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By Oscar Okhifo
Former Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Comrade Timi Frank, has urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to immediately dismiss the nation’s security chiefs over what he described as the government’s failure to stem the escalating wave of killings, kidnappings, and terrorist attacks ravaging different parts of the country.
In his reaction to the fresh killing of soldiers in Borno State by suspected Boko Haram insurgents, Frank, in a statement in Abuja on Sunday, expressed deep concern over the rising wave of insecurity, banditry, and kidnappings, describing the situation as a national tragedy that requires urgent executive action.
According to Frank, Nigerians are being killed “like chickens” daily across the North, South, East, and West, a clear indication that the country’s security architecture has collapsed under the current leadership.
“Our soldiers and policemen are dying in large numbers due to poor funding and lack of proper equipment. Despite massive budgetary allocations to the security sector, the funds do not reach the men and women on the front lines, nor are they used to purchase the right equipment needed to combat insecurity,” the statement read.
Frank stated that the continuous killings have attracted international attention and commended U.S. President Donald Trump and Senator Ted Cruz for their advocacy on behalf of Nigerians, especially their condemnation of the incessant killings in parts of the country.
“We commend President Donald Trump for his concern and moral courage in speaking against the killings of Nigerians. We equally commend Senator Ted Cruz for lending his voice to these injustices.
Their actions have helped to break the silence of our political class, especially those in the ruling party,” he said.
Frank, who is the United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP) Ambassador to East Africa and the Middle East, also urged the United States government under the leadership of President Trump and other international partners to intensify pressure on the Nigerian government to release the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.
“This administration cannot continue to negotiate with terrorists while detaining innocent and peaceful Nigerians.
“We therefore call on the international community, especially the U.S. government, to intervene and pressurize President Tinubu to release Nnamdi Kanu immediately,” he added.
The statement further commended President Trump for his leadership in facilitating negotiations for the release of Israeli hostages in Gaza, urging him to “show the same compassion and leadership” by lending his voice to the call for Kanu’s release.
He also lauded activist Omoyele Sowore, a former presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), for boldly leading the call for Kanu’s unconditional release from detention.
On Nigeria–U.S. relations, Frank emphasized the importance of preserving the historic friendship between both nations.
“Nigeria has always maintained a cordial relationship with the United States. We will not allow any government or individuals to destroy that friendship.
” As Nigerians, we remain committed to strengthening our ties with the U.S. in the interest of peace, democracy, and global security,” he said.
He lambasted the Nigerian Senate for criticizing Senator Ted Cruz over his comments about the killing of innocent Nigerians, describing them as a “disgrace and disappointment.”
“If the Senate and by extension the National Assembly had faithfully and diligently carried out their constitutional mandate of oversight and representation in checkmating executive recklessness, like the continued detention of Nnamdi Kanu and getting the security chiefs to act in protecting the lives and property of Nigerians, Senator Ted Cruz would not have picked on Nigeria as a good example of unwarranted attacks, killings and intimidation of innocent citizens by deadly gangs.
“Look at how they took their time to respond to Senator Ted Cruz’s comments, while they failed over the years to stand for justice by calling for the release of Nnamdi Kanu or to ensure through their oversight powers that the security chiefs live up to their mandate to protect defenceless Nigerians from horrific attacks and killings,” he said.