Group demands sack of NSA, says NDA attack shows intelligence collapse

A group of Northern elders has attributed Tuesday’s attack on the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) as the failure of Nigeria’s intelligence network.

The group under the aegis of Coalition of Northern Elders for Peace and Development (CNEPD), on Tuesday, said the development indicates that no Nigerian, no matter his or her status, was safe in the country.

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In a statement, Zana Goni, national coordinator of the group, demanded the immediate sack of the National Security Adviser (NSA), Maj-Gen. Babagana Monguno (retd), if he refused to resign from his position.

The elders, however, said there ought to be an in-depth review of the entire security architecture, as the entire security chiefs must also bear the blame.

While lamenting President Muhammadu Buhari for leaving Monguno behind when he replaced the service chiefs, the elders however, expressed support to the president and his party, the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

Noting that their position was based on patriotism to the country, the elders insisted that it was time for the president to replace Monguno following the worsening insecurity across the country.

“The deteriorating security situation is a sign that Monguno, who manages the nation’s security was not on top of his game,” Goni said.

They also berated stakeholders in the region for their ‘long silence’ in the face of unbearable criminal acts by armed herdsmen and insecurity across the country thereby giving a bad image of the region.

“We woke up to the sad news of the attack on a military formation, the Nigerian Defence Academy, which is the institution where future military leaders are trained, leaving two officers killed and another abducted by bandits with heavy hearts. If it was not the confirmation of this unbelievable action by the Academy’s spokesperson, Bashir Jajira, we would have still been in doubt.

“The fact that a fortified military institution could be so easily invaded by armed militias without resistance has left us with the conclusion that no part of this country and no citizen, no matter his or status is safe again.

“The retention of the National Security Adviser (NSA), Gen. Babagana Monguno (retd), at the time the president listened to the voice of reason and replaced service chiefs, may be contributing to the continuous deteriorating security situation in the country.

“Given the situation, we humbly appeal to President Muhammadu Buhari, to as a matter of urgent national importance, replace the NSA, whose tenure since his assumption of office, has been characterised by heightened Boko Haram activities, banditry, kidnap for ransom and other heinous crimes without end in sight,” they said.