Former Director of the Department of State Services (DSS), Dennis Amachree, has said President Bola Tinubu’s declaration of a nationwide security emergency will only yield results if those sponsoring and undermining security efforts are arrested and prosecuted.
Amachree made the remarks during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today, where he stressed that identifying culprits without taking action would not deter crime.
“For this state of emergency to be effective, there must be arrests. It is not enough to say that financiers have been identified when no one has been brought to book,” he said.
He was reacting to concerns over alleged sabotage within the security system, including the killing of Major General Musa Uba and reports that troops were withdrawn shortly before the abduction of schoolgirls in Kebbi State.
According to Amachree, saboteurs exist across both the military and political space. He, however, expressed confidence in the new Minister of Defence, General Christopher Musa, for pledging to pursue those working against national security.
“Beyond the saboteurs, the financiers and supporters of these crimes must also be checked,” he added.
Amachree insisted that strong action must follow government pronouncements to restore public confidence.
“There must be arrests to instil fear in those involved, so they know they cannot act with impunity. Government must show firmness,” he said.
President Tinubu declared a nationwide security emergency on November 26 in response to rising attacks and kidnappings across the country. The President also approved the recruitment of additional personnel into the police and the military.
He further announced the upgrade of police training institutions nationwide and authorised the use of selected National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) camps as temporary training centres to fast-track the expansion of security manpower.
