Netizen Accuses Tinubu of Handing Nigeria’s Security to Alleged Terrorism Sponsors
Abuja, September 5, 2026 — A Nigerian social media user has ignited fresh controversy by claiming that President Bola Tinubu placed the country’s security architecture in the hands of individuals allegedly linked to or enabling terrorism.
The post by Bia Pulse, widely shared and amplified by platforms including Parallel Facts, specifically named Vice President Kashim Shettima, National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu, Minister of State for Defence Bello Matawalle, and former Chairman of the Senate Committee on National Security and Intelligence, Senator Shehu Buba.
“Those sponsoring terrorism in Nigeria is the same people Tinubu handed over the security of Nigeria to,” the user wrote.
The claim has drawn strong reactions online, reflecting deep public frustration with ongoing insecurity even as the government points to operational gains.
The Allegations and the Officials Named
Critics have long levelled accusations against the four figures:
- Kashim Shettima, who governed Borno State at the height of the Boko Haram insurgency, has faced repeated claims of links to the group. Fact-checks, however, have repeatedly found no proof for several viral photos and videos circulating against him.
- Nuhu Ribadu, National Security Adviser since 2023, has been accused by political opponents of favouring non-kinetic approaches, including alleged ransom payments or incentives to criminal groups.
The Office of the National Security Adviser has consistently rejected these claims as false and baseless, pointing instead to military operations, intelligence work, arrests, and international partnerships.
- Bello Matawalle, former Zamfara governor and current Minister of State for Defence, has faced persistent allegations from political rivals, including claims that he supplied vehicles and maintained contact with bandit leaders during his governorship.
Matawalle has repeatedly denied the accusations, challenged critics to provide evidence, and noted that dialogue with armed groups was once a common approach among northern governors.
- Senator Shehu Buba, who previously chaired the Senate’s National Security and Intelligence Committee, has been the subject of petitions and social media claims linking him to bandits, including alleged facilitation of Hajj trips for suspects and other forms of support.
He has dismissed the accusations as politically motivated fabrications, and some investigations and fact-checks have questioned the evidence behind specific viral claims.
Government Response and Security Context
The Tinubu administration has maintained that there is no policy of paying ransoms or providing inducements to terrorists.
Officials highlight kinetic operations, the neutralization of high-value targets, the surrender of large numbers of fighters and their families in the Northeast, and strengthened international cooperation, including with the United States.
President Tinubu has publicly declared that the government will show “no mercy” to terrorists, bandits, kidnappers, and their sponsors and has expanded the definition of terrorism to include enablers, financiers, and political protectors.
Despite these statements and claimed progress, insecurity remains a major public concern, with continued attacks, abductions, and civilian casualties across several regions.
This gap between official narratives of improvement and lived experiences of many Nigerians has fuelled skepticism and the kind of sharp criticism seen in the viral post.
A Polarising Political Issue
The latest claims arrive against a backdrop of intense political competition ahead of the 2027 elections. Supporters of the administration view the accusations as recycled political attacks lacking hard evidence.
Critics argue that the continued presence of the named officials in key security roles raises legitimate questions about judgment and accountability.
As the debate intensifies on social media and in political circles, the central question for many Nigerians remains practical: whether the current security team can deliver sustained improvements in safety on the ground.
The government continues to insist its strategy is working; a large section of the public remains unconvinced.
The controversy underscores how deeply intertwined security appointments, historical allegations, and public trust have become in Nigeria’s struggle against terrorism and banditry.
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