The Nigeria Integrity Watch, a coalition of civil society organisations, has criticised the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project, SERAP ,over its reported move to alert the United Nations Secretary-General, António Guterres, and the UN Security Council about Nigeria’s security situation.
In a statement signed by its National Convener, Dr John Samuel Nangi, the group described SERAP’s position as unfair, counterproductive and harmful to Nigeria’s image in the international community.
Nangi said that rather than portraying Nigeria as incapable of managing its internal security challenges, SERAP should focus on exposing individuals accused of financing terrorism and violent crimes.
“If SERAP truly wants to contribute to the fight against insecurity, it should direct its energy towards exposing and reporting those individuals linked to terrorism financing through appropriate international channels instead of presenting the entire country in a negative light,” he said.
The group argued that escalating the country’s security issues to the UN Security Council could have negative consequences for ordinary Nigerians, who bear no responsibility for the insecurity confronting the country.
Nigeria Integrity Watch maintained that the Federal Government has continued to commit resources and personnel to the fight against terrorism, banditry and other forms of criminality across the country.
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While acknowledging that security challenges persist, the coalition said portraying the government as complicit in terrorism was a distortion of facts and an unfair assessment of the efforts of security agencies.
The group also questioned what it called SERAP’s silence on individuals who have at various times been linked to negotiations and engagements with armed groups.
Nangi said organisations advocating accountability must apply the same standards across board and avoid selective activism.
He noted that security agencies had previously announced investigations into persons accused of sponsoring terrorism and other violent crimes, adding that such individuals should be the main focus of local and international scrutiny.
“Nigeria’s enemies are those who finance, sponsor and aid criminal elements, not the government that is investing resources daily to protect lives and property,” he said.
The coalition further argued that presenting the Federal Government to the international community as though it were responsible for terrorist activities was illogical and capable of undermining national security efforts.
It added that insecurity did not begin under the current administration, noting that successive governments have faced similar challenges and continued to seek lasting solutions.
The group urged civil society organisations to adopt constructive engagement and support efforts to strengthen security institutions.
Nangi also said criticism of government policies should be evidence-based and channelled through appropriate institutional mechanisms.
According to him, the fight against terrorism requires national unity, collaboration and responsible advocacy rather than actions that could tarnish the country’s reputation.
The coalition called on SERAP to reconsider its position and instead support measures aimed at identifying, prosecuting and exposing terrorism financiers.
It insisted that strengthening Nigeria’s institutions and targeting criminal sponsors remained the most effective path to ending insurgency, banditry and violent crimes in the country.
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