A member of the House of Representatives, Philip Agbese, has cautioned against the frequent replacement of Nigeria’s service chiefs, warning that such changes undermine military operations and give terrorists and other criminal elements the opportunity to regroup.
Agbese, who represents Ado/Okpokwu/Ogbadibo Federal Constituency of Benue State, made the remarks during an appearance on TVC News on Thursday while discussing the country’s security situation and the ongoing efforts of the Armed Forces.
The lawmaker said the military had recorded significant successes in tackling insecurity and deserved sustained public support rather than recurring calls for the removal of service chiefs whenever security challenges arise.
According to him, changing military commanders at critical moments disrupts operational momentum, as newly appointed officers require time to settle into office and implement their strategies.
“Each time there are security issues, some people begin to call for the removal of the service chiefs. Those things cause setbacks because when you remove them and bring in new ones, they try to introduce different approaches, and it takes time for them to settle down. Within that period, insurgents gain mileage and launch fresh attacks,” he said.
Agbese stressed that although opposition parties have a constitutional responsibility to hold governments accountable and advocate better policies, national security should not be politicised.
“As members of the opposition, we believe government can always do more in providing leadership and security. But when it comes to the Armed Forces, they belong to all Nigerians and deserve our collective support,” he stated.
He commended Nigerians for increasingly countering misinformation and false narratives about military operations on social media, describing public cooperation as critical to the success of security agencies.
The federal lawmaker disclosed that, according to available records, the Armed Forces had rescued no fewer than 1,000 persons from captivity this year. He urged citizens to verify information before circulating reports capable of undermining national security.
Agbese also called for stronger international collaboration in intelligence sharing and counter-terrorism efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s fight against insurgency, banditry and kidnapping.
On international justice, the lawmaker advocated Nigeria’s withdrawal from the International Criminal Court (ICC), arguing that continued membership no longer aligns with the country’s current security realities.
He maintained that while terrorist groups continue to commit atrocities against civilians without regard for international humanitarian law, the ICC has not demonstrated the same commitment to ensuring that such actors are brought to justice.
Agbese further argued that there have been recurring concerns that Nigerian troops could face international prosecution for actions taken while confronting terrorists, despite the country’s established legal and judicial institutions for investigating allegations of human rights abuses.
“Nigeria has a functional legal and judicial system capable of addressing cases involving human rights violations. Considering the scale of security threats confronting the country, government should critically review whether continued membership of the International Criminal Court remains in our national interest,” he said.
Drawing comparisons with countries such as the United States, Russia and China, Agbese said Nigeria should empower its Armed Forces to respond swiftly and decisively to security threats while reviewing international commitments that may hinder effective military operations
Agbese opposes frequent change of Service Chiefs, urges Nigeria to exit ICC