Dare Babalola
A social commentator and civic advocate, Segun Awosanya, popularly known as Segalinks, has sparked fresh debate over Nigeria’s security challenges, accusing political actors of being the primary drivers of terrorism through their actions and rhetoric.
In a post shared on social media on Monday, the activist dismissed the notion that terrorism is solely orchestrated by hidden groups operating in remote areas, arguing instead that influential figures within the political class play a central role in fostering instability.
“They are all the same. The primary sponsors of terrorism in our nation are not shadowy extremists in distant forests, but desperate politicians cloaked in rhetoric,” he wrote.
Segalinks alleged that such politicians deliberately exploit vulnerable young people, recruiting them into violent activities under the guise of protests, while shielding them from consequences.
“These are the very actors who conscript impressionable youths into violent protests, shield them from accountability, and watch as those same children gradually graduate into full-fledged terrorists,” he stated.
The activist further criticised what he described as a pattern of narrative distortion whenever security agencies intervene in violent incidents. According to him, individuals who previously enabled unrest often attempt to reframe those involved as innocent victims.
“When security forces finally take decisive action, these enablers suddenly rebrand the culprits as ‘fishermen’ or ‘innocent citizens in the market,’” he said.
He also pointed to the role of online supporters and sympathisers in amplifying such narratives, warning that misinformation and emotional manipulation could worsen the country’s already fragile security situation.
“Their closet sympathisers, along with their digital foot soldiers, then amplify the narrative with relentless vigour,” he added.
Segalinks cautioned that undermining public trust in state institutions, particularly security agencies, could have unintended consequences that ultimately benefit criminal elements.
“Let it be clearly understood, every time you erode public trust in constituted authority, you are not exposing injustice, you are faithfully executing the terrorists’ own script,” he warned.
While acknowledging that such rhetoric may resonate emotionally with sections of the public, he argued that it does little to provide sustainable solutions or win the confidence of informed citizens.
“Such tactics may inflame emotions, but they will never earn the respect or votes of rational, discerning minds,” he concluded.
The post has since generated reactions across social media platforms, with some users supporting his stance on political accountability, while others argue that his comments risk overlooking legitimate concerns about human rights and the conduct of security forces.
