“Bandits Struck After Troop Withdrawal—Citizens Call Out ‘Inside Job’, Push Tinubu for Answers”
By Passman Akpos
Fresh public concerns have erupted over alleged security lapses in Kebbi State, following claims by social commentator Shehu Umar that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu should hold a private meeting with Governor Nasir Idris to address accusations surrounding military withdrawal prior to a bandit attack.
Umar, in a post shared widely online, suggested that the governor’s public remarks and his reception of the Minister of State for Defense “clearly show he knows some of the people sabotaging our country’s security.” He warned that “the bells are ringing, and the sounds are very alarming.”
His comments triggered a wave of intense reactions across social media, with many Nigerians expressing frustration over the nation’s prolonged battle with insecurity.
Several respondents called on the President to focus attention on what they described as “cabals sabotaging national security,” insisting that without confronting alleged internal saboteurs, insecurity may continue to fester.
One commenter argued that “Nigeria’s insecurity problem has elements of a military-industrial complex,” alleging that powerful interests benefit from continued instability. Another added that even if the President plans to act, “it will be late — the cartels in government are active.”
However, others accused the Kebbi governor of inconsistency, referencing his earlier statement that “there is no single camp of bandits in Kebbi State,” claiming he was now “singing another song to clear himself.”
The debate grew sharper as some Nigerians demanded immediate transparency rather than private consultations.“Must he wait for the meeting?” one critic asked. “Let him address a press conference and name those sabotaging our country’s security. This is getting out of hand.”
Another contributor insisted that accusations must follow due process: “There has to be allegations that lead to arrest, investigation, and possible conviction.”
Skepticism toward political actors also surfaced, with some commenters asserting that “politicians and their delegations are the ones sabotaging Nigeria,” while others described them as “tyrants of our people.”
Some pointed fingers at the Minister of State for Defense, calling for him to “be questioned thoroughly.” Others argued that the federal government already “knows everything about the insecurity situation” but has allegedly failed to act decisively.
“They value their seat more than the lives of citizens,” one user lamented, adding that “only God knows why insecurity has lingered.”
The frustration extended to concerns about the safety of abducted schoolgirls in the state.“Mr President quickly declared a state of emergency in Rivers State — Kebbi State, we are watching. Bring back our girls,” a commenter wrote.
A number of contributors rejected the idea of secrecy around security matters, insisting that issues of national safety should not be handled behind closed doors.“What is private in this matter of life and death?” one wrote. “APC will always shift blame.”
As public pressure mounts, neither the Presidency, the Kebbi State Government, nor the Ministry of Defense has issued an official response to the claims circulating online.
