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Tag: INSECURITY

  • Insecurity has reached peak, it can only be declining, says Bishop Adelakun

    Insecurity has reached peak, it can only be declining, says Bishop Adelakun

    The Presiding Bishop of Victory International Church, Ibadan, Bishop Taiwo Adelakun, has stated that the country’s insecurity crisis has reached its peak, assuring that incidents of kidnapping, banditry, and other forms of violence are set to decline.

    Adelakun, who also serves as the National Vice President (Southwest) of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN), made the remarks during a press conference at Rehoboth Cathedral, Oluyole, Ibadan.

    He addressed pressing national issues and unveiled plans for the 2026 Global Miracle Crusade.

    The seventh edition of the Global Miracle Crusade is scheduled to hold from Thursday, January 29, to Sunday, February 1, 2026, at the Crusade Ground in Wonder City, opposite Dominion University along the Ibadan–Lagos Expressway.

    Speaking on the nation’s security situation, Adelakun acknowledged its severity but emphasized that the current challenges mark a climax rather than a permanent state.

    Bishop Adelakun said, “I believe we have reached the climax of insecurity in Nigeria. From this point, it will only go down. It will not rise again. Anyone who wants to destroy Nigeria, God will not allow it.”

    The cleric said recent violent incidents across different parts of the country have exposed what he described as long-standing denial of targeted killings and persecution, particularly against Christians.

    He added that these developments are becoming increasingly evident to the international community and could lead to stronger global engagement in addressing Nigeria’s security challenges.

    “Recent events have exposed the hypocrisy and false narrative that there is no genocide or persecution in Nigeria.

    “These realities are making clear statements to the world and will embolden the international community, especially the United States, to become more involved in addressing insecurity, kidnapping, and killings in Nigeria,” he said.

    While acknowledging the depth of the crisis, Adelakun said divine intervention often manifests when nations appear overwhelmed, stressing that hardship does not negate God’s promise of help.

    “When God says, ‘I will help you,’ it presupposes that there will be challenges and situations where we are helpless, but His help covers every situation”, he added.

    While speaking about the Global Miracle Crusade, Adelakun said attendance has grown steadily over the past three editions, which he described as a confirmation of the church’s expanding mandate. He added that the programme has now assumed a global dimension, with participants joining through digital platforms from multiple continents.

    To ensure accessibility, the church plans to deploy free shuttle buses across all 11 local government areas in Ibadan, covering routes from Moniya, Ojoo, University of Ibadan, Mokola, Bodija, Yemetu, Bere, Molete, Ring Road, Challenge, Toll Gate, and parts of Lagelu Local Government.

    Adelakun said the crusade would focus not only on spiritual renewal but also on restoring hope in a country grappling with fear and uncertainty.

    He urged Nigerians to attend with expectation, stressing that salvation remains central to the programme, alongside healing, restoration, and divine direction, saying, “nothing can be given in exchange for a soul. What will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses his soul?”

    He also emphasised the importance of moral and spiritual engagement at a time when political and security responses appear strained, noting that public officials and policymakers are not immune to moral messages from religious platforms.

  • Insecurity: Imams hold national prayer in Kano for divine intervention

    Insecurity: Imams hold national prayer in Kano for divine intervention

    The Association of Nigerian Imams has held a national congregational prayer in Kano, seeking divine intervention to address the rising insecurity in the country.

    The Jama’atul Imams dug deeply into the Qur’an, recited its verses and sought Allah’s (God’s) directive and solution.

    The holy event, held at the Sheikh Ahmadu Tijjani Mosque, brought together religious leaders and avid worshippers from across the state.

    The national president of the association Sheikh Muhammad Nasir Adam emphasised that the dilapidating security situation in the country requires “collective reflection and spiritual renewal” in tackling it.

    Read Also: Insecurity: Imams hold national prayer in Kano for divine intervention

    “We are gathered here because of the decision of our association. Looking at Nigeria’s current predicament, we resolved to recite the entire Qur’an and seek Allah’s intervention on insecurity.

    “We are also praying against external threats from countries attempting to destabilise our nation,” he said.

    Sheikh Adam noted that Nigeria faces insurgency, banditry, and other emerging threats, stressing that prayer remains the strongest weapon available.

    The president described Nigeria as a nation blessed with abundant resources and resilient people, urging citizens to embrace humility, prayer, and collective resolve to overcome adversity and build a future rooted in peace, justice, and prosperity. 

    He said, “From the challenges of Boko Haram, Lakurawa to bandits, kidnappers and other terrorist groups, these are new realities. We feel that prayer is our last option and biggest weapon.”

    The association invited all Nigerians of all faiths to join the effort, with plans of replicating similar prayers and fasting across all the 36 states.

