By Ahmed Akanbi
The Young Progressives Party, YPP, has urged the Federal Government to identify, arrest and prosecute individuals and organisations financing terrorism in Nigeria, warning that insecurity will persist until the sponsors of violent groups are brought to justice.
The call was made at a press conference in Abuja on Monday by the YPP National Chairman, Bishop Amakiri, who criticised successive administrations for failing to effectively tackle insecurity.
Amakiri alleged that the current government has not demonstrated sufficient political will to end terrorism and insurgency.
“The oxygen sustaining terrorism and insurgency in Nigeria remains the network of individuals and organisations financing these criminal enterprises. Despite repeated intelligence reports and revelations, the government has failed to demonstrate the political will required to identify, prosecute and punish those responsible,” he said.
The YPP chairman also condemned the continued rehabilitation and reintegration of repentant terrorists under Operation Safe Corridor, while many victims remain displaced in camps across the country.
He questioned the impact of the trillions of naira spent on defence and security over the past decade, noting that the huge expenditure had neither significantly reduced terrorist activities nor improved the welfare of security personnel.
Amakiri cited the continued captivity of abducted students and teachers in Oyo and Borno States weeks after their abduction as evidence of what he described as the government’s slow response to insecurity.
He urged the National Assembly to subject defence spending to stricter oversight and investigate past security expenditures to ensure accountability.
Amakiri also called for regular training of security personnel in modern counter-terrorism operations and urged the government to replace underperforming security chiefs.
On state policing, the YPP chairman said the initiative would improve local security responses, but stressed that adequate safeguards must be included in any enabling law to prevent abuse by state governments.