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A disability rights advocate and member of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) policy and manifesto committee, Dr. Chike Okogwu, has warned that Nigeria risks losing public confidence in its security institutions unless political leaders undertake urgent reforms to tackle the nation’s worsening insecurity.
Okogwu, who is the National Leader of ADC Persons With Disabilities and a member of the 50 Wise Men and Women Policy and Manifesto Committee, asserted in a strongly worded article titled, “The Man, The Rottweilers and The Marauders: Nigeria Cannot Afford to Keep Holding the Leash.”
Using an analogy shared with him years ago by a serving military officer, Okogwu compared Nigeria’s security forces to trained Rottweiler dogs capable of defending an estate, but restrained by an owner who refuses to release them while criminals wreak havoc.
According to him, the story illustrates what he described as the disconnect between security personnel on the front lines and the political leadership responsible for providing direction, support, and enabling policies.
“The dogs represent the security forces, while the owner represents the political leadership,” he stated.
He argued that many security personnel are expected to confront terrorism, banditry, kidnapping, and other forms of violent crime while operating under difficult conditions marked by inadequate support, political interference, delayed procurement processes, poor intelligence coordination, and the absence of a sustained national security strategy.
Okogwu acknowledged the sacrifices made daily by members of the armed forces, the police, intelligence agencies, and other security operatives, noting that many have paid the ultimate price in the line of duty.
He, however, questioned why increasing security expenditure across federal and state governments has not translated into a corresponding reduction in insecurity.
“Every year, enormous resources are allocated to defence and security. Yet ordinary Nigerians continue to ask why increasing expenditure does not always produce increasing security,” he said.
The ADC chieftain identified corruption, weak accountability mechanisms, intelligence failures, porous borders, delayed justice, unemployment, and poor governance as some of the factors undermining national security efforts.
According to him, security challenges cannot be solved through military action alone.
“Security requires effective governance, economic opportunity, community trust, technology, intelligence, justice, and, most importantly, leadership,” he said.
He called on political leaders to strengthen institutions, improve coordination among security agencies, and remove bureaucratic obstacles that hinder effective operations.
Okogwu expressed concern over the growing impact of insecurity on vulnerable groups, particularly Persons With Disabilities (PWDs), stressing that they often face greater risks during attacks and humanitarian crises.
He noted that many persons with mobility, visual, hearing, and psychosocial disabilities are unable to flee during attacks or access emergency information and support services.
“When attacks occur, able-bodied citizens may run, relocate, or seek refuge. Many persons with disabilities do not have those options,” he said.
The advocate also highlighted the emotional and economic burden insecurity places on families, particularly mothers who live in constant fear of kidnappings, attacks, and violent crime.
According to him, beyond the loss of lives and property, prolonged insecurity is gradually eroding public confidence in institutions and normalising violence within society.
He warned that a society repeatedly exposed to violence risks accepting insecurity as a permanent condition, leading to distrust in government, reduced civic participation, and a culture of fear.
“The greatest danger is not simply the persistence of violence. The greatest danger is the acceptance of violence as normal and the belief that nothing can change,” he said.
Okogwu urged political leaders to place national security above partisan interests and undertake meaningful reforms capable of restoring public confidence.
He maintained that the issue before Nigeria is no longer whether the country possesses capable security personnel, but whether those responsible for directing the nation’s security architecture are prepared to make the difficult decisions required to protect citizens.
“The question before Nigeria is no longer whether we have dogs capable of defending the estate. The question is whether those holding the leash are prepared to do what is necessary to secure the nation before the people inside the estate lose faith altogether,” he stated.
He concluded that failure to address the underlying causes of insecurity would continue to exact a heavy toll on ordinary Nigerians, including farmers, traders, students, mothers, children, and persons with disabilities across the country.
