Nuhu Ribadu: Defending a pathological patriot and records of enduring public service
By Uba Danarewa
A curious article penned by one Ikeddy Isiguzo titled “Letter to my bandit brothers through Mallam Nuhu Ribadu Nigeria’s NSA.” has caught my attention.
The piece, dripping with sarcasm and deliberate misrepresentation, attempts to portray Nigeria’s National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, as someone sympathetic to bandits and terrorists.
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Such a narrative is not only unfair but profoundly mischievous. It distorts facts and undermines the lifelong record of one of Nigeria’s most committed public servants.
For anyone familiar with Ribadu’s career, the suggestion that he would defend criminals is not just inaccurate, it is a misrepresentation of established facts and figures.
Ribadu’s journey in public service has been defined by courage, sacrifice, and an unalloyed commitment to justice.
As a young police officer, he quickly distinguished himself as a disciplined and principled professional determined to strengthen Nigeria’s institutions. But his national prominence came when he led the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), where he spearheaded Nigeria’s most aggressive anti-corruption campaign.
During his tenure at the EFCC, Ribadu fearlessly confronted some of the most powerful figures in the country.
Former governors, ministers, and influential political figures who where hitherto untouched, faced investigation and prosecution under his watch. At a time when corruption had almost become normalized within Nigeria’s political culture, Ribadu dared to challenge the system. He paid a heavy personal price for that courage, facing political backlash, threats, and even attempts to silence him, yet he did not waver.
That legacy alone should make any honest observer cautious before questioning Ribadu’s integrity. But his contributions did not end with the fight against corruption. Over the years, he has continued to serve Nigeria in different capacities; as a security expert, a legal practitioner, and a respected voice on governance and national stability.
Today, as National Security Adviser to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Ribadu is at the forefront of Nigeria’s fight against terrorism, banditry, and organized crime. Under his watch, Nigerian security forces have intensified operations against terrorists, particularly the remnants of Boko Haram and other violent extremist groups that have terrorized communities for over a decade.
Several high-profile terrorist commanders have been neutralized. Kidnapping rings have been degraded. Bandit enclaves have been dismantled in parts of the North-West and North-East. While the security challenges facing Nigeria remain complex, the progress recorded under the current security architecture cannot be dismissed.
It is therefore, baffling that anyone would twist Ribadu’s call for non-kinetic approaches, such as dialogue, deradicalization, and intelligence-driven engagement, into an accusation that he supports terrorists.
Modern security strategies across the world combine both kinetic and non-kinetic measures. Military force alone rarely ends insurgencies. Strategic engagement, community cooperation, and rehabilitation programs are also essential components of sustainable peace. Ribadu understands this reality.
To interpret such strategies as sympathy for criminals is either a gross misunderstanding of counter-insurgency or a deliberate attempt to mislead the public. Nigeria’s security challenges demand serious thinking and responsible commentary, not cynical satire that trivializes the sacrifices of those risking their lives to defend the country.
Indeed, Ribadu’s record clearly shows that he has spent his entire adult life fighting the very criminals he is now accused of defending. From financial crimes to terrorism, he has remained consistent in his belief that Nigeria must uphold the rule of law while protecting its citizens. That is the mark of a patriot.
No public official is above criticism. Ribadu himself would readily acknowledge that security challenges cannot be solved overnight and that every strategy must constantly evolve. But criticism should be grounded in facts, not caricatures. Reducing a lifetime of service to a sarcastic insinuation about “brotherhood with bandits” does little to advance national discourse.
Nigeria today faces a defining struggle against insecurity, corruption, and institutional weakness. At such a time, citizens and commentators alike should strengthen the morale of those working to defend the country rather than unfairly malign them.
Nuhu Ribadu is not perfect, no human being is. But his record as a police officer, anti-corruption crusader, legal professional, and national security strategist demonstrates an unbroken commitment to Nigeria.
You may accuse him of human frailty if you must. But to accuse him of siding with terrorists is the height of dishonesty which glaringly collapses under the weight of Ribadu’s life history and sacrifices in defending the rule of law.
In a country where genuine patriotism is sometimes scarce, Ribadu’s decades of service stand as a reminder that integrity in public life is still possible. And that truth cannot be erased by satire, however cleverly written.
Danarewa writes from Abuja.
