The Save Nigeria Movement (SNM), a frontline civil society organisation, has called on security agencies in Nigeria to activate the necessary channels to curb the rising negative activities of non-state actors in the country.
The call follows the outright blackmail and clandestine plots to undermine the government of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as well as rubbish Nigeria’s image in the eye of the international community.
In a statement jointly signed by Rev Solomon Semaka and Dr Richard Oduma, co- conveners of Task Force on Illegal CSOs and released to journalists in Abuja on Monday, called on the Inspector General of Police and the intelligence services to “strengthen their efforts and beam the search light on the rising reports of activities of these criminal syndicates specialised in blackmailing and extorting unsuspecting government officials using the Freedom of Information Act.”
“While we have consistently advocated for public officials to be accountable to the people, we do not support the abuse of the process in any form much less the criminalisation of same as a tool for blackmail, extortion and intimidation by non state actors, who are entrenched in their activities.
“Sadly, the federal government agencies are the worst victims due to the unrestricted and unrealistic provisions of the Freedom of Information Act . The “right to interrogate public officials should not become a weapon of blackmail, intimidation and extortion by unpatriotic elements,” the statement noted.
The statement said the proliferation of illegal CSOs in the country has made the situation worse where the activities of non state actors have become rampant and adversely affecting negatively on the activities of government.
Further reacting to the most recent discovery of one of such criminal syndicates parading as an NGOs in the country by name of Al Mushahid Initiative for Transparency and Accountability, led by one Amb Aminu Majidadi and others as trustees, the statement alerted security agencies, public officials, government and the general public to beware of this particular syndicate that uses the names of prominent serving and retired security personnel and other elder statesmen to promote their unwholesome activities.
While specifically calling on the Inspector General of Police to investigate the individuals behind Al Mushahid Initiative for Transparency and Accountability , the statement noted that the group had also impersonated a former IGP, Chief Mike Okiro, DIG D J Doma (rtd), Chief Maxwell Okudo, CP Ibrahim Bichi (rtd), Alh Tijjani Hassim as their patrons, a position the former police chief has personally distanced himself from..
