Civil society groups urge stronger action against terrorism in Nigeria

They urged security agencies to intensify efforts to protect lives and property and appealed to citizens to support the fight against insecurity through credible intelligence sharing. Speaking at a press conference in Abuja, UATM Convener Okai Austin commended the Department of State Services DSS, the Nigerian Army, the Nigeria Police Force, and local vigilante groups for recent counter-terrorism gains, but emphasized that the battle is far from over. Austin praised the DSS for its law-based approach to counter-terrorism, including arrests and prosecutions, which he stated strengthens public trust.

He also highlighted the release and compensation of a farmer allegedly wrongfully arrested by the DSS in Kaduna State as evidence of increasing institutional accountability. Despite acknowledging progress, Austin warned that terrorist groups continue to pose a serious threat and called for enhanced intelligence gathering, stronger coordination among security agencies, and more aggressive operations. He urged Nigerians to support the #UnitedAgainstTerror campaign by providing credible information to security agencies.

Okpanachi Jacob, a UATM member, cautioned against sharing sensitive security information on social media, advising that it should be passed directly to authorities. Jacob also called on the Federal Government to strengthen over