Human rights lawyer and activist Deji Adeyanju has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to adopt the same decisive military approach used to foil the recent attempted coup in the Republic of Benin to address Nigeria’s persistent terrorism and insecurity challenges.
In a statement released on Monday, Adeyanju commended the swift actions of the Nigerian Armed Forces and praised President Tinubu’s leadership in defending democracy beyond Nigeria’s borders.
“This is a proud moment for me as a Nigerian who values democracy and understands the perils of military rule,” Adeyanju said, describing the intervention as a bold demonstration of Nigeria’s capacity to protect democratic ideals.
According to him, the operation—which involved coordinated ground strategies and Air Force fighter jet deployments—sent a strong signal to anyone attempting to destabilize democracy in the region.
“Let this stand as a warning to those who seek to undermine democratic governance in the Sahel: your days are numbered,” Adeyanju added.
While applauding the successful intervention in Benin, the activist stressed that the achievement would be hollow if Nigeria does not tackle its own security issues with equal urgency.
“The same determination displayed in Benin must be applied, with even greater resolve, to confront terrorist groups operating within our borders. Nigeria can only lead by example if its citizens feel safe and protected,” he noted.
Adeyanju also emphasized Nigeria’s responsibilities as a regional power and leader of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), stressing that leadership is meaningful only when domestic security is ensured.
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His remarks come amid ongoing insecurity across Nigeria’s North-East, North-West, and North-Central regions, where terrorist attacks and banditry continue despite sustained military operations. Adeyanju urged President Tinubu to treat domestic security with the same urgency, planning, and determination demonstrated during the Benin intervention.
