Former Abia State governor and Senator representing Abia North, Orji Uzor Kalu, has urged the Federal Government to establish a new community-driven security outfit to confront Nigeria’s escalating insecurity.
Kalu, who aligned with comments recently made by former U.S. President Donald Trump, referenced the achievements of the defunct Bakassi Boys— a vigilante group that successfully tackled violent crime in the South East during his administration as governor.
Speaking with journalists at the National Assembly in Abuja, Kalu described the current level of insecurity as alarming and emphasized that only a grassroots, community-based security system could effectively complement the work of the military and other security agencies.
According to him, “When I was governor, I formed the Bakassi Boys. They were not about boyfriend and girlfriend; they were focused on criminals. If we had that kind of structure now, we would smoke these criminals out. They helped us then, and similar initiatives can help Nigeria again.”
He cautioned that terrorists and bandits were intent on destabilizing the nation and stressed the need for cooperation between citizens and security forces.
“Our people must support the military by providing information. No army wins a war without the backing of its citizens,” he said.
Kalu reiterated that President Bola Tinubu’s administration had placed top priority on national security, noting that the military under its current leadership had intensified operations to root out terrorists and other criminal groups.
He also underscored the importance of international support in the fight against terrorism, particularly in the areas of intelligence sharing and strategic assistance from allies like the United States.
Backing Trump’s earlier remarks condemning attacks on Christians in Nigeria, Kalu insisted that the former U.S. president merely highlighted the harsh realities on the ground.
“What Donald Trump said— is it false? No. Nigerians are being killed, both Christians and Muslims. When terrorists attack churches in Plateau, the victims are Christians,” he noted.
Kalu further suggested that Trump’s comments were likely informed by U.S. intelligence reports, which may have influenced the recent wave of intensified military airstrikes across the country.
“You can see in the last few days that the Nigerian Air Force has been bombing their hideouts. That is what should be done. We must not pity terrorists,” he added.
