The Indigenous Ethnic Youth Leaders of Nigeria is calling on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu (GCFR) to critically review the National Security frameworks and investigate the allegations on the National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu and the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle over complacency and rewarding terrorists in cash and kind.
This public alert is contained in a release signed
Comrade Gonet Nensok Chairman ,Comrade Igboayaka O Igboayaka, National Ag. Publicity Secretary, on the 26th September 2026 and made available to 9News Nigeria.
The release reads that the call becomes necessary due to the persistent insecurity state of Nigeria, particularly the North-West, North-East and North-Central regions.
Former Governor of Kaduna State, Mallam Nasiru El-Rufai appeared on Channels Television on 31st August 2025 and publicly accused the NSA of paying bandits in the name of a non-kinetic approach to handling the insecurity that has bedeviled the Northern region. Such claims from someone like Nasir El-Rufai, who was once a Chief Security Officer of a State is not to be thrown in the bin; because, he knows the implications of such allegations.
Even though El-Rufai himself at a point, engaged in settling bandits when he was Governor of Kaduna State, on which he later retracted to take a hardliner non-negotiation stance with the bandits throughout his tenure, definitely understood how it was done, and his allegation may certainly not be far from the truth, as we are witnessing the boldness and courage of the bandits terrorizing the every region of Nigeria. We are left with no choice than to believe that the boldness of the bandits cannot be dissociated from rewards and pampering from the likes of the NSA and his cohorts in government.
Mallam Nasiru El-Rufai made this allegation on national television, and he has never been challenged or arrested for false claims, implying what he alleged is true.
We are therefore convinced beyond reasonable doubt that the lingering insecurity in Nigeria is not unconnected to the inability of the NSA to advise Mr President rightly and tell him the true state of insecurity in the country, but rather waste the hard earned tax payers money to pay terrorists. This may be considered a national sabotage and very shameful.
The State Minister of Defence, Bello Matawalle, may also not be exonerated for gross complacency and romance with bandits persistently killing innocent people in Zamfara where he hails from, and governerned in the past.
Matawalle has been accused from several quarters of complacency, aiding, abetting, and communicating with bandits in Zamfara State. No wonder insecurity in the State and its environs ceases to end. It is therefore, improper for someone alleged with such weighty allegation to be kept in a government that is determined to end insecurity and bring succour to the people.
Furthermore, we are calling on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to look into the security issues of this country and take decisive action as the Commander in-Chief, and order for the investigation of a video going round social media. The video alleged Senator Shehu Buba of Bauchi South Senatorial District of harboring terrorists, and even giving treatment to the wounded ones. This is not only worrisome, but also unacceptable.
The IEYLN is concerned that some top officials of government and politicians surrounding the president are being alleged of romancing terrorists and bandits, while also handling them with kid gloves. This is why, in our view, the security situation keeps worsening despite the efforts of our protective security forces.
When those who are meant to protect citizens from insecurity are found to be suspicious of complacency, aiding and abetting insecurity, the situation will keep going down the drain, and the citizens are worse off.
As a matter of urgency, we patriotically urge President Tinubu to institute a forensic investigation into these allegations, and bring the culprits (if any) to book without delay.
Our people are dying on almost daily basis across the country, and we woke up to news of people who should advice the President on strategic ways to neutralize our attackers are now paying them and getting them empowered to commit more atrocities and kill more innocent lives.
The IEYLN commends and supports the efforts of the government in ensuring the security of lives and properties of Nigerians while also acknowledging the gallantry of our armed forces and security agents.
