Insecurity Nightmare: Ex-Military Officer Sounds Alarm, Calls for Army Reinforcements!”

The President of the Birch Freeman Old Boys Association and retired Brigadier-General of the Nigerian Army, Anthony Onibasa, has called on the Federal Government to urgently recruit more security personnel to tackle the nation’s worsening security crisis.

He emphasized that citizens resorting to self-defence by bearing arms would paint Nigeria as a failed state. Onibasa made this plea during the association’s homecoming event, themed “The Reunion,” held on Saturday in Surulere, Lagos State.

Speaking with Punch, he underlined the importance of strengthening the country’s military forces, stressing that protecting citizens should remain the government’s responsibility, not civilians’.

Onibasa condemned the rise of local militia groups, warning that the reliance on non-state actors for security undermines national stability. “We have local militia groups already. A nation should not depend on multiple non-state actors to safeguard its people,” he stated.

He further noted that Nigeria’s security agencies are severely overstretched, highlighting the inadequacy of the country’s military size relative to its population and geographical expanse.

“Our security agencies are stretched thin because we have a very small army compared to our challenges, the size of the nation, and its population,” Onibasa observed.

The retired General also lamented the insufficient appreciation and support given to security personnel, stressing that it affects their morale and effectiveness.

“It’s unfortunate that our service personnel are not adequately appreciated. This lack of support impacts their performance. Running military operations is no child’s play,” he added.