Former Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Lucky Irabor (retd.), has issued a stark warning that some Nigerian politicians are exploiting the nation’s insecurity for personal and political gain.
Speaking on Channels Television on Monday, December 1, Irabor said Nigeria’s security challenges are too complex to blame on a single cause, pointing to a mix of terrorism, banditry, community displacements, and economic crimes driving violence across the country.
“If you lump everything together, the analysis would be wrong,” he said. “We have terrorists with ideological motives, others targeting Christians, and some displacing communities to consolidate power.”
While rejecting claims that insecurity is purely political, Irabor admitted that some politicians have “weaponized insecurity” to appear more capable or to score points against the government.
His warning comes a day after a presidential aide announced plans to publicly name individuals suspected of financing terrorism, underscoring the high stakes in Nigeria’s fight against violence.
Irabor’s remarks highlight the deep, multi-layered nature of Nigeria’s security crisis, where ideological, criminal, political, and economic factors collide.
