Veteran journalist and former Editor-in-Chief of the defunct Daily Times and the Nigerian Tribune, Tola Adeniyi, has alleged that leaders of the ruling All Progressives Congress knowingly facilitated the emergence of banditry in Nigeria as part of efforts to remove former President Goodluck Jonathan from office.
Adeniyi made the claims during an interview on State Affairs, a podcast hosted by Edmund Obilo.
According to him, several prominent figures within the APC publicly admitted to inviting armed groups into the country during the political battle against Jonathan’s administration.
“All the leaders of the APC, all their prominent leaders said publicly that they invited bandits into this country to drive away former president Goodluck Jonathan,” Adeniyi said.
He further alleged that the insecurity currently plaguing parts of Nigeria was “created, enhanced and influenced” by political interests linked to the ruling party.
Adeniyi also criticised comments allegedly made by some APC figures describing repentant bandits as “brothers,” arguing that such statements reflected a deeper political connection to armed groups operating across the country.
Speaking on the abduction of the Chibok schoolgirls kidnapping, the veteran journalist questioned how hundreds of schoolgirls could have been taken without alleged complicity from within government circles.
“When bandits needed women, they went to Chibok and took 360 girls. There was no way 360 girls would be taken away from anywhere on earth without government involvement. It’s not possible,” he stated.
Adeniyi also referenced remarks often attributed to former Head of State, Sani Abacha, suggesting that prolonged insurgencies usually have backing from influential actors within government.
“We had the late General Sani Abacha several times being quoted as saying that when insurgency lasts more than a week, government has a hand in it,” he added.
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