- Says that’s a key ideal of Military officers who “put their lives on the line back in 1993” to oppose June 12 election annulment
- NHRC says 390 killed, 202 kidnapped in May
Former military Governor of Kaduna State, Colonel Abubakar Dangiwa Umar (rtd), has urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to prioritise national security, saying it was one of the key ideals that motivated officers who opposed the annulment of the June 12, 1993 presidential election.
In an open letter to President Tinubu, Colonel Umar said the officers who risked their lives during the pro-democracy struggle viewed the protection of citizens as the primary responsibility of any government.
Reacting to Tinubu’s Democracy Day address in which the President acknowledged that Nigeria’s democracy remains a work in progress, particularly in the area of security, Umar said: “What those officers envisaged when they put their lives on the line back in 1993, was, for want of a better word, ambitious.
“In fact, they took the security of our citizens as a given; a raison de’tre, a minimum condition for the existence of any government, democracy or not. If national security is missing, that would be the end of the discussion; nothing else matters. Nothing!”
The retired Nigerian Army officer said the June 12 struggle was not only about restoring democracy but also about building institutions capable of guaranteeing justice, accountability and citizens’ welfare.
He said those involved in the struggle envisioned a democracy founded on separation of powers, an independent judiciary, credible elections and economic policies that promote productivity and improve living conditions.
He also stressed the need for a sustained fight against poverty, especially among the most vulnerable Nigerians.
Umar, however, commended Tinubu for recognising military officers and other pro-democracy activists who played significant roles in resisting the annulment of the June 12 election.
He urged the president to ensure that the ideals that inspired the struggle become the foundation of government policies so that the sacrifices made by many Nigerians would not be in vain.
“Mr president, as a longstanding advocate of equity, equality, transparency and inclusion, many of us saw no reason to doubt your commitment towards a better future and a renewed hope for all Nigerians as enshrined in chapter two of our Constitution.
“So, in order that the sacrifices that those officers and other Nigerians made towards the achievement of the June 12th struggle do not go in vain, I advocate that those ideals become once again the cornerstone of your national policies,” he said.
Meanwhile, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) on Wednesday disclosed that 390 people were killed and 202 others kidnapped across Nigeria in May 2026.
The commission also said it received 268,787 complaints during the month, reflecting growing insecurity and social challenges in the country.
Presenting the commission’s May Human Rights Situation Dashboard in Abuja, the Executive Secretary, Dr Tony Ojukwu, described the period as one of the most troubling moments for human rights in recent times.
“May 2026 has been a devastating month for human rights in Nigeria,” he said, noting that the scale of violations highlighted the fragile state of human rights protection nationwide.
He said civilians were killed in several attacks, school children were abducted, worshippers came under attack, and security personnel lost their lives in the line of duty.
The commission expressed concern over increasing attacks on schools, citing the abduction of more than 45 pupils and teachers in Oyo State and over 40 schoolchildren in Borno State.
Ojukwu said such incidents undermined children’s right to education and raised concerns about school safety across the country.
The NHRC also condemned attacks on religious communities, including an incident in Kwara State in which worshippers were killed and 15 others abducted during prayers.
The commission further expressed concern over reports of civilian casualties during military operations, including an alleged airstrike on a market in Tumfa, Zurmi Local Government Area of Zamfara State. It called for the adoption of a National Policy for the Protection of Civilians in Conflict.
While condemning attacks on military formations and security personnel, the NHRC urged the government to strengthen civilian protection measures, improve school safety and provide support for victims.
Despite the challenges, the commission commended security forces for rescuing abducted victims and neutralising terrorists in parts of the country.
While condemning attacks on military formations and security personnel, the NHRC urged the government to strengthen civilian protection measures, improve school safety and provide support for victims.
