Former Chief of Defence Staff, General Lucky Irabor (retd), has alleged that 일부 politicians are involved in financing terrorism in Nigeria, warning that insecurity is sometimes exploited for political advantage.
Irabor made the claim on Monday during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today, where he spoke on the country’s worsening security situation. When asked directly whether politicians fund terror groups, he responded, “Some politicians.”
He said certain political actors take advantage of poor governance and insecurity to score political points or create crisis to advance their interests. According to him, while insecurity has political dimensions, it would be wrong to treat it as purely political.
Irabor also addressed public concerns over the government’s failure to disclose the identities of alleged terror sponsors. He explained that several individuals have been questioned by investigators, but the details remain classified for security reasons.
“I believe many people have been called to question. What I think we should do now is to support and trust those in charge to do what is right,” he said.
The former defence chief added that not everyone in government is dishonest or unserious, urging Nigerians to maintain faith in state institutions. He also pointed to serious gaps in manpower and equipment within the security sector, stressing that the country must improve its capacity to respond to threats.
On the recent spike in attacks, Irabor said the pattern of violence is not entirely new but has grown more severe due to criminals’ access to more sophisticated weapons and tools. He noted that although security agencies once appeared to be gaining ground, recent developments suggest that those gains are being eroded.
Irabor said Nigeria still faces major deficiencies in security manpower and equipment, describing the situation as a governance challenge that demands national attention. He stressed that security should be treated as a collective, national issue rather than a regional one.
He warned that extremist ideologies of groups such as Boko Haram and ISWAP still influence some communities. He also reiterated that so-called “repentant” insurgents cannot be absorbed into the Nigerian military.
Nigeria has witnessed a renewed wave of violence marked by mass abductions and deadly attacks across parts of the North and North-Central regions. In November alone, several states recorded high-profile incidents.
More than 300 students and teachers were abducted from a Catholic school in Niger State, while 25 schoolgirls were kidnapped in Kebbi State. Armed groups also attacked religious centres, abducting worshippers in Kwara and Kogi states, and seized several women from a bridal party in Sokoto State.
