Northern Nigeria Bridge-Builders Back Service Chiefs, Reject Calls For Removal

By; FUNMI ADERINTO, Kaduna

A coalition under the aegis of Northern Nigeria Bridge-Builders has thrown its weight behind the current service chiefs, dismissing recent calls for their removal as “ill-motivated” and unrepresentative of the views of communities directly affected by insecurity.

Addressing journalists on Thursday at the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Secretariat, Kaduna, the group’s Convener, Comrade Goodheart Archie Sheyin, said the press conference was convened in response to a statement credited to Mr. Dominic Alancha, Convener of the Northern Ethnic National Forum, who accused the Service Chiefs of incompetence and called for their sack.

Sheyin described Alancha as “a featherweight politician with no grassroots base,” stressing that his views do not reflect the realities of communities in the North where security forces have recorded progress against terrorists and bandits.

The group cited recent statements from leaders across the North in defence of the military. They referenced Zamfara State Governor, Dauda Lawal, who recently declared he knew the hideouts of bandit leaders in his state, and Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Christopher Gwabin Musa, who directed troops nationwide to take decisive action against criminal elements without waiting for orders.

Renowned Islamic cleric, Malam Muhammad Auwal Sharif of Zaria, had also publicly backed the CDS, describing his stance as courageous and deserving of prayers and support. Similarly, Senator Ali Ndume, Chairman of the 9th Senate Committee on the Army, described calls for the sack of Service Chiefs as “outlandish and uncharitable,” stressing that what the military needs is more resources and motivation.

The coalition also quoted cultural figures like Northern artist Zakky Azzay, who hailed the Defence Chief as “humble, able, and dangerously intelligent,” alongside civil society groups such as Campaign Against Injustice (CAI), which urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to disregard the calls, warning that such demands could demoralize troops.

According to the group, recent reports indicate that security forces have neutralized terrorists, seized weapons, and disrupted criminal networks across the North and other regions. They noted that many communities in the North now enjoy relative peace compared to previous years.

“Our Service Chiefs are men at their prime, combining maturity, youthful energy, and team spirit. Their strategies, community engagements, and intelligence-driven operations are already yielding results,” Sheyin said.

Warning Against Political Motives
The group alleged that calls for the dismissal of the Service Chiefs may be politically motivated by individuals seeking power ahead of 2027. “We say no to any form of evil machinations against the region and the country at large. Enough is enough,” Sheyin declared.

Commendation for Leaders
In its final remarks, the coalition thanked President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for what it described as the “patriotic choice” of appointing the current Service Chiefs, while also commending the efforts of state governors such as Senator Uba Sani (Kaduna), Prof. Babagana Zulum (Borno), and Dauda Lawal (Zamfara) for their commitment to restoring peace.

The group urged Nigerians, especially the youth, to channel their energies into supporting peace-building efforts, adding that the fight against insecurity requires unity and sustained cooperation between government, security agencies, and communities.