    It also asked traditional rulers and civil society representatives to join the spiritual war against terrorism and banditry.

    “We are calling on all imams and the faithful nationwide to continue praying for lasting peace and security in our dear,” Adam said.

  • ‘How to overcome insecurity’

    ‘How to overcome insecurity’

    The Emeritus Supreme Head of C&S Unification Church Worldwide, Dr. Solomon Alao, has revealed how to overcome insecurity.

    He said for the country to tackle insecurity, government needs to put in place state and local police to curb influx of unknown and undetected elements.

    Speaking in Ibadan at a news conference to herald the 96th Annual General Conference of the church, the cleric said commissioners of Police and divisional police officers should be indigenes of the states because they would not want to compromise the safety of their states.

    Read Also: TETFund to share N6.452bn to 271 tertiary institutions under 2026 intervention

    He called for enforcement of anti-open grazing law to ensure safety of farmers and boost food security, in order to prevent famine.

    Alao said Nigerians must stop ‘god-fatherism’, to ensure good governance, adding that there should also be restructuring of the federation by converting the six geopolitical zones into states and states into provinces, to reduce cost of governance.

  • Nigeria’s dilemma in fight against insecurity

    Nigeria’s dilemma in fight against insecurity

    • By Mike Kebonkwu

    Nigeria cannot defeat insecurity for as long as we continue to call criminals freedom fighters!  We cannot defeat criminality and insurgency if we continue to defend anarchists and terrorists as religious martyrs persecuted for faith. To defeat insecurity we must all see the criminals for who they are; a scourge and enemies of the state to be decisively dealt with. 

    Advocating for negotiation, rehabilitation, compensation and political engagement with bare-faced criminals and terrorists makes crime attractive. Insecurity in Nigeria has become like Octopus, cut one appendage, it continues with other legs; it is migratory and communities are sometimes complicit, and unwilling to give information about their presence. 

    How does the nation tackle the scourge of insecurity in a complex and divided country like ours? While some politicians and elites prefer appeasement and negotiation, others feel that it should be confronted with necessary lethal force which will force them to surrender. We got to a point that many Nigerians felt that the government should engage private security contractors and mercenaries to fight the insurgency in the Northeast that was fast spreading to other parts of the country.  I know from personal experience that the Nigerian military has the capacity to rein in the criminals and terrorists if the necessary leadership and political will are made available. 

    The entire country has become theatre of operation and the criminals have become more daring and reckless. The bandits are operating in the Northwest with ferocious force and bloody campaign.  Every other day, there is a splinter group with equal violence like the Lakurawa.  Whether the insurgents and bandits tormenting the country are zealots driven by religious ideology or not, they are criminals and enemies of the state; their tribes notwithstanding.  We should stop reducing the argument to labelling and stereotyping of tribes and focus on dealing with the scourge. 

    Read Also: Court okays interim forfeiture of N213.2b 57 assets by Malami, sons

    Insecurity is a complex industry and a huge business with equally complex networks.  We are also contending with killer herdsmen and kidnappers in the Middle Belt down to the South.   It has been agonizing for the Southeast who are under the yoke of bloody campaign by unknown gunmen and militant agitation for self determination.  Some analysts have been loud, demanding that the government should engage friendly countries for defence and intelligence supplies and support. 

    It has taken the threat of the maverick narcissist, Donald Trump the president of the United States of America who promised to come gun-a-blazing to attack the “ISIS” (The Islamic State of Irag and Syria) backed terrorists in Nigeria after designating Nigeria a country of particular concern (CPC) on account of perceived persecution and genocide of Christians to rekindle the fire on the government on the urgency to act. 

    By the way, President Donald Trump is not a Christian religious crusader. He is an uncontrollable power drunk and  the scourge of the 21st Century civilization like the Biblical Nebuchadnezzar.   He is an impulsive tyrant who does not recognize any rule of engagement.  He unleashes America’s military might on countries and organizations he suspects to be supporting global terrorism and political dictatorship in Third World countries. He may have bowed to the pressures of some evangelicals to intervene in Nigeria to halt the haemorrhage which has become common place in the country.  At last, Donald Trump made good his threat and on December 25, 2025 the United States military launched missiles from their platform warship off the coast of Guinea into Jabo, an obscure town in Sokoto State. We are told that it was a joint operation with the Nigerian government supplying the intelligence. Nobody appears to know the extent of the casualty suffered by the insurgents and terrorists.  However, the missile attack has sent real jilters and has recalibrated the fight against insecurity with the Nigerian military becoming more offensive.  However, some elites and religious fanatics are up in arms that the missile launch  on the terrorists is targeted against  Muslim north, while some errant activists see it as a violation of our sovereignty. 

