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Sack of service chiefs has sent mixed feelings to North – HRC Director, Adamu

Published

6 months ago

October 27, 2025

The Country Director of the International Human Rights Commission (IHRC) and Retired Army Captain, Ambassador Abdullahi Bokaji Adamu, has said that the recent sack of Nigeria’s service chiefs has sent mixed feelings across the North, as many people in the region are watching closely to see whether the replacements will reflect fairness and balance.

In an exclusive interview on Sunday, Adamu who is also a retired captain described the President’s decision as both political and strategic, noting that while it signals readiness to make tough decisions, it also raises deeper questions about political motives and internal power struggles.

“In my opinion, the recent sack of the security chiefs may have been influenced by several factors. Officially, it could be linked to the government’s desire for improved performance and new strategies to address persistent insecurity,” he said.

“However, behind the scenes, there may also be political undertones or internal power struggles within the system.”

According to him, some Nigerians believe the decision might be connected to a suspected attempted coup or internal realignments within the military hierarchy.

Although such claims remain unconfirmed, he said they reflect the level of mistrust and political complexity surrounding security leadership in the country.

“In Nigeria, politics is deeply rooted in every major decision, including security appointments. It has almost become a tradition that each administration prefers to work with people from its own region or political circle,” he noted.

“Unfortunately, this practice often undermines fairness and merit, as the most qualified or experienced officers are sometimes overlooked in favor of political loyalty or regional interests.”

Ambassador Adamu said while the sack of the service chiefs shows that the President is ready to act decisively, it has created mixed emotions in the North.

“Many in the region are watching closely to see if the replacements will reflect fairness and balance,” he said.

“Fortunately, the new appointments appear regionally balanced, with two out of the four new service chiefs coming from the North. This has helped to reduce tension and suspicion.”

He added that the North is now waiting to see results, not promises.

“The North’s confidence in the federal government will depend largely on results. For years, northern communities have borne the brunt of banditry, insurgency, and kidnappings. People are no longer moved by speeches, they want peace, stability, and safe roads.”

The IHRC Director also noted that Nigerians have long observed that the government reacts quickly only when the elite are affected.

“There have been many occasions when innocent citizens were killed, but no decisive action was taken. Now that the leadership itself has been directly affected, the sack came immediately. This makes people feel that the government only acts fast when the powerful are touched,” he said.

“This perception must change if the government truly wants to earn public trust.”

Ambassador Adamu acknowledged that the former Army Chief and his team did their best under difficult conditions but were limited by systemic problems.

“It’s important to remember that even the Chief of Defence Staff once said that a significant percentage of the security solution lies in the hands of the government, not just the military,” he recalled.

“That statement alone highlights the challenges faced by the security chiefs, limited political will, inadequate funding, and weak inter-agency cooperation.”

The human rights advocate urged the newly appointed service chiefs to adopt a broader and more people-focused strategy.

“The new security chiefs must understand that military force alone cannot end insecurity. They need to combine force with intelligence, dialogue, and community participation,” he advised.

“They should work closely with state governments, traditional rulers, and local vigilantes to build trust and cooperation.”

He, however, warned that true change would take time unless the government supports them with freedom and resources to act effectively.

“As long as Nigeria continues to face indirect forms of political and economic control, our security system will remain limited in effectiveness,” he said.

“Their success will depend on how much support and cooperation they receive from the federal government.”

Ambassador Adamu concluded that while the sack of the security chiefs is commendable, the government must prove that such actions are not driven by politics.

“What the North and indeed all Nigerians want is peace, justice, and inclusion, not favoritism or hidden agendas,” he said.

“If handled with sincerity and fairness, these changes could bring the positive results Nigerians are yearning for. But if politics continues to overshadow merit, the cycle of insecurity will persist.”

Recall that President Bola Tinubu sacked the service chiefs in a sweeping overhaul of the country’s military leadership.

The presidency said on Friday, that it is part of efforts to strengthen national security.

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Photos: Jonathan Visits Tinubu At Presidential Villa

Published

4 hours ago

April 22, 2026

Oluwagbenga Olaoye

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Wednesday met former President Goodluck Jonathan at the Presidential Villa.

It was reports that this was disclosed by Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.

A reason for the meeting has not been disclosed as at the time of filing this report.

Former President Goodluck Jonathan meets President Bola Ahmed Tinubu
Former President Goodluck Jonathan meets President Bola Ahmed Tinubu

Meanwhile, Jonathan has responded to erstwhile Vice President Atiku Abubakar over his submission on his competency during his time in office.

It was reports that Atiku, during a live television interview, claimed that Jonathan made many mistakes while he was President because he was inexperienced.

“I know Goodluck Jonathan very well. He is a decent young man, but also inexperienced, and I believe that contributed to his inability to manage the affairs of the country, particularly when he was faced with challenges,” he said.

Reacting to Atiku’s statement during the 2025 Association of Retired Career Ambassadors of Nigeria awards ceremony in Abuja on Monday, Jonathan said no one who becomes a governor or president would say he did not make mistakes.

He defended his administration, adding that he did his best while in office.

Jonathan said: “So not too long ago, a very senior politician said, ‘Oh, Jonathan was too young and probably that’s why he made mistakes.’

