Human rights lawyer Femi Falana (SAN) has stated that Nigeria’s armed forces have the capacity to defeat terrorism and banditry without foreign involvement if they are adequately funded, equipped, and motivated.
He also cautioned the Federal Government against allowing former US President Donald Trump to incite a religious conflict in Nigeria.
Falana expressed concern that terrorists, judging from videos in circulation, appear to be better armed than Nigerian soldiers. He urged the Federal Government to properly resource the military to ensure success in the fight against insecurity.
Speaking with journalists on Saturday in his hometown of Ilawe Ekiti, Falana lamented that funds meant for arms procurement had been stolen by influential individuals, weakening national security.
He called on the government to establish a system to recover such stolen funds and redirect them to their intended purpose.
Falana said, “If the members of the armed forces are well equipped and motivated, they can deal with terrorism and banditry.
“But as a result of the neglect of vital security institutions over the years, the ragtag armies of criminal elements are winning the war on terror. It is a shame.”
Highlighting the impact of corruption, he questioned, “How do you fight terrorism in an environment where the money budgeted for the procurement of arms and ammunition is stolen by well-known criminal elements in society?”
He explained that through his legal work, he knows many soldiers are willing to prosecute the counter-insurgency war but lack essential equipment.
According to Falana, funds allocated for arms purchases were diverted by some military officers and civilian collaborators, while the courts have often failed to ensure accountability.
He cited cases where senior officials accused of stealing billions of naira were discharged on technical grounds, leaving soldiers poorly equipped.
“So, the government must put in place a mechanism for the recovery of money meant for the procurement of arms and ammunition which has been stolen, with a view to using the funds for the purpose for which they were meant as a matter of urgency,” he said.
Falana added that with proper funding and motivation, Nigeria could handle its security challenges independently. “To secure Nigeria is not the business of any foreign nation; it is the duty of the government under the constitution, and that duty must be carried out by the government,” he said.
Reacting to reports of a US airstrike in Sokoto, Falana warned, “Let the Nigerian government be warned not to allow US President Mr Donald Trump to promote religious war in Nigeria.”
He stressed that criminals involved in killings and kidnappings are not motivated by religion and warned against framing insecurity along religious or ethnic lines.
Falana also noted that insecurity cannot be solved without tackling social issues such as youth unemployment, which often pushes young people toward crime.
He urged the government to balance funding for security agencies with strong policies to address unemployment.
The comments come amid worsening insecurity marked by banditry, kidnappings, and killings. Trump had earlier described the violence as attacks on Christians and ordered airstrikes on a terrorist base in Sokoto on Christmas Day, an operation the Federal Government said it supported with intelligence.
The development has continued to spark mixed reactions nationwide.
