HURIWA Urges Defence Ministers to Quit Tinubu Campaign Council, Focus on Insecurity

The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has called on Defence Minister Christopher Musa and Minister of State for Defence Bello Matawalle to withdraw from the All Progressives Congress (APC) 2027 Presidential Campaign Council and concentrate fully on their national security responsibilities.

HURIWA made the call in a statement issued on Tuesday amid renewed concerns over insecurity and the reported mass abduction of worshippers in Niger State.

Matawalle was recently appointed Deputy Director, Security and Intelligence I of the APC Presidential Campaign Council, while General Musa was appointed Secretary I of the council. Musa has since maintained that his political assignment would not interfere with his constitutional responsibilities as Defence Minister.

However, HURIWA argued that the involvement of the two officials in campaign activities at a time of persistent attacks, killings and kidnappings sends the wrong message about the government’s priorities.

The rights organisation expressed particular concern over the August 21 attack on worshippers in Dekara and surrounding communities in Borgu Local Government Area of Niger State.

According to reports, armed men attacked communities and abducted worshippers shortly after Friday prayers. The exact number of victims has not been officially established, although residents have reported significantly higher figures.

The situation drew further attention after a video emerged appearing to show hundreds of women, children and elderly people being held by armed men in a forest.

Reuters reported that residents identified some of the people in the footage as relatives who were abducted during the attack, but said it could not independently verify the exact number of captives or the location where the video was recorded.

HURIWA said the reports are serious enough to require an urgent and coordinated response from both the Federal Government and Niger State Government.

The organisation called for intensified efforts to establish the whereabouts of the abducted worshippers and secure their safe release. It also urged the authorities to rescue Nigerians being held by terrorists, bandits and kidnappers in Niger, Borno, Kogi, Benue, Plateau and other affected states.

HURIWA said the Defence Ministry’s immediate priority should be strengthening the military and other security agencies to confront terrorism, banditry, kidnapping and other violent crimes.

The group urged President Bola Tinubu to direct officials responsible for national security to give their full attention to protecting citizens, arguing that the lives of Nigerians should take precedence over electoral considerations.

It also called for stronger intelligence gathering and better coordination among security agencies, as well as increased protection for schools, places of worship and vulnerable communities.

HURIWA condemned attacks against civilians irrespective of their religion, ethnicity or community, stressing that perpetrators of violence must be investigated and brought to justice.

The organisation further urged the government to provide families of abducted Nigerians with accurate and timely information rather than leaving them dependent on unverified reports and social media footage.

The group said the fight against terrorism and kidnapping must not be politicised and called for decisive action to rescue those in captivity and restore public confidence in Nigeria’s security institutions.

The demands come as the Federal Government continues to strengthen its security strategy. Last week, President Tinubu approved a national threat assessment and a rolling five-year strategic defence operations plan aimed at improving coordination across the country’s defence, intelligence and security agencies.