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The United Against Terror Movement(UATM) on Saturday commended the Department of State Services(DSS), Nigerian Army and others security agencies for what it described as renewed professionalism in tackling terrorism, urging them to sustain the momentum through transparency, accountability and strict adherence to the rule of law.
The group said the DSS had strengthened public confidence in democratic institutions through the interception of terrorists, prosecution of suspects and successful convictions in court rather than resorting to extrajudicial measures.
Speaking at a press conference in Abuja themed, “Nigerians Unite Under #UnitedAgainstTerror: A Call for Peace, Solidarity, and Decisive Action,” the Convener of the movement, Okai Austin, praised the secret police for embracing due process in its operations.
He also applauded the Armed Forces of Nigeria, the Nigeria Police Force and local vigilante groups for what he called their enormous sacrifices in combating insecurity across the country.
Austin particularly commended the military for successful rescue operations and improving collaboration with local vigilante groups, describing the partnership as a positive development in the fight against terrorism.
He said the DSS had undergone noticeable institutional reforms, adding that the agency now prioritised arresting suspects, handing them over for prosecution and allowing competent courts to determine their guilt or innocence.
According to him, the recent release and compensation of a farmer allegedly wrongfully arrested by the DSS in Kaduna reflected a significant shift towards accountability within the agency.
He urged the military and police authorities to adopt similar operational standards to further strengthen cooperation among security agencies.
Despite the progress, Austin warned that terrorism remained a major threat, calling on military commanders and political leaders to intensify intelligence gathering and eliminate violent extremism across the country.
He urged Nigerians to resist attempts by terrorists to sow division along ethnic and religious lines, insisting that every attack on a citizen should be regarded as an attack on the nation.
The activist also appealed to Nigerians at home and abroad to support the #UnitedAgainstTerror campaign by sharing credible intelligence with security agencies instead of remaining silent.
According to him, effective collaboration between citizens and security agencies would deny terrorists the secrecy they rely on to carry out attacks.
Also speaking, a member of the movement, Okpanachi Jacob, cautioned against the indiscriminate disclosure of sensitive security information, warning that intelligence leaks could weaken the country’s response to emerging threats.
He advised Nigerians to forward security information directly to the appropriate authorities rather than publishing it on social media or other public platforms.
Jacob also called on the Federal Government to strengthen oversight of funds allocated to states and local governments, arguing that prudent utilisation of public resources would help address poverty and other socio-economic conditions driving insecurity.
