‘Nigeria Has Become A Killing Field, Declare State Of Emergency Now’, Ex-GOC Ali-Keffi Tells Tinubu

Former General Officer Commanding (GOC) Division 1 of the Nigerian Army, Retired Major General Danjuma Ali-Keffi, has called connected the Federal Government to state a authorities of exigency to tackle the worsening insecurity successful the country.

Speaking connected Arise News ‘Prime Time’ amusement connected Wednesday evening, Ali-Keffi warned that the standard of the information situation successful Nigeria had gone beyond what mean civilian laws could contain.

“The Northern portion of the state — North-East, North-West, North-Central — is ravaged with situation and insecurity situation. You person implicit two-thirds of the state engulfed successful crisis, and you are inactive waiting to state war? You are waiting to state a authorities of emergency?” helium asked.

Drawing parallels with planetary conflicts, Gen. Ali-Keffi said Nigeria’s handling of insecurity paled successful examination to different nations.

“Look astatine Ukraine. What is the percent of Ukrainian territory that is being attacked by the Russians? Just astir one-fifth successful size, but a authorities of exigency has been declared successful Ukraine. What are you waiting for? They should person declared months ago, not now. Nigeria has go a sidesplitting field, it’s a shame,” helium lamented.

The retired Army General further cited Russia’s troops mobilisation during its warfare with Ukraine arsenic an illustration of decisive enactment successful a clip of crisis.

“Look astatine Russia with 1 of the immense and strongest militaries successful the world, yet they had to state a authorities of emergency. That is what led it to transportation retired a unit surge to the grade that it had to telephone North Korea to enactment it,” helium said.

Ali-Keffi stressed that Nigeria’s law model needed urgent review, arguing that accepted laws cannot adequately code an insurgency of specified magnitude.

“State of exigency is rather analyzable — telephone it immoderate sanction — the constitution has to beryllium revisited. You cannot grip insurgency of this magnitude utilizing mean mundane laws and approach. Take it oregon permission it, the subject are besides cautious to look the time after, not to look ICC and Amnesty. You person to suspend definite parts of the constitution, you person to empower the subject and empower the government,” helium explained.

He went further to accidental that specified a declaration would necessitate drastic adjustments successful governance structures.

“You cannot person this concern going connected and inactive person civilian governance going connected smoothly. Governors person to recede immoderate of their powers oregon beryllium suspended, the National Assembly excessively has to beryllium suspended. This is what is happening successful Israel. Recall the October 7 onslaught erstwhile Hamas launched that astonishment attack. It’s present Israel violative successful Gaza, but a authorities of exigency has been declared. Perhaps we person to look astatine it successful that light,” helium said.

On the statement astir dialog with insurgents and bandits, Ali-Keffi rejected government-led negotiations, arguing that it portrayed weakness.

“On whose presumption is that dialog being initiated? Was it from the presumption of the peculiar forces, the military, oregon the government? The bandits should beryllium the ones calling for dialogue, not we offering dialogue. When you telephone for dialogue, it’s similar you waving a achromatic flag. I don’t enactment the genocide going connected successful Gaza, but the Hamas are begging for ceasefire. That is however it should beryllium — springiness these guys the beating of their life, fto them beryllium the 1 calling for dialogue,” helium insisted.