The Arewa Youth Assembly has called on Nigerians to support the country’s Service Chiefs and warned against politicising national security matters.
In a statement signed by Aliyu Muhammad, Publicity Secretary of the group, the youths expressed “full confidence” in the leadership of the Service Chiefs, noting their pivotal role in maintaining peace, security, and stability across the nation.
The statement comes amid what the Assembly described as “serial blackmail by unpatriotic and unscrupulous elements” seeking personal or financial gain at the expense of Nigeria’s security.
“National security should not be politicised in any way,” the group said. “A sudden change in the security architecture of this country would be a reckless and momentous mistake that could disrupt the ongoing fight against terrorism, banditry, and other forms of insurgency.”
The Arewa Youths praised the Service Chiefs for their achievements across various operations, including: Successful counter-insurgency operations in the North-East, maritime patrols in the Niger Delta, intelligence-led crackdowns on criminal networks, neutralisation of key commanders from Boko Haram and ISWAP, clearance of bandit hideouts in Zamfara, Kaduna, and Niger states, reduction in crude oil theft through patrols and destruction of illegal refining sites, rescue of kidnapped individuals and arrests of thousands of criminal suspects.
The group also highlighted the importance of civil-military relations, noting that community development projects and medical outreach programs in conflict-affected areas have fostered trust and cooperation with local populations.
The statement urged Nigerians to remain patriotic, united, and supportive of the security forces, emphasizing that public backing and adequate funding are critical to sustaining the successes achieved by the Service Chiefs.
“Rather than call for their sack, our collective responsibility must be invested in supporting and encouraging these gallant Security Chiefs who continuously sacrifice for our peace and security,” the statement said.