    It is intellectual dishonesty to argue that the American strike is a violation of our sovereignty after the government as openly explained it was at its approval in joint operation.   In any case, one wonders what is actually left of our sovereignty when terrorists and non state actors collect taxes in the ungovernable spaces and some local councils in the north, while militant agitators for self determination impose and enforce restrictions in states in the Southeast. 

    In saner climes, the spy agencies should have full dossiers of every person in public space especially the political elite and religious clerics spreading incendiary and inciting discontent in a secular state.  They are to be picked up for questioning where it is clearly they have become complicit and acting as mouthpiece for the criminals. The security agencies should also have the profile of all those driving the criminal underworld instead of chasing protesters, critics and political witch-hunt.  We do not want bandits to be killed because they are our bandits; we do not want terrorists to be killed because they are our terrorists, martyrs of faith.  We do not want kidnappers and marauding killer herdsmen to be killed because they are our kinsmen.   Yet we offer the poor masses as sacrificial lambs and ransom to the deities of these criminal cartels daily on the roads.  

    We cannot defeat insecurity and criminality by arming tribal militias with military grade weapons. We cannot defeat terrorism with proliferation of firearms and light weapons in the hands of non state actors. The country is awash with weapons. We are creating and arming every paramilitary organization and agencies.  Very soon we will ask that the Boys Scout should be armed.  We have militarized the entire political space of Nigeria without safety and protection.

    The role and responsibility of the National Security Adviser (NSA) in relation to the coordination of operational issues and arming of paramilitary organizations and tribal militias should be interrogated.  We are inadvertently drifting towards arming tribal armies and militias without command and control which in no distant time will plunge the nation in another phase of security crisis.

    To make the country peaceful and engage in socio-economic activities again, the criminals terrorizing the country should be eliminated by all means possible. How do we achieve this?  Leave that to the military and equip them with clear marching order.  Nigeria should not be allowed to become the nest and haven or operational base and headquarters for global violent terrorists’ organizations.  We either agree and deal with the scourge of insecurity collectively as Nigerians and stop the divisive rhetoric and protection of criminals, or risk the inevitable historical solution of dissolution of the republic, God forbid!

    •Kebonkwu Esq is an Abuja-based attorney. He writes via mikekebonkwu@yahoo.com

  • Reflections on parliamentary action against insecurity

    Reflections on parliamentary action against insecurity

    • By Musa Abdullahi Krishi

    The year 2025 was a remarkable one for the 360 members of the House of Representatives in several ways. It was a year that the lawmakers spoke in one voice, setting aside political affiliations and cladding themselves in unmatched patriotism.

    A major issue of concern to the lawmakers, and indeed to every well-meaning Nigerian, in 2025 was insecurity. From January to December of 2025, Members of the Green Chamber raised many security-related motions with hundreds of resolutions reached. Disturbed by the situation, the House rose in unison searching for solutions to the menace, at least legislatively.

    Thus, members of the Green Chamber, led by the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Abbas Tajudeen, Ph.D, GCON, dedicated an entire legislative week at plenary to the issue—from Tuesday, November 25, to Thursday, November 27, 2025—tagged ‘Special Plenary Session on National Security.’ In the end, the representatives of the Nigerian people adopted some far-reaching resolutions—over 50 of them—aimed at arresting the situation.

    Apart from the members of the House, the session also had in attendance officials from the United States Embassy in Nigeria, as well as the Speaker of the Parliament of Saint Kitts and Nevis, Rt. Hon. Lanien Blanchette, along with members of Parliament and Cabinet Ministers. Some members of the civil society organizations also graced the historic session.

    The special session began with a powerful, poignant, and historic speech by Speaker Abbas Tajudeen, who set the tone of the all-important legislative business. The Speaker began thus: Honourable colleagues, distinguished guests, fellow Nigerians, we meet at a time of unprecedented national challenges. This moment requires calm heads, careful judgment and thoughtful action, not rushed or sensational responses. The decision of this House to suspend all other matters to focus on national security is therefore neither symbolic nor procedural. It reflects the seriousness of the moment and our duty to speak for our constituents.

    “The last few weeks have been difficult for our country. Communities have suffered severe attacks, including killings and multiple abductions targeting civilians, security personnel, and other vulnerable groups. These incidents occurred in rapid succession and affected different parts of the country, underscoring the scale and coordination of the threat we face.”

    Read Also: Insecurity: Kalu urges governors to secure states, backs Tinubu

    Though there were several security issues prior, the abduction at the Government Girls Science School, Maga, in Kebbi State; the unfortunate invasion and abduction of students at the Saint Mary’s Catholic School, Papiri, in Niger State; and the kidnapping of worshippers in Kwara State, seemed to be the last straw that broke the camel’s back. The lawmakers felt compelled to act urgently with a purpose.

