Former governor of Abia state and Senator representing Abia North, Orji Kalu, has accused some politicians of fueling the nations’ insecurity to undermine the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu-led All Progressives Congress (APC) administration, ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Senator Kalu, who made the allegations when he appeared on a Channels Television Nigeria’s programme, Politics Today, said some political actors are sponsoring Boko Haram insurgents in a bid to destabilise the Tinubu’s administration.
He said: “The political class is behind Boko Haram. They are using terrorism as a tool to fight Tinubu, just like they did with past administrations.
“People in the political class are the ones fuelling Boko Haram. This is a political war. Some of them aren’t after money, they’re after power.
“They want to tear down the system just to grab control, and that’s not how power should be acquired.
“The insecurity in Nigeria is politically induced. These individuals — politicians, businessmen, civil servants — are not just seeking financial gain. They’re looking to hijack political power.”
He called on Nigerians to put patriotism above personal ambition, saying collective effort is needed to rebuild the country.
“If we consider ourselves friends and patriots, we should care about the ordinary Nigerian. We must work together to build a better country,” he said.
In a related development, the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Olufemi Oluyede, has relocated to Makurdi, to squarely face the challenges of insecurity in the state.
Recall that a series of alleged herdsmen attack in Gwer West and Apa local government areas of Benue state have left over 84 people dead in one week, with hundreds of houses destroyed as many have been left stranded in their homes.
It was gathered that the COAS departed Abuja, Tuesday morning, accompanied by his Principal Staff Officers (PSOs) at the Army Headquarters, to Benue State to have an on-the-spot assessment of the situation.
Meanwhile, the Chief of Defense Staff (CDS), General Christopher Musa, has called on Nigerians to support the security agencies in the fight against terrorist groups in the country.
General Musa, who emphasised the need for trust, civic engagement, and responsible narratives as keys to addressing insecurity, made the plea when he spoke at the Voice of Nigeria (VON) Forum in Abuja on Tuesday.
He regretted that insurgents have enjoyed certain supports from locals in the areas they operate, adding that insurgency tends to grow when citizens provide space, support, or visibility to those working against national peace.
While shifting his base and attention to Benue, the Chief of Army Staff ordered for a reinforced deployment of troops to the state, to add to the military and other security agents’ strength as the attacks have intensified in the two Benue local government areas.
The COAS, according to close sources, will hold strategic meetings with all operational and unit commanders to brainstorm on the way forward, as well as review the ongoing operations with a view to end the killings, as well as visit troops’ locations and operational bases in the state to interact with troops and boost their morale and fighting spirit.
The Army Chief was said to have expressed concerns over reports that Benue has been abandoned to face series of attacks by killer herdsmen in the past few weeks.
“General Oluyede, while in the state, will personally lead troops in the operation on the battlefront. He is expected to spend some days in the state before relocating back to Abuja,” a military source told New National Star Newspapers.
There have been concerns over the series of unabated attacks and killings in Gwer West and Apa Local Government Areas of Benue state in recent times.
The renewed attacks have led to the killing of over 84 people in the two local government areas in one week, including a priest, Rev. Fr Solomon Atongo, with about 15 churches shut down in the state following the attacks.