Nigeria’s Chief of Defence Staff, General Olufemi Oluyede, has caused widespread anger and debate after declaring that insurgency in the northeast cannot be fully defeated without local ownership.
Speaking on the crisis, Oluyede said, “For us to end this act of terrorism, the people of Borno State and Yobe State must take ownership of this problem. This is because the bulk of the people perpetrating these heinous acts are from these states.”
His remarks quickly ignited reactions across social media, with many Nigerians criticising the statement as an abdication of responsibility by the military.
One commentator wrote, “Oluyede, na craze wey dey worry you, in a normal nation, this kind rubbish statement go lead to your dismissal, but na Nigeria we dey, so e get as e be. Citizens no dey responsible for security, na military and paramilitary services wey get that responsibility.”
Another compared the situation to a fire outbreak, saying it was akin to firefighters telling residents to put out the blaze themselves because “na their pikin wey dey play with matches.”
Others accused the Defence Chief of shifting blame. “Typical yariba man. Wants no responsibility for even the office he occupies,” one user posted, while another asked, “But una tell us say na foreigners during Buhari’s tenure. What suddenly changed? How did they suddenly come from Borno and Yobe during Tinubu’s government? Stop the lies and do your job.”
Not all responses were critical. Some defended Oluyede’s position, arguing that communities must play a role in combating insurgency.
“Security is local; locals joining hands with security personnel by providing necessary information and support will go a long way to mitigate the insecurity in those areas,” one user explained.
added, “There is no other way around it, they just have to take ownership of the problem, especially their elites, religious, political and social elites.”
Still, many questioned the practicality of the Defence Chief’s suggestion. “They can’t take ownership without guns,” one critic noted, while another pointed out the contradiction: “Then when the same citizens want to defend themselves, the so-called army will stop them. You can see the foolish gaslighting?”
The controversy underscores the deep frustration among Nigerians over the prolonged insurgency and the government’s handling of it.
While Oluyede insists that local communities must take responsibility, many citizens argue that the military, with its vast budget and resources, cannot shift the burden of national security onto ordinary people. #Securitynewsalert.com
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