    Echoing the position of the House on measures taken against insecurity before the special session, the Speaker remarked, “We stand firmly behind all ongoing operations and support every lawful measure aimed at delivering justice and restoring safety to our communities.”

    The purpose of the perpetrators of insecurity, the Speaker said, “is to instill fear, weaken public confidence, and give the illusion of being everywhere at once. Nigeria must reject this tactic. We must resist fear and stand firm against those who rely on cruelty and spectacle to advance their evil ideologies.”

    Despite the security challenges, the Speaker noted, the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration has taken steps to reform the security architecture with a visible shift in coordination among the services and a more deliberate effort to regain the initiative.

    Speaker Abbas took exception to the designation of Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC) by the United States Government through the Nigeria Religious Freedom Accountability Act of 2025 introduced in the US Congress. He announced that the House had conveyed its resolutions on the matter to the US Congress, the Department of State, and the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom.

    He added, “It is true that in some communities, Christians have been targeted, just as Muslim communities have suffered similar attacks in others. These acts have been carried out by violent groups pursuing their own agendas. They do not reflect the policy or practice of the Nigerian state. Terrorism, banditry, communal clashes, and extremist violence have brought suffering to Nigerians of all faiths. Our Constitution guarantees freedom of religion, and every institution of government remains committed to protecting that right.”

    He emphasized dialogue with the US Government and the rest of the international community in resolving the matter and changing the narrative.

    The Speaker’s remarks resonated well with his colleagues. Thereafter, members took turns to highlight issues around insecurity as they relate to their respective constituencies. The House received briefings from the regional leaders, with the Chairman of the House Committee on Women Affairs and Social Development, Hon. Kafilat Ogbara from Lagos State, kick-starting what became a session packed with revelations. She lamented the security situation around the country, particularly the spate of abductions and kidnappings, which she described as acts of terror.

    Lamenting the situation, Hon. Sada Soli, the leader of the North-West Caucus, described the perpetrators of insecurity as criminals, arguing that reversing the trend would require a holistic approach involving social, economic, and environmental strategies, as well as strengthening institutions.

    Similarly, the leader of the North East Caucus, Hon. Muktar Betara Aliyu, submitted that Borno State became the cynosure of insurgency and terrorism for over a decade, spreading to other parts of the region. He called for more funding of the security agencies as well as better welfare for the troops fighting the scourge.

    Also, speaking for the North Central, Hon. Ahmed Idris Wase, a former deputy speaker, bemoaned attempts to give a religious coloration to the wave of insecurity in the country. He revealed that at some point, some security agencies were infiltrated by criminals and former members of the Boko Haram group.

    The Deputy Chief Whip, Hon. Isiaka Ibrahim, who spoke for the South West, lamented that insecurity has brought about barriers and divisions among the people, calling for urgent actions to be taken.

    For the South East, Hon. Iduma Igariwey Enwo noted that the situation called for a rethink, citing poor policy implementation as a major albatross in tackling insecurity.

    Hon. Solomon Bob, who spoke on behalf of the South South, argued that the perpetrators of insecurity should be appropriately addressed as terrorists, as they criminally disturb the peace in the society.

    Key Resolutions

    After exhaustive deliberations on the security situation, the lawmakers adopted the resolutions, major among them was on terrorism financing, calling on the federal government not only to publicly identify individuals and organizations funding terrorism but also to sanction and prosecute them, rather than the occasional announcements on freezing the accounts of such people/organizations without naming them.

    The House equally urged the Executive arm to create dedicated courts to attend to issues around terrorism, banditry, and kidnapping for transparent and speedy dispensation of justice.

    The lawmakers also called for a total ban on ransom negotiations, as well as penalizing government officials who engage in such practices.

    Additionally, they asked the federal government to decisively overhaul the country’s security architecture by providing better remuneration and welfare for security personnel.

    It is also on record that the House called for the strengthening of intelligence and technology to institute better intelligence sharing among security agencies, as well as enhance the use of drones and satellites for border surveillance, among others. The lawmakers were also particular about community policing and illegal arms control.

    Another major resolution passed was calling on the government to address the root causes of insecurity, such as poverty, unemployment, and weak governance, by creating jobs and massive investment in the education sector. There was also a resolution calling for the establishment of military bases in volatile regions, high-risk areas, and strategic locations.

    They, in addition, recommended immediate massive recruitment into the Armed Forces, the Police and other security agencies in line with recent presidential directives, as well as strengthened welfare for security personnel through improved salaries, insurance, housing, medical care, and compensation frameworks.

