Major Hamza Al-Mustapha, former Chief Security Officer to the late General Sani Abacha, has warned the government led by President Bola Tinubu about the potential disaster of using military force against civilians.
He suggests that political machinations are the real cause of insecurity and urges the government to address these issues directly. He cautions that failure to do so could lead to a national crisis.
This warning was issued during a visit by the President of the Nigeria Youth Organisation (NYO), Ambassador Duke Alamboye, to Al-Mustapha’s residence in Abuja.
Al-Mustapha attributed the rise and persistence of terrorism in the country to political machinations. He criticized the government’s approach to counterterrorism, arguing that it has been misguided and ineffective. He further stated that the military has been improperly utilized for tasks that should be the responsibility of the police, a practice he believes is leading the country astray.
He expressed concern over the management of internal security, suggesting that the vision of those in charge has been clouded by certain issues he chose not to disclose. He likened the current approach to “fetching water with a basket from the river and with a drum to fill,” implying that it is a futile and energy-consuming endeavor.
Al-Mustapha strongly advocated against the domestication of the military for more than three months to perform the primary functions of the police. He expressed his readiness to offend those who disagree with him for the collective interest of Nigeria and its citizens. He concluded by stating that anyone who compromises the security and welfare of Nigeria and its people is an enemy of the state.
