A Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Professor Yusuf Ali, has cautioned that Nigeria’s security policies are increasingly harming citizens rather than protecting them
Ali spoke at the Gavel International Annual Lecture and Awards 2025, held on Tuesday at the Lagos Chambers of Commerce and Industry.
In his keynote address, titled ‘The Impact of National Security Policies on Vulunerable Populations: A Human Rights Perspective ,’ he lamented that counter-terrorism and law enforcement strategies have strayed from constitutional and human rights safeguards.
Ali said “The reality is that many of our security measures have turned citizens into victims.
We have created a system where those we are meant to protect are being displaced, detained,and stripped of their dignity under the guise of national security.
He noted that the poor,women,children, and internally displaced persons have become unintended casualties in Nigeria’s fight against terrorism,banditry,and separatist movements.
Ali urged policymakers to adopt a people-centered approach, prioritising human dignity, the rule of law, and social justice.
“True security cannot be achieved by force alone. it requires the protection of rights,economic empowerment, and the strengthening of democratic institutions. When the state fails to uphold justice or meet basic needs, insecurity will persist, no matter how many guns or troops are deployed,” he said .
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