    There were other specific resolutions, which included fiscal measures for security enhancement: all security expenditure should be placed on ‘First Line Charge’ to guarantee predictable and timely funding, and all approved security budgets must be fully and promptly disbursed; a phased strengthening of cashless transaction frameworks nationwide; security coverage for schools, worship centres, markets, and other soft targets should be strengthened; all public CCTV systems should be reactivated, upgraded, and, where necessary, complemented with new installations and integrated into a national and sub-national surveillance grid.

    Other resolutions also noted that intelligence gathering should be strengthened at the community level and systematically linked to national systems; border security should be treated as a national emergency, with deployment of modern technologies; and a central Joint Intelligence Fusion Centre be established for real time interagency coordination, among others.

    Having ended the year 2025 with a resolve to contain insecurity in Nigeria, the Speaker Abbas Tajudeen-led House is set to resume legislative business in 2026 on the same trajectory – with a renewed hope that the security situation in the country will improve tremendously.

    • Krishi is the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the Speaker, House of Representatives
  • Insecurity: Gombe bans scrap dealers, begins tenant profiling

    Insecurity: Gombe bans scrap dealers, begins tenant profiling

    The Gombe State government has banned scrap dealers’ activities as part of measures to improve security.

     The Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr Zubairu Umar, stated this at a news conference yesterday, following the State Expanded Security Council meeting chaired by Governor Inuwa Yahaya.

    Umar said the ban was necessitated by the absence of a central union for scrap dealers and reports of illegal and unwholesome activities linked to the business.

    “We received security reports indicating non-cooperation among scrap dealers, as security agencies could not identify a central union to engage with,” he said.

    Read Also: Court grants EFCC’s request for interim forfeiture of N30.7m linked to alleged fraud in NNPC 

    According to him, multiple associations with divergent views operate within the sector, making regulation and monitoring difficult.

    “Because of the unwholesome and illegal activities of some involved, the State Security Council has, with effect from today, banned all Bola-jari (scrap dealers) activities across the state,” Umar said.

    He said the ban would remain until dealers agreed to operate under a unified leadership, register with relevant authorities and relocate to designated locations provided by the government.

    Umar added that anyone caught would be arrested, noting that the police had been directed to enforce the decision.

    In a related development, the commissioner said the state would begin profiling tenants as part of efforts to strengthen internal security.

    “People are coming into the state and taking up residence without proper documentation as to who they are, where they are from and the nature of their visit,” he said.

    Umar said a standard template would be developed by the Ministry of Justice and distributed to house agents, making tenant profiling mandatory.

    He said completed forms would be submitted to the Gombe State Security, Traffic and Environmental Corps (GOSTEC) for record-keeping and security monitoring.

    The commissioner added that the state government was reviewing its security architecture to address emerging threats and sustain peace.

    Meanwhile, the state Commissioner of Police, Mr Umar Chuso, said efforts were ongoing to apprehend perpetrators of the recent attack on Pindiga Community.

    Chuso said the attack resulted in the death of two persons, while four others were kidnapped.

    He said the police, in collaboration with other security agencies and local hunters, were working to secure the release of the abducted victims.

    Chuso reiterated the command’s commitment to protecting lives and property across the state.

  • Airstrikes alone won’t end insecurity, expert warns

    Airstrikes alone won’t end insecurity, expert warns

    A security analyst at the University of Aberdeen, Onyedikachi Madueke, has warned that Nigeria’s worsening insecurity cannot be resolved through airpower alone.

    He cautioned that while airstrikes may deliver short-term tactical gains, they risk triggering longer-term strategic setbacks if not embedded in a broader, people-centred security strategy.

    Reacting to recent airstrikes against Islamic State (IS) targets in Sokoto State, Madueke said military force from the air may degrade militant capabilities temporarily, but is insufficient to address the complex drivers of violence across Nigeria.

    “Nigeria’s insecurity will not be resolved through airpower alone,” Madueke stated in an article published yesterday by The Guardian of London.

    He stressed that “airstrikes may yield short-term tactical gains, but they risk generating longer-term strategic setbacks.”

    He noted that public reaction to the Sokoto airstrikes has been mixed.

    While the justification for the strikes has been widely questioned, the operation itself has been broadly welcomed across religious, ethnic and social divides.

    According to him, the strikes were framed in some quarters as a response to alleged genocidal attacks on Christians.

    However, Nigerian authorities, he said, have consistently rejected this narrative, maintaining that armed groups do not target victims based on religion and that Christians and Muslims largely coexist peacefully.

    Madueke noted that the framing itself has complicated the public understanding of the operation.

