INSECURITY IN NORTHERN NIGERIA: AN OPEN LETTER TO NSA NUHU RIBADU
By Bashir Yahuza Malumfashi
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To Malam Nuhu Ribadu, National Security Adviser, Federal Republic of Nigeria, Presidential Villa, Abuja.
Sir,
I write this open letter to you not out of disrespect, but out of deep pain and concern — concern for our region, concern for our country, and concern for the legacy you have spent your life building. This is my third letter, writing to remind you of who you were, who you are, and what history expects of you.
A Glimpse of the Past: Sir, we remember vividly the days when you led the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). You stood as a lion against corruption at a time when the political space was deeply polluted. You dared the untouchables. You exposed and prosecuted politicians, generals, and businessmen. You earned the trust of ordinary Nigerians and the admiration of the international community.
You were not perfect, but your courage gave hope to millions. That hope is now dwindling — not because you failed, but because we fear you may now be silent when your voice is needed the most. That’s because some of the most corrupt politicians you vehemently fought (even prosecuted some) are now your new allies in the corridor of power.
A Nation Bleeding — The North in Agony: Today, insecurity has taken over Northern Nigeria. Bandits kill, kidnap, and extort with reckless abandon. Families in Katsina, Zamfara, Niger, and other parts of the North have been turned into refugees in their ancestral lands. Children are abducted from schools. Farmers are slaughtered in their farms. Villages are being taxed by criminals. And communities sleep in fear, not knowing who will be next.
Your Excellency, let me remind you that this is no longer insurgency — this is terrorism. And it is eating the soul of the region you and I call home.
A Tired Response — Old Guns, Old Tactics: The security agencies seem overwhelmed. Worse still, they appear under-equipped and unmotivated. Our soldiers and police are sent to the frontlines with outdated weapons while the criminals they face possess sophisticated arms and drones.
The bandits move with ease. They communicate using mobile phones, internet, and social media, yet they cannot be tracked. Our intelligence agencies claim to be working, yet these terrorists operate freely in the same forests year after year.
Strangely, if a poor Nigerian makes a post on Facebook or Twitter criticizing a politician or traditional leader, he is traced, tracked, and arrested within hours. One cannot forget the recent case of a certain young man in Kano, nicknamed “Sultan,” who was swiftly apprehended for allegedly insulting powerful people. So the question is: why can’t the same tracking technology be used to hunt down killers, kidnappers, and extortionists?
A Call to History — Ribadu, the Reformer: Sir, you are not just a name. You are a brand, a symbol, and a reference point. Many of us still hold you in high regard because of your record at EFCC. That is why we are calling on you today, not just as National Security Adviser, but as Nuhu Ribadu — the man who once stared down corruption and refused to blink.
This is your moment of truth. You must rise. You must reclaim your voice. Posterity is watching. Northern Nigeria is crying. The people are dying. The nation is bleeding. And those who once believed in you are losing faith.
You still have time to change the tide. Use your office, your knowledge, and your network to restore sanity. Demand accountability from the service chiefs. Insist on intelligent, digital surveillance. Make security personnel responsive to the people, not just to the presidency.
Let your legacy be more than what you did at EFCC. Let it be what you did when your people needed you the most. The North cannot afford to fall. Nigeria cannot afford to fail.
May Allah guide you to act decisively.
With respect and sincerity,
Bashir Yahuza Malumfashi,
Writer/Poet, Editor, Taskar Gizago Magazine (online), Abuja.
