Orji Kalu, senator representing Abia North, says the recent spike in terrorist attacks, kidnappings, and school closures across the country is politically motivated and linked to election-season manoeuvres.
Gatekeepers News reports that speaking on Sunday Politics, a Channels Television programme, Kalu said the pattern mirrors what occurred ahead of past elections, recalling similar tensions during the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan.
“What we are seeing is always routine, something that goes with election. And when you have election, people will try to pressurise government in power for all kinds of things to start happening,” he said.
He alleged that some political actors are hiring mercenaries and working with both local and international collaborators to stir unrest.
“And you could remember when President Jonathan was here, similar thing happened. They put a lot of pressure on the president.
“The terrorists and the bandits are orchestrated by some members of the international community and local people who really want to destabilise government.
“This is politically motivated. You can see this is happening time without number for the past few months.”
Kalu also linked the heightened tension to recent comments by former US President Donald Trump about killings in Nigeria, suggesting that conversations about the 2027 elections have emboldened certain groups.
“We have been quiet until President Trump talks about people being killed in Nigeria. And you can see people talk about 2027 election, this and that.
“These people are actually mercenaries brought by politicians. These people are people bought by individuals.
“These people are people centred to destabilise a president that is ready to fight for our economy, that is ready to revamp the economy,” he said.
Despite the concerns, Kalu expressed confidence in President Bola Tinubu’s ability to manage the situation, saying the president has demonstrated readiness to confront the security challenges.