    Sokoto, he explained, is the spiritual heartland of Islam in Nigeria, and armed violence in the area has disproportionately affected Muslim communities rather than Christians.

    Read Also: Insecurity: President Tinubu recalibrates

    “The geographic and operational focus of the strikes complicates the ‘Christian genocide’ framing,” he said.

    He added that attacks against Christian farmers are more prevalent in north-central states such as Benue and Plateau, where violence is often linked to armed herder militias rather than jihadist groups.

    He noted that the strikes targeted IS elements, not herder militias, raising questions about whether external actors fully grasp the local dynamics of violence in Nigeria’s different regions.

    He said, despite early concerns shaped by memories of prolonged US military interventions in Libya, Iraq, Syria and Afghanistan, the Sokoto operation eased public anxiety because of its limited scope.

    “The operation was a targeted precision strike, not a prolonged intervention,” Madueke observed.

    According to Madueke, many Nigerians were prepared to accept almost any intervention that promised immediate relief as the strikes came at a time of widespread public fatigue with insecurity caused by insurgency, terrorism, banditry and communal violence.

    The analyst said Nigeria’s security agencies are increasingly overstretched as terrorist networks become more interconnected across the Sahel and West Africa.

    He pointed to persistent corruption, inadequate training and chronic equipment shortages as factors undermining counterinsurgency efforts.

    “In some theatres, groups such as Boko Haram and its splinter factions now wield more sophisticated weaponry than state forces,” he said.

    The federal government has confirmed that it endorsed the Sokoto operation.

    Minister of Foreign Affairs Yusuf Tuggar acknowledged that Nigeria provided intelligence support and remained in communication with U.S. forces until minutes before the strikes were executed.

    This confirmation helped allay concerns about sovereignty and foreign military overreach.

    However, Madueke warned that how such interventions are framed matters as much as the strikes themselves.

    He cautioned that presenting the operation as a defence of persecuted Christians could strengthen extremist propaganda.

    “Framing the intervention in religious terms risks reinforcing narratives of foreign ‘crusader’ aggression,” he said, noting that groups such as Isis-Sahel and emerging factions like Lakurawa “thrive on such symbolism,” which can attract funding, recruits and external support.

    According to the analyst, a durable solution to Nigeria’s insecurity lies not in firepower but in tackling the structural drivers of violence.

    “The sustainable path to peace lies in starving violence of its fuel,” Madueke said, pointing to deep socioeconomic inequality, desertification and climate stress, weak state presence in rural communities, porous borders and fragile security institutions.

    He highlighted Sokoto’s high number of out-of-school children as a warning sign, arguing that strengthening state capacity to manage grievances, regulate competition over land and resources, and counter extremism remains Nigeria’s only viable long-term option.

    “Military action can buy time, but only governance, development and institutional reform can buy peace,” he said.

  • Insecurity: ALGON acknowledges Tinubu’s efforts, calls for more protection of vulnerable population

    Insecurity: ALGON acknowledges Tinubu’s efforts, calls for more protection of vulnerable population

     The Association of Local Government of Nigeria (ALGON) has acknowledged the efforts of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, in addressing national security and economic challenges, while urging the presidency to strengthen protection of vulnerable populations.

    The association spoke during its 52nd National Executive Council (NEC) meeting, held at Blue Springs Hotel, Abuja.

    As part of its resolutions, ALGON observed that the Local Government Areas are porous and exposed to easy invasion of terrorist groups and bandits.

    The meeting reaffirmed ALGON’s commitment in strengthening local governance and pledged continued collaboration with the Federal Government, State Governments, and Development Partners to ensure effective service delivery at the grassroots.

    “After hours of deliberation, the NEC expressed grave concern over the rising insecurity across the country and condemned in strong terms the abduction of children, mothers, and other vulnerable individuals.

    “While appreciating the efforts of the Federal and State Governments, the Council urged them, alongside Security Agencies, to intensify intelligence gathering, deployment of modern equipment, search-and-rescue operations, and community policing initiatives,” the communiqué, signed by ALGON National Publicity Secretary, Anani Hamisu, stated.

    NEC emphasised that restoring public confidence in security is essential, as failure to protect citizens undermines all other functions of government.

    The association pledged to explore all avenues for agricultural development to promote food security, aimed at supporting the Federal and States Governments.

    It stressed the importance of supporting farmers with modern tools, credit facilities, and adequate security.

    NEC also highlighted the growing unemployment crisis among youths, calling for targeted empowerment programmes at the local level and appealing to the Federal Government to ensure inclusive plans that allow LGAs to field qualified candidates in current vacancies across Ministries, Departments, and Agencies.

