By Mogaji Wole Arisekola
Since President Bola Ahmed Tinubu appointed retired Major General Adeyinka Famadewa as the first Special Adviser on Homeland Security on May 11, 2026, the usual way of treating terrorists with soft gloves appears to be a thing of the past.
The retired intelligence general is equipped with one of the best resumes in the history of the Nigerian Army. He has spent over 30 years in military and intelligence service, and his experience speaks for itself.
He is also well respected by his predecessor in the office. Immediately he assumed office, his professional colleagues in the Navy, Air Force and Nigerian Army pledged their loyalty and support to him.
He had over 30 years of military and intelligence service. In the past, he served as Principal General Staff Officer to the National Security Adviser from 2015 to 2021. He also spearheaded the creation of the Intelligence Fusion Centre to link multi-agency security data in Nigeria.
He has had a working relationship of over thirty years with the current leadership of the military formations in Nigeria. This, to me, is a big advantage because security is not something one person can handle alone.
The military, having seen one of their own in this top position, has already swung into action, and they are ready to crush the menace of banditry and their sponsors once and for all.
Things are taking shape, and the military are ready to destroy the evil web of terrorism in Nigeria once and for all. Nigerians have suffered enough from these criminals, and people are now looking for a serious change in the way this war is being fought.
For years, terrorists and bandits have operated with too much confidence. They kidnap innocent people, collect ransom and return to the bush to continue with their criminal activities. This cannot continue forever.
The Nigerian government is no longer interested in continuously paying ransom to terrorists. The security agencies are now confronting them in the bush and going after their networks. This is the kind of approach that many Nigerians have been waiting to see.
If we want to win this war, we must also go after the people financing and sponsoring these criminals. Catching the boys in the bush without going after the people behind them will not completely solve the problem.
Most of the terrorists arrested recently have mentioned their godfathers, and sooner or later, the big masquerades and their collaborators, both those currently in positions of power and those who have retired, will be brought to book if found guilty.
This Paper source reveals that two current state governors and one former governor are being closely watched, and they may soon be charged to court.
One of the suspects has rushed to court to hide under the weak Nigerian criminal law for protection. But at the end of the day, the court will have to look at the facts before it and decide what the law says.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has made up his mind that he will not leave any stone unturned in order to make this country a safe place to live.
Hardly can you hear of any sensitive intelligence plan being leaked to the terrorists anymore. The intelligence is being handled with the utmost confidentiality, as it is supposed to be.
This is very important because intelligence is the backbone of any serious fight against terrorism. Once terrorists know the plans of the security agencies before an operation, the whole operation can be compromised.
The Nigerian Armed Forces are one of the best in the world. They have liberated many neighbouring countries from the axis of evil, and our soldiers have sacrificed their lives in the process.
We should therefore support them and give them everything they need to do their job. Our soldiers are human beings too, and they need proper equipment, good intelligence and the support of the government and the people.
The fight against banditry is not going to end in one day. These people have been operating for years and have built networks across different communities. But with serious intelligence and continuous pressure, their networks can be broken.
The government must also look beyond the people carrying guns in the bush. We must look at the financiers, informants, suppliers of weapons and everybody who is making money from the insecurity in the country.
Traditional rulers and government officials also have a role to play. Anybody who knows something about these criminals should speak up and give useful information to the security agencies.
Nigeria belongs to all of us, and we cannot allow a few criminals to continue to hold the entire country to ransom.
Very soon, the banditry problem will be a thing of the past if the government maintains this new approach and does not lose focus. Those sponsoring it, including traditional rulers and government officials found to be involved, must face the wrath of the law.
I believe we are gradually getting there.
Nigeria has passed through difficult times before, and we will pass through this one too.
Mogaji Wole Arisekola writes from Ibadan.
