Laraba MUREY
Civil society organisations, CSOs across Nigeria have rejected claims by a retired Air Officer Commanding, AOC, that some NGOs operating in the North-East, North-West, and North-Central regions are aiding terrorists.
The unnamed former officer was quoted in a Vanguard report accusing NGOs of covertly sponsoring terrorism.
However, over 70 organisations, including Amnesty International Nigeria, BudgIT, and Connected Development, CODE, have condemned the allegation, describing it as inflammatory and baseless.
“These reckless claims only undermine the critical work being done to support communities abandoned by the state,” the groups said in a joint statement.
The CSOs highlighted their contributions, such as providing humanitarian aid, education, healthcare, and psychosocial support to millions of displaced Nigerians. “NGOs operate under strict regulations enforced by agencies like SCUML and NFIU. Accusing us without evidence is a distraction from the real issues,” the statement added.
Citing UN Resolution 72/284, the groups warned that unfounded allegations could hinder humanitarian efforts and endanger lives. “Counter-terrorism strategies must strengthen, not weaken, civil society,” they said.
They called on the government to focus on addressing root causes of terrorism, including poverty, corruption, and porous borders, warning that, “Stigmatizing NGOs is a disservice to Nigerians and to the fight against terrorism,” they ended.