  • Insecurity: We will modify training curriculum, adopt marksmanship, field craft — COAS

    Insecurity: We will modify training curriculum, adopt marksmanship, field craft — COAS

    The Chief of Army Staff(COAS), LT.-Gen Waidi Shaibu, has announced the plan to modify the training curriculum in the three Nigerian Army’s depots as part of renewed efforts to combat insecurity and banditry in the country. 

    Shaibu noted that the military will adopt marksmanship and essential field craft skills to make results-oriented soldiers across the nation. 

    The COAS speaking at the maiden Passing Out Parade of 89 Regular Recruits Intake at Nigerian Army Depot, Osogbo, Osun State on Saturday, disclosed that 3,500 soldiers will be deployed to stem the tide of insecurity. 

    Addressing the new recruits, he attested that the six months training has transformed the young men and women into disciplined, resilient, and patriotic Nigerian soldiers. 

    According to him, “It is indeed a thing of pride to be the pioneer set of recruits to have been trained here. You must therefore wear this badge with honour and act as worthy ambassadors of this institution throughout the span of your careers.

    “You are joining the Army at a critical period in our history when our country is faced with diverse security challenges. Indeed, you have chosen a noble path of honour that is paved with challenges, but these challenges are not unsurmountable.”

    He noted that the new intake have been exposed purposeful leadership which will be useful for them on the field, urging them to reflect upon the values that they imbibed during training and in the moments of adversity, they should draw strength from training’s guiding principle of success.

    He added that the current threat landscape of Nigeria has brought to the fore, the need for increased recruitment towards a surge in our manpower strength, saying “the new intake should be mindful. 

    COAS said, “An increase in quantity without a corresponding enhancement of the quality of our troops will negate the entire strategic goal. It is therefore gratifying to state here today that apart from Depot Nigerian Army Zaria and Depot Nigerian Army Osogbo, the newly approved Depot Nigerian Army Abakaliki will come on stream very soon. 

    “Going forward, the training curriculum in all 3 of our Depots will be modified and streamlined to focus on marksmanship and other requisite field craft skills necessary to produce fit, adept and result-oriented soldiers.”

    He disclosed that necessary measures have been put in place to cater for soldiers welfare and wellbeing in and out of service. 

    He also lauded President Bola Tinubu, for his steadfast belief and unwavering support to the Nigerian Army, noting that “His strategic guidance has indeed been pivotal to our successes and milestone achievements.”

    Earlier, in the remark of Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, he pleaded with the COAS to help the state to fight against the infiltration of bandits from Kwara to Osun State. 

    He promised to provide necessary support for the military to achieve its mission by combating any aggression against peace of the state and Nigeria as a whole. 

    He said, “I seek further support of the military and especially the Army to contain infiltration of bandits into Osun from Kwara state. The threat is real amd we strongly believe the ongoing operation will contain the threats.”

  • Insecurity: Why are we defeated?

    Insecurity: Why are we defeated?

    • By Ray Ekpan

    In the last few weeks, insecurity has shown its ugly face repeatedly in Nigeria. It is difficult to keep track of the incidents in various parts of the country but a few examples will suffice. At 4am on Monday November 17, 25 school girls from Government Girls Comprehensive Secondary School in Maga town, Kebbi State were kidnapped and taken away. The school’s vice principal and security guard were shot during the assault. Story confirmed.

    In Kwara State, 35 worshippers were kidnapped from Christ Apostolic Church in Oke-Igan, Eruku Ekiti LGA of Kwara State. The terrorists requested for a ransom of N100million to be paid for each victim. Story confirmed.

    In Niger State, terrorists had in a pre-dawn attack, kidnapped over 100 students and staff of St Mary’s School in Papiri, Agwara Local Government Area. Story confirmed.

    Let me not bore you with more documentation of disaster. The truth is that the terrorists are tormenting us daily; the bandits are brutalising us daily; and the herders are harassing us daily. We are at their mercy and they are merciless. This is not a case of Christian genocide. It is simply a case of all round insecurity, insecurity that affects all of us, Christians, Moslems, animists and atheists, men, women, children, northerners, southerners, westerners and easterners.

    Those who think that this is a question of Christian genocide are mistaken, grossly mistaken. The plain truth is that they target who they can get easily. They go for soft targets, targets that have large crowds, crowds that meet on fixed days of the week. Christians meet in churches on Sundays. That is known. Moslems meet in mosques on Fridays. That is known. Students are in session during school seasons. That is known. People go to night clubs at weekends. That is known. So they plan their attacks to meet these crowds at the appropriate places.

    They are not targeting religion. They are targeting people. And the reason that they kill people at these places is to prevent people from running away. Once they kill a few people the rest of the people prefer to wait and be kidnapped than killed. And when they take them away, the next step is obvious: ransom. So in my opinion, this game is largely, basically, about money, not about religion. If it is about religion, why would they attack people at night clubs and supermarkets where the religious identities of those attacked are unknown?

