A former presidential aide, Okoi Obono-Obla, has cautioned against what he described as growing sympathy for terrorist groups in Nigeria, warning that such actions amount to criminal offences under the law.
In a statement reacting to the recent Nigerian Air Force strike on a Boko Haram enclave in Jilili Market, Gubio Local Government Area of Borno State, Obono-Obla said the responses from some sections of the media and political class suggest the presence of sympathizers who indirectly support insurgent activities.
He referenced provisions of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act 2022, noting that sections of the law criminalise acts such as providing support, training, equipment, or facilities to terrorist groups, as well as aiding and abetting their operations.
According to him, individuals or groups who politicise military operations or criticise security actions in ways that could undermine national efforts against insurgency risk being seen as complicit in terrorism.
Obono-Obla argued that national security must take precedence over other considerations, drawing parallels with global practices where governments prioritise security during military operations. He also cited the Supreme Court ruling in Asari Dokubo v. Federal Republic of Nigeria, which held that individual rights may be limited when national security is under threat.
The former aide stressed that the fight against terrorism requires collective responsibility, warning that any form of support—direct or indirect—for extremist groups carries severe legal consequences.
His comments come amid ongoing debate over military operations in insurgency-affected regions and concerns about balancing security measures with the protection of civilian lives.
