Nigeria Is Now A Killing Field – Retired Maj-Gen, Ali-Keffi Slams Govt Over Failing Security

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Former General Officer Commanding (GOC) of the Mechanised Division of the Nigerian Army, Retired Maj. Gen. Danjuma Ali-Keffi, has attributed the escalating insecurity in Nigeria to insufficient troop deployment, low morale, and a lack of political will.

Speaking on Arise News, Ali-Keffi criticised the government’s handling of security operations, citing the recent abduction incident in Kebbi State as a key example of systemic failures.

“This is a surprise. I’ve been on your show since January last year, two years now, calling for sufficient troops. I kept calling for replication of what Sri Lanka and other countries have done. But I think we have a government that is funded, I mean, this is a succession of failures,” he said.

Ali-Keffi dismissed recent changes in military leadership as largely symbolic, arguing that cosmetic appointments cannot address the root causes of insecurity.

“Look at his cabinet piece in the security sector. Those are not the right guys for the job. Recently, we had a change of service chiefs. That won’t change anything; it is a cosmetic change basically. They are not addressing the real issues. You can bring a famed German general or Patton or Rommel; it won’t matter because the political will is not there. The military and other agencies are insufficient. You can’t expect them to be everywhere. That’s the fact.”

Highlighting the inadequacy of current troop numbers, he pointed to a recent call by members of the National Assembly to increase personnel by 100,000, noting that the measure came too late.

“Nigerians are fed up, frustrated. The country is a killing field,” Ali-Keffi said.

On the recent abductions, he observed that the attacks appear primarily financially motivated rather than ideological.

“I don’t think this is ideological insurgents trying to absorb women into their ranks like the Chibok girls. In this case, it is obviously for ransom. But since President Trump met the threat of invading the country, perhaps the bandits are daring America. They have upped their ante because they want to see the collapse of the Nigerian state and humiliate the government. And the government seems not to care. I have been calling on Nigerians and the government for the past three years to act, but this seems like lethargy.”

Ali-Keffi’s remarks underscore persistent concerns over Nigeria’s security architecture and highlight the urgency of meaningful political and military interventions to address rising threats.