The Indigenous Ethnic Youth Leaders of Nigeria has called on President Bola Tinubu to critically review the National Security frameworks and investigate the allegations against the National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu and the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle for allegedly harbouring terrorists.
The group said the call becomes necessary due to the persistent state of insecurity state in Nigeria, particularly in the North-West, North-East and North-Central regions.
It noted that the former Governor of Kaduna State, Mallam Nasiru El-Rufai, had appeared on Channels Television on August 31, 2025, and publicly accused Ribadu of paying bandits in the name of a non-kinetic approach to handling the insecurity that has bedeviled the North.
The organisation stated that such claims coming from someone like El-Rufai, who was once a chief security officer of a state are weighty because he knows the implications of such allegations.
This is contained in a statement issued on Saturday by Comrade Gonet Nensok, chairman of the group and Igboayaka Igboayaka, the national acting publicity secretary.
“Even though El-Rufai himself at a point, engaged in settling bandits when he was governor of Kaduna State, definitely, understands how it is done, and his allegation may certainly not be far from the truth, as we are witnessing the boldness and courage of the bandits terrorizing every region of Nigeria.
“We are left with no choice than to believe that the boldness of the bandits cannot be dissociated from rewards and pampering from the likes of the national security adviser and his cohorts in government.
“Since El-Rufai made this allegation on national television, and he has never been challenged or arrested for false claims, implying what he alleged is true.
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“We are therefore convinced beyond reasonable doubt that the lingering insecurity in Nigeria is not unconnected to the inability of the national security adviser to advise Mr. President rightly and tell him the true state of insecurity in the country.
“But rather waste the hard earned tax payers money to pay terrorists. This may be considered a national sabotage and very shameful.
“The Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, may also not be exonerated for gross complacency and romance with bandits persistently killing innocent people in Zamfara State, where he hails from, and governerned in the past.
“Matawalle has been accused from several quarters of complacency, aiding, abetting, and communicating with bandits in Zamfara State.
“No wonder insecurity in the state and its environs ceases to end. It is therefore, improper for someone alleged with such weighty allegation to be kept in a government that is determined to end insecurity and bring succour to the people.
“Furthermore, we are calling on President Bola Tinubu to look into the security issues of this country and take decisive action as the commander in-chief, and order for the investigation of a video going round social media.
“The video alleged Senator Shehu Buba of Bauchi South Senatorial District of harbouring terrorists, and even giving treatment to the wounded ones. This is not only worrisome, but also unacceptable.
“The IEYLN is concerned that some top officials of government and politicians surrounding the president are being alleged of romancing terrorists and bandits, while also handling them with kid gloves.
“When those who are meant to protect citizens from insecurity are found to be suspicious of complacency, aiding and abetting insecurity, the situation will keep going down the drain, and the citizens are worse off.
“As a matter of urgency, we patriotically urge President Tinubu to institute a forensic investigation into these allegations, and bring the culprits (if any) to book without delay.
“Our people are dying on almost daily basis across the country, and we woke up to news of people who should advice the oresident on strategic ways to neutralize our attackers are now paying them and getting them empowered to commit more atrocities and kill more innocent lives,” the group said.
