Human rights lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Femi Falana, has called for the immediate arrest and prosecution of more than 400 alleged terrorism financiers, accusing the Federal Government of failing to decisively confront insecurity and worsening hardship across the country.
Falana spoke on Wednesday in Lagos while addressing protesters during a nationwide demonstration organised by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC). He criticised the government over rising insecurity, deepening poverty and what he described as a failure to fulfil its constitutional obligation to protect the lives and welfare of Nigerians.
According to Falana, citizens across the country are living in fear as incidents of kidnapping, banditry and terrorism continue to escalate.
“We are gathered here in solidarity with the Nigerian people all over the country, who are gripped by the state of insecurity,” he said.
“The Constitution of Nigeria is clear that the welfare and security of the people shall be the primary purpose of government. That responsibility must be taken seriously.”
Falana rejected suggestions that Nigeria should seek foreign military intervention to tackle insecurity, recalling the country’s long-standing opposition to foreign military bases.
“No matter the level of insecurity, we reject any so-called foreign invasion of our country,” he said. “In 1962, Nigerian youths fought against the Anglo-Nigerian Defence Pact, and since then we have resisted attempts by foreign powers, including France and the United States, to establish military bases in Nigeria.”
He argued that Nigeria has the capacity to secure itself, pointing to the country’s past peacekeeping roles in Liberia, Sierra Leone and other African countries.
“Nigeria has gone to other countries to restore law and order. Therefore, we have the human and natural resources to protect the lives and property of everyone living in Nigeria,” Falana said.
As the country approaches 2026, Falana said Nigerians no longer want excuses or rhetoric on insecurity. He specifically demanded action on alleged terror financiers arrested in 2021.
“We are demanding today the immediate arrest and prosecution of the over 400 terrorism financiers arrested by the Buhari administration in 2021. The Federal Government has refused to try them, and this is unacceptable,” he said.
Falana also stressed that insecurity cannot be addressed through military action alone, insisting that social and economic injustices fueling unrest must be tackled. He accused the Federal Government of failing to adequately cushion the impact of fuel subsidy removal, despite increased revenues accruing to federal, state and local governments.
“This time, we are telling the whole world that Nigerians are pressurising the government to take care of its people,” he said, adding that citizens have reached a breaking point.
According to him, meaningful progress in security would only be possible if the government combined law enforcement with policies that address poverty, inequality and social exclusion.
He concluded that Nigerians expect concrete results, not promises, warning that continued inaction would only deepen public frustration and undermine national stability.
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