Retired Army officer and security expert, Col. Ralph Bello-Fadile, has raised alarm over what he described as the dangerous politicization and monetization of Nigeria’s national security architecture, warning that these practices are undermining the military’s fight against terrorism, banditry, and other violent crimes across the country.

Speaking on Inside Sources with Laolu Akande on Channels TV, Bello-Fadile, a former director of special duties at the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) and ex-director of Army Legal Services, said there is lack of proper coordination in Nigeria’s security management.

“Everybody is going solo on his own. Why? Because national security has been monetized. Because it’s like a business now. People say politics, churches, now security. Everybody is grabbing what they have,” he said.

Bello-Fadile said the fight against insecurity has become a money-making venture for some actors within the system.

He alleged that corruption and racketeering are now deeply entrenched in military operations.

“In fact, like somebody was telling you, there are multi-billion generals in the military now. We have seen local governments collecting money, saying they will give this and then take their own part. This is a source of making cool money,” he said.

He also recalled videos circulating in Kaduna and Niger states, showing soldiers complaining about how their superiors withheld allowances or diverted funds meant for operations.

“Their boss takes half and gives them no ration. I’m told if you go to Abuja, any new building you are seeing probably belongs to one of the officers or people involved in maintaining our security,” he added.

Using Zamfara State as an example, Bello-Fadile accused political actors of turning insecurity into a weapon of rivalry between the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). (Daily Trust)