Policy analyst Anthony Kila has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to take a far more assertive stance against terrorists, bandits, and other violent groups threatening the lives and stability of Nigerians.
Speaking as a guest on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Thursday, Kila argued that the level of insecurity across the country requires the government to adopt a wartime posture rather than continue what he described as a reactive and piecemeal strategy.
According to him, the Nigerian state must acknowledge the severity of the situation and respond with the kind of force and coordination typically reserved for armed conflict.
“This country needs to understand that we are effectively at war,” he said. “As the nation’s chief security officer, the president should boldly declare war on those who kill, terrorize, or attempt to destabilize us.”
Kila noted that discussions about the socioeconomic factors behind banditry and kidnapping are valid, but insisted that such conversations should not overshadow the urgency of confronting groups who attack and kill innocent citizens.
“Yes, we can talk about poverty, unemployment, or psychological motivations—but those trying to kill Nigerians must be neutralized,” he added.
Kila, who is the Director of Studies at the European Centre for Advanced and Professional Studies, urged the government to fully leverage its constitutional authority. He emphasized the need for a robust military response, arguing that the state must deploy superior firepower and strategic manpower if it intends to reclaim control from criminal groups.
“The government must use its legitimate force. We need more boots on the ground, more ammunition, more equipment—whatever it takes to protect Nigerians.”
His comments come amid intensifying concerns over security failures in the northern regions, where communities continue to suffer from recurring attacks, mass abductions, and the destruction of livelihoods by armed groups.
Security Analyst: State of Emergency Must Include Arrests
Joining the conversation on national security, former Director of the Department of State Services (DSS), Dennis Amachree, issued a stern warning that President Tinubu’s recently declared national security emergency will amount to little unless those financing or sabotaging security efforts are promptly arrested and prosecuted.
Speaking on the same programme, Amachree expressed frustration that individuals identified as sponsors of insecurity have not faced legal consequences. be effective, there must
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