CNPP, CSOs demand investigation of sacked Service Chiefs’ tenure

By Kazeem Ugbodaga

The Conference of Nigeria Political Parties (CNPP) and a coalition of over 75 civil society organisations under the aegis of the Coalition of National Civil Society Organisations (CNCSOs) have commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for what they described as a bold and long-overdue decision to remove the underperforming Service Chiefs.

In a joint statement signed by Comrade James Ezema, Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the CNPP, and Alhaji Ali Abacha, National Secretary of the CNCSOs, the groups said the persistent insecurity across Nigeria under the former Service Chiefs was evidence of policy failure and incompetence.

They lamented that from the forests of Zamfara to the highways of Abuja–Kaduna and the creeks of the Niger Delta, insecurity thrived unchecked.

According to the coalition, the nation witnessed a surge in kidnapping, banditry, insurgency, and piracy, leading to widespread displacement and economic losses.

“Their removal was not just necessary, it was inevitable,” the statement read.

While commending President Tinubu’s decision, the CNPP and CNCSOs urged the newly appointed Service Chiefs to deliver measurable results and restore public confidence.

“The President’s action rekindles hope that political will is finally being matched with decisive leadership. Nigerians will no longer celebrate mere appointments but expect visible improvements in safety across the country,” they stated.

The coalition, however, demanded an immediate probe into the tenure of the sacked Service Chiefs, alleging mismanagement of defence funds and poor accountability.

They called on President Tinubu to set up an independent panel to investigate defence procurements and command decisions, adding that Nigerians deserve to know how trillions of naira allocated for security were spent as violence escalated nationwide.

“There can be no meaningful reform without accountability. Those who failed the nation must explain why Nigerians remained unsafe despite huge investments in the defence sector,” the statement noted.

The groups also urged a complete overhaul of the nation’s internal security framework, emphasising the need to reposition the Nigeria Police Force as the primary institution for maintaining internal security.

They advocated the strengthening of community policing through constitutional amendments to make security more people-driven and intelligence-based.

Reaffirming their commitment to supporting government reforms, the CNPP and CNCSOs said Nigerians had suffered too long under insecurity.

“President Tinubu has taken the right step by removing those who failed. The next step is to probe their stewardship, rebuild the police, and empower the new security leadership to restore peace and unity across the nation,” they said..