“If I made mistakes, yes, nobody who becomes a governor or a president will say you did not make mistakes. Even when you promote yourself to the level of a god, you become a deity.

“All human beings must make mistakes. I became president in 2010 at the age of 53. I left in 2015 at the age of 58, and they say I was too young. Must it have been 100 years before I ran the affairs of the state?”

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Alleged coup plot: DSS moves detained Islamic cleric, Zaria to court for trial

Published

5 hours ago

April 22, 2026

Oluwagbenga Olaoye

Sheik Abdukadir Sani Zaria, the Islamic scholar arrested by Defence Intelligence Agency, DIA, in connection with the alleged plot to overthrow the government of President Bola Tinubu has been moved to the Federal High Court in Abuja for prosecution.

He was brought to court with a retinue of security escorts and his personal associates.

Sani who has been in the detention facility of the DIA and later the Department of the State Service, DSS, since December 2025, was named among the six coup plotters on the charge sheet filed by the Federal Government and billed for arraignment in court today, Wednesday.

He is to be put on trial by the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, AGF, along with five others, including military officers accused of plotting to wage war against the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

The Islamic cleric was named in counts 1, 2, 3,4, 6 and 7 of conspiring with others to commit felony while he was separately charged on count 9 of the 13-count charge.

Among the accusations against him were that he conspired to bring down a legitimate government, concealed information on the coup plot and rendered support to the coup plotters.

In count 9, the cleric was accused of retaining a sum of N2 million in his account with number 0005620270 domiciled at Jaiz Bank and transferred into the account by a Company, “A & A Express Link Concept” whose ownership was traced to one Colonel Mohammed Alhassan Ma’aji, said to be the arrow head of the coup plot.

His offense of terrorism financing was said to be contrary to section 18 (2) (d) of the Money Laundering Prevention and Prohibition Act 2022 and punishable under section 18 (3) of the same Act.

Justice Peter Odo Lifu of the Federal High Court in Abuja had on Monday ordered immediate unconditional release of the Islamic scholar from the custody of the
DIA and later the DSS.

The judge had imposed a fine of N2 million each on DIA and DSS to be paid to the cleric for breaching sections 35 and 36 of the Federal Republic of Nigeria’s Constitution in the ways and manners the 75 year old man was hauled into detention for more than four months without trial.

In a judgment on the fundamental rights suit instituted against DIA and others by the detained Islamic cleric,

Justice Lifu ordered the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, and Jaiz Bank to pay N1 million each as compensation to him for freezing his bank account without order of any law court.

Besides, the Federal High Court directed the DIA and DSS to tender a public apology to the detained islamic scholar for the breach of his fundamental rights.

Sheikh Sani Abdulladir Zaria was hauled into detention without order of court for allegedly associating with one of coup plotters against President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

Justice Lifu had lambasted the DIA for its refusal to subordinate itself to civil rule and rule of law by refusing to produce the detained man in court when ordered to do so.

He said that as agency established by law, the DIA should not place itself above the laws of the land in the discharge of its statutory functions.

The judge held that the provisions of Section 36(1)(5) and (6) of the 1999 Constitution avail him and “for all citizens.”

He noted that Nigeria, being a signatory to different international conventions on human rights, cannot afford to be held behind on such issues.

The judge noted that since December 11, 2025, the applicant was kept in “safe custody” without access to family and associates after an investigation was opened about him, on grounds described as security reasons.

Justice Lifu ordered the AGF to ensure immediate compliance with the judgment of the court.

The cleric had been hauled into the DIA custody since December last year following the discovery of N2 million in his Jaiz Bank account paid by one of the indicted coup plotters.

Although he agreed to forfeit the amount to the Federal Government to regain his freedom, the security agency held him to determine the level of his complicity in the alleged coup plot.

The Islamic cleric claimed innocence of the alleged crimes adding that the person who transferred the money into his account was just one of his disciples.

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IGP Disu meets NAPTIP DG, pledges stronger action against human trafficking

Published

5 hours ago

April 22, 2026

Oluwagbenga Olaoye

The Inspector-General of Police Olatunji Rilwan Disu, has pledged stronger collaboration with the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons, NAPTIP, in efforts to tackle human trafficking and organised crime.

The development was disclosed in a statement shared on April 22, 2026 on the official page of the Nigeria Police Force.

According to the statement, the commitment was made when the Director-General of NAPTIP, Binta Adamu Bello, paid a courtesy visit to the Force Headquarters in Abuja on April 21.

Discussions during the meeting focused on improving cooperation between both agencies, particularly in the areas of intelligence sharing, joint operations and capacity building.

The NAPTIP boss sought increased technical support and operational collaboration to strengthen the agency’s ability to address human trafficking and related crimes.

In his response, Disu assured that the police would support NAPTIP through intelligence-led strategies and coordinated operations aimed at dismantling criminal networks.

“The Force will deploy its operational and intelligence capabilities to support NAPTIP’s mandate,” the statement said.

Disu noted that specialised units, including the Intelligence Response Team and the police cybercrime unit, would provide technical assistance, while training programmes would also be expanded for NAPTIP personnel.

The two agencies agreed to sustain regular engagements to monitor progress and strengthen efforts against trafficking and organised crime across the country.

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