Ex-General rejects emergency rule for North

Retired Brigadier-General Kapeh Alwali Kazir has argued that the security challenges in Northern Nigeria can be effectively tackled through strong political will and decisive action from the central government—rather than by declaring a state of emergency.

Speaking in an exclusive interview with Arewa PUNCH in Damaturu, Kazir responded to the recent call by the Northern Elders Forum for a state of emergency in the region. He warned that “subverting democratic processes at the sub-national level is undesirable unless it is absolutely necessary.”

According to the retired army general, no state governor would support emergency rule, considering the significant resources and efforts already invested to improve security in their states.

Kazir further stressed, “What is needed is the central government’s commitment to utilising all available instruments of national power.”

He outlined practical measures to improve the situation, including:

Deploying more troops to affected areas,

Providing sophisticated surveillance equipment for real-time intelligence,

Engaging in effective international diplomacy to cut off criminals from funding and resources.

Kazir concluded that with the right equipment, support, and clear directives, Nigerian troops could successfully overcome the security threats. By “political will,” he emphasized, he means the Federal Government’s readiness to use every legitimate tool at its disposal to achieve peace and stability.