Former President Olusegun Obasanjo says Nigerians have “the right” to seek interventions from the international community over the country’s security situation.
Obasanjo spoke at a Christmas Carol in Jos, the Plateau state capital, on Friday.
There has been a sharp spike in insecurity across the country in recent weeks. Over 200 schoolchildren were kidnapped in Niger and Kebbi states, while the attack and abduction of some worshippers in a church in Kwara was livestreamed.
A military convoy was also ambushed in Borno by fighters of Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), and M. Uba, a brigadier general, was captured alive before the terrorists eventually executed him.
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There have also been abductions and killings across Zamfara, Sokoto and Yobe states.
Reacting to the situation, Obasanjo said the Bola Tinubu administration is “incapable of protecting” Nigerians.
He added that the government must stop “apologising” and “negotiating” with terrorists, but go after them with force.
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“No matter what religion you belong to, no matter where you come from, no matter what profession you are in, we Nigerians are being killed, and our government seems to be incapable of protecting us,” Obasanjo said.
“We are part of the world community, and if our government cannot do it, we have the right to call on the international community to do for us what our government cannot do for us.”
On Wednesday, Tinubu declared a national security emergency and ordered the immediate recruitment of more security personnel.
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