Civil society groups are demanding that Nigeria's security forces step up their fight against terrorism. They also want ordinary Nigerians to help by reporting suspicious activities to authorities.
The United Against Terror Movement made these calls on Saturday in Abuja. The group held a press conference to discuss the ongoing security crisis.
Okai Austin, who convenes the movement, acknowledged recent wins by security agencies. But he warned that much more work remains to be done.
"We commend the DSS, the Nigerian Army, the Nigeria Police Force and local vigilante groups for their sacrifices and renewed professionalism in tackling terrorism," Austin said. "However, the work is far from over, and every effort must be made to ensure Nigerians can live without fear."
Austin specifically praised the Department of State Services for respecting the rule of law. He noted that the agency now arrests suspects and lets courts decide their cases instead of killing them.
According to him, this approach has boosted public trust in Nigeria's democratic system. "The DSS has shown that terrorism can be fought within the ambit of the law through arrests, investigations and successful prosecutions," Austin noted.
He pointed to a recent case where a farmer wrongfully arrested in Kaduna was released and compensated. Such accountability, he insisted, should become standard practice across all security agencies.
Despite these improvements, Austin stressed that terrorist groups remain a serious threat to national security. He called for better intelligence gathering and joint military operations.
"Military commanders and political leaders must intensify intelligence gathering and eliminate violent extremism wherever it exists," he said. "Every attack on any Nigerian should be seen as an attack on the nation."
Austin appealed to citizens to join the #UnitedAgainstTerror campaign by sharing reliable tips with security forces. Silence, he warned, only helps the terrorists.
"Effective collaboration between citizens and security agencies will deny terrorists the secrecy they rely on to plan and execute attacks," Austin explained. "Security is everyone's responsibility."
Another movement member, Okpanachi Jacob, warned against leaking sensitive security details on social media. Such information, he said, could damage ongoing operations.
"Security information should be passed directly to the appropriate authorities, not circulated on social media where it could compromise ongoing operations," Jacob told reporters.
Jacob also challenged the Federal Government to tighten control over security funds going to states and local councils. Better spending, he argued, could reduce poverty and ease the desperation that fuels violence.
