Nigeria Insecurity: Shariah Council Tells Government to Act or Step Aside

The Supreme Council for Shariah in Nigeria, has issued a sharp rebuke of the Federal Government over what it describes as a deteriorating and largely unaddressed security crisis across the country.

In a statement released by its Secretary General, Nafi'u Baba-Ahmad, the SCSN described the current state of Nigeria insecurity in 2026 as alarming, and warned that the time for speeches and committees has passed.

The council cited a string of recent incidents that it says illustrates just how widespread the crisis has become.

Among the specific cases mentioned were mass kidnappings and attacks in Borno, Oyo, Niger, and Zamfara states, as well as the abduction of a retired army commander and his wife in Katsina State. The council argued that these incidents are not isolated. They are symptoms of a pattern that has persisted across multiple administrations despite repeated assurances from authorities.

"Behind each statistic lies a human story, a life cut short or disrupted, a grieving family, and a community forced to live in fear, uncertainty, and insecurity," the statement read.

The SCSN also noted that many violent incidents across Nigeria go unreported entirely, meaning that the figures cited by security and human rights organizations, already alarming on their own, likely undercount the true scale of the crisis.

The language in the SCSN statement is direct in a way that formal religious and civil society bodies in Nigeria rarely are in public.

"Nigerians are tired of speeches, promises, condolences, committees, and official rhetoric not backed by action or results. What the nation needs now is decisive action and measurable results," the council stated.

It went further, reminding the Federal Government that providing security is not a discretionary service or a favor to citizens. It is a constitutional obligation. And it delivered what amounts to a public ultimatum.

"The time has come for those entrusted with leadership to either effectively perform their responsibilities or relinquish their positions to those who can," the statement said.

The council was careful to separate the government's handling of Nigeria's insecurity crisis from the men and women serving in the armed forces and other security agencies. It acknowledged their sacrifices and dedication explicitly while directing its criticism upward at the policy and leadership level.

On the question of funding, the SCSN raised a concern that has been growing in public discourse for years. Trillions of naira have been allocated to defense and intelligence operations over time, the council noted, yet the security situation continues to deteriorate. It called for greater transparency in how those resources are being deployed, arguing that Nigerians deserve to know what results their money is producing.

Beyond criticism, the SCSN outlined specific areas where it believes the government must do better:

• Improved technology and intelligence gathering
• Stronger border security
• Better interagency coordination among security forces
• Deeper community engagement as part of the security response
• Transparent accountability for security spending

These are not new recommendations. Versions of them have appeared in reports from security analysts, civil society groups, and even government-commissioned reviews for years. The council's point, read between the lines, is that the recommendations exist. What is missing is the political will to implement them.

"The nation demands action. The time for excuses has passed. The time for demonstration of decisive and competent leadership is now," the statement concluded.