuals possess an intimate, granular understanding of their terrain and the people within it. This hyper-local knowledge can provide early warnings, identify strange faces, and expose sleeper cells in a way that external security forces often cannot.
This approach, often termed a “whole-of-society” strategy, has proven effective in various conflict zones globally. It formalizes the role of communities as active partners in their own security, creating a denser and more resilient defensive network against infiltrating terrorists.
Targeting the Financial Lifelines of Terror
Mr. Oyintiloye also ventured into the complex arena of counter-terrorism financing, urging security agencies to target the financial backbone of the terrorist groups. Terrorist operations, from purchasing weapons to feeding fighters, require a steady flow of capital, often derived from ransom payments, illegal taxation of communities, and other criminal enterprises.
Disrupting these financial pipelines can be as crippling as a military defeat in the field. It starves the groups of resources, demoralizes their ranks, and limits their operational capacity. A coordinated effort involving the military, intelligence agencies, and financial institutions to trace, freeze, and confiscate terrorist assets is a critical, though less visible, front in this war.
Commending Government Support
Amidst his strong criticisms and urgent recommendations, the APC chieftain was careful to commend the political leadership for its support. He specifically praised President Bola Tinubu and the National Assembly for providing “the needed support and budgetary allocation for the security agencies.”
This acknowledgment is significant. It underscores that the call for a more ruthless campaign is not born out of a belief that the government is idle, but rather from a conviction that the tools and mandate provided must now be wielded with maximum effect. It frames the issue as one of execution and strategy at the operational level, rather than a failure of political will at the top.
A Collective Responsibility for Peace
In his concluding remarks, Mr. Oyintiloye struck a note of cautious optimism, rooted in collective action. He noted that with the cooperation of all stakeholders, acts of faith, patriotism, honesty, and a positive mindset, Nigeria would ultimately defeat the menace of insecurity.
This final point serves as a reminder that while the military bears the heaviest burden, the fight against terrorism is not theirs alone. It requires a united citizenry, a vigilant press, a proactive political class, and a resilient civil society. The war is fought not just with bullets on the front lines, but with integrity in public office, with courage in communities, and with hope in the hearts of ordinary Nigerians.
The message from Osun State is clear: the time for excuses is over. The nation expects, and desperately needs, a demonstrable and decisive victory against the forces that threaten its peace and unity. The ball is now firmly in the court of the security high command to deliver.
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