Senate Committee Chairman on the South East Development Commission (SEDC), Orji Uzor Kalu (APC, Abia North), has claimed that some bandit groups in Nigeria are mercenaries brought into the country by politicians with vested interests.
Speaking on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics programme, Kalu suggested that rising insecurity is politically motivated. He said many of these armed groups are deployed to destabilise the government, which is focused on reviving the economy.
“People are being killed across the country, yet political discussions dominate the national conversation,” Kalu said. “These bandits are partly mercenaries sponsored by individuals seeking to undermine the president’s efforts.”
On whether President Bola Tinubu is aware of these claims, Kalu noted that the president has access to a wide range of information. He added that, as a citizen, he is aware of political sponsorship behind the violence but expressed confidence that the federal government will confront and neutralise the threat.
Kalu’s remarks come amid escalating security challenges nationwide, raising concerns about the intersection of politics and criminal violence in Nigeria.