    There are obvious questions we must ask on this insecurity question in our country. Why do the terrorists defeat us? They don’t have an air force but we do. So we can fight them from the sky. They don’t have a navy but we do, so we can fight them from the creeks. Yes, they are on the ground but we have more feet on the ground, feet belonging to thousands of our soldiers, policemen and para-military forces. So the terrorists have no business beating us and making us miserable.

    These people move about in motorcycles but our security personnel have not only motorcycles but also bullet-proof vehicles. So why should they defeat us? These people have no established intelligence structures but we have them in our army, air force, navy, police etc; so why should our intelligence agencies not be ahead of them?

    These people do not control the telecommunication companies but we do and yet we can’t easily locate these terrorists before or after their attacks. These people have sophisticated weapons but the weapons used by our armed forces and police are also sophisticated or even more sophisticated than their own. So why do they defeat us?

    These people may be many, but they are not as many as Nigerians whose population is more than 200 million. So why can’t we overpower them? The reason is, I think, because Nigerians are not drafted into this war. The government has made security, only, largely, a government affair. In America or Canada, every citizen or resident knows that if there is a reason to seek for help they can simply dial 911. In Nigeria, is there such a number that is known to all citizens and residents? I don’t know. If there is, how many Nigerians know it? Probably a few. So Nigerians think that the fight against insecurity is the business of our government especially the federal government since all the security agencies are federal government-owned.

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    The state governors who are the Chief Security Officers of their states are simply Chief Security Officers largely in name. So when terrorists torment their states, they call on the federal government for help. And the federal government is already stretched thin. So why is there no massive publicity about the role that all Nigerians can play in this matter? Why are Nigerians not told what numbers to call in an emergency? Why are there no avenues for providing information to security personnel? Why are there no prizes or national honours for whistle blowers who provide information that have made a major impact on the war against terror?

    In this fight, there have been insinuations that tend to give the impression that some of our security personnel are sabotaging the process for their personal benefits. Some of our security personnel have lost their lives in this fight. Others have shown gallantry and patriotism in this fight. So I do not want to believe that the senior security personnel would do anything to defeat their mandate. But the view is a prevailing view within the public space that some of the senior security personnel want the insecurity imbroglio to continue for their own personal benefit. The security personnel owe themselves a duty of saving their good names by debunking with facts and figures this vile accusation. The other method of debunking the allegation would be the summary defeat of the terrorists.

    When President Bola Tinubu appointed new service chiefs recently, he told them that he wants results, not excuses. That is what Nigerians want too because we are already tired of getting excuses as answers to the problem. Yes, we applaud the efforts of our gallant security forces but we want them to do more, much more, than they have done so far. We learn that the army is recruiting 24, 000 soldiers into its fold. Good. The police is recruiting 50, 000 persons. That is good too. The president has asked that more policemen be recruited and that those policemen serving as security personnel, luggage carriers and house boys and house girls are to be withdrawn. This directive has been given several times in the past and they have been ignored. The reason for its being ignored is that the senior police officers see it as a rich source of stomach infrastructure. But as I have said before on this platform, we need more policemen in all the states. It is the police who are in the local government areas that are close to where the terrorists execute their evil agenda.

    I thought that all the state governors and traditional rulers nationwide had agreed that state police is a desideratum. Yes, they did. So why are we pussy-footing about bringing it on board? State police has immense merits: more boots on the ground; closeness to where the action is; understanding of the culture and customs of the community; more appropriate equipment; proximity to the decision making arena; commitment to save the neighbourhood which is theirs. Why the delay? Anyone who thinks that it is only a monolithic security entity that can save the country from the severe insecurity we are going through is wrong, severely wrong. All the 25 or so federations in the world have two or three police systems manning their security business. If a single security entity could solve the problem, why hasn’t it solved it in Nigeria? It hasn’t solved it because our country is too big and too diverse for a single police system, a system that has even been depleted by big men and women who use about one-third of the policemen and women for menial jobs.

    All the major federations in the world, United States, Canada, Germany, Australia etc. have more than one police system. Why are we bent on staying on the wrong side of the problem? That wrong side has not given us the right answer to the problem. National Assembly please bring state police. President Tinubu, please bring state police. Pussy footing is not the answer.

    Now with some federal and state secondary schools being shut down because of insecurity, it means that insecurity has given education a red card. Since President Bola Tinubu has now declared a security emergency, all hands should be on deck and all boots should be on the ground. There must be more investment in modern security technology. There must be a massive mobilisation of the people. All hands must be on deck for us to win this war.