Human rights lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Femi Falana, has urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to prioritise security briefings from Nigeria’s Defence Headquarters over comments from foreign political figures when assessing the country’s security situation.

Falana’s remarks come amid growing public debate over recent statements credited to former United States President Donald Trump concerning security operations and terrorism-related developments linked to Nigeria.

The senior lawyer warned that while international cooperation remains important in tackling terrorism and transnational crimes, the Nigerian government must rely primarily on intelligence and operational reports from its own security institutions when making critical national security decisions.

According to him, Nigeria’s Defence Headquarters and local security agencies are in the best position to provide accurate assessments of military operations, internal threats, and the realities on the ground.

Falana stressed that national security management should be guided by institutional intelligence structures rather than politically coloured international commentary capable of creating confusion or misrepresentation.

His comments have added another dimension to ongoing discussions surrounding Nigeria’s security architecture, foreign military cooperation, and the role of international partners in the country’s fight against insurgency and terrorism.

The debate intensified following recent reports surrounding joint security operations involving Nigerian and foreign forces, as well as claims about the elimination of high-profile terrorist figures allegedly linked to global extremist networks.

While the Federal Government has continued to deepen security cooperation with international allies, analysts say concerns remain over the need for Nigeria to maintain control of its national security narrative and intelligence communication.

Observers note that Falana’s intervention reflects wider concerns among legal experts, civil society groups, and policy analysts who believe the country must strengthen confidence in its own military institutions and intelligence agencies.

Security experts have also repeatedly argued that public communication around military operations requires caution, coordination, and verification to avoid misinformation capable of affecting morale or diplomatic relations.

Although the Presidency has yet to officially respond to Falana’s remarks, the comments are expected to fuel further conversations around transparency, foreign influence, and institutional trust within Nigeria’s security framework.

For many Nigerians following the development, the issue goes beyond politics. It raises broader questions about sovereignty, information control, and how governments should communicate sensitive security matters in an era of global media influence. (The Guardian)

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