The Northern Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN) has urged President Bola Tinubu to dismiss the country’s top security officials, citing worsening insecurity and the U.S. government’s recent designation of Nigeria as a “Country of Particular Concern.”
In a statement released on Sunday, NYCN President Comrade Isah Abubakar said the U.S. designation reflected a damning verdict on the nation’s security architecture and exposed deep failures in leadership.
“The safety of Nigerians must come before political considerations. The current situation shows a clear breakdown of security management across the board,” Abubakar stated.
He called for the immediate removal of the Service Chiefs, the National Security Adviser (NSA), the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), and the Ministers of Defence, saying they had failed to deliver effective coordination and strategic leadership.
Abubakar argued that the NSA’s office should be occupied by “a seasoned, retired military general” with operational experience and a clear strategic vision for tackling terrorism, banditry, and organised crime.
“The entire command structure must be restructured to restore public trust and improve efficiency. Nigeria cannot continue with the same failed tactics and expect different results,” he added.
The youth body said the persistent security crisis stemmed largely from poor inter-agency coordination between the NSA’s office and the Defence Ministry. It accused the security leadership of operating in silos, thereby weakening Nigeria’s collective response to insurgency and violent crime.
“The lack of synergy among the security agencies has emboldened criminal networks and terrorists. Nigeria needs competent leadership that can deliver both strategy and field results,” the statement read.
Abubakar said the northern region remained the hardest hit, with daily killings and kidnappings eroding citizens’ confidence in government.
“Our people are being slaughtered by terrorists and bandits while those responsible for protecting them remain ineffective,” he said. “The NYCN is ready to support any honest initiative aimed at restoring peace and protecting Nigerians everywhere.”
