Human-rights activist and lawyer Deji Adeyanju has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to deploy the same level of military might used in foiling the recent coup attempt in the Republic of Benin to decisively confront the terrorist groups terrorising Nigeria at home. In a statement Monday, Adeyanju commended Tinubu and the Nigerian Armed Forces for what he described as a bold, commendable intervention that helped prevent the overthrow of Benin’s democratic government. He said Nigeria’s swift military action including deployment of air force fighter jets and coordinated ground strategies demonstrated the country’s capacity to defend democracy beyond its borders, and argued that such firmness must now be directed inward.
“This is truly a proud moment for me as a Nigerian who loves democracy and understands the dangers of military rule,” Adeyanju said. “Let this stand as a clear signal to all who seek to undermine democracy in the Sahel that their days are numbered.” According to him, the victory in Benin would ring hollow if Nigeria fails to confront terrorism, banditry, and violent extremism terrorising innocent citizens within its own territory. “The same might displayed in Benin should be applied with even greater resolve to crush the terrorist groups operating within our borders, so that Nigeria can truly lead by example,” he added.
Adeyanju stressed that Nigeria’s leadership of the regional bloc ECOWAS and its growing influence in West Africa will only be meaningful when citizens at home feel safe, secure, and protected from insurgents and armed groups. His remarks come amid rising public concern over persistent attacks in states across Nigeria’s North-West, North-East, and North-Central regions despite repeated military operations and government assurances.
The call by Adeyanju underlines growing frustration among civil society observers and victims of violence, who argue that the government and security agencies often respond more forcefully to external crises than to internal security challenges. By juxtaposing Nigeria’s readiness to defend a neighbouring state’s democracy with its perceived reticence in tackling domestic terrorism, Adeyanju’s statement places renewed pressure on Tinubu’s administration to prioritise national security and uphold its responsibility to protect citizens.
As Nigeria watches closely the aftermath of the failed coup in Benin which involved rapid deployment of jets and troops at the request of Beninese authorities to dislodge mutinous soldiers who had seized state installations calls like Adeyanju’s might shape public expectations about what “national defence” should mean. Whether the government will heed the demand remains uncertain.
Published by Dalena Reporters.