A coalition of civil society organisations has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to urgently review the working relationship between the nation's top defence leaders, warning that perceived incompatibility is damaging the fight against terrorism.
Call for Leadership Coherence
The Coalition of Nigeria Civil Societies Against Terrorism made the appeal during a press conference in Abuja on Wednesday, January 7, 2026. The group's Convener, Marvin Ibem, stated that for counter-terrorism operations to succeed, there must be absolute trust and clarity of roles at the highest levels of defence leadership.
Ibem commended President Tinubu for his demonstrated resolve in confronting terrorism through security sector reforms and leadership restructuring. He acknowledged the notable progress made in degrading terrorist networks under the current administration, crediting the professionalism of the Armed Forces under the leadership of the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher G. Musa.
Public Perception and Strategic Doubts
However, the coalition argued that lingering public controversies surrounding the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, have created a harmful perception. According to Ibem, persistent narratives and allegations linking the minister to past engagements with bandit elements during earlier political assignments continue to fuel public anxiety.
"These allegations, whether proven or not, raise serious concerns about intelligence integrity within our defence structure," Ibem emphasised. He stressed that Nigerians fear not the Armed Forces, but "what could go wrong when doubts exist at the strategic level of a war as sensitive as counter-terrorism."
Report-Informed Recommendations
The coalition's position is informed by an Assessment Report on the Ongoing War Against Terrorism in Nigeria. This report was recently presented by the United World Congress of Diplomats (UN-WCD) in collaboration with the International Institute of Experts on Political Economy and Administration (IIEPEA).
The report underscores the critical need to insulate frontline security leadership from all forms of suspicion. This is deemed essential to protect operational secrecy and sustain battlefield advantage, especially now when terrorists are under mounting pressure.
Ibem clarified that the call for redeployment is not an indictment of Matawalle's person, but a preventive measure. "Redeployment is about system efficiency and confidence-building," he said. "It is meant to ensure that the leadership driving the war against terrorism speaks with one voice and commands unquestioned trust."
The coalition reaffirmed its full support for President Tinubu, urging him to take decisive steps that reinforce:
- Unity of command
- Clarity of purpose
- Credibility within the defence architecture
It expressed confidence that with coherent leadership and sustained reforms, Nigeria would ultimately defeat terrorism and restore lasting peace to all affected regions.
