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Tag: INSECURITY

  • Linking insecurity to 2027 polls

    Linking insecurity to 2027 polls

    The link between rising insecurity in the country and 2027 general elections dominated deliberations of the Senate during its sitting last Wednesday. A motion of urgent importance on the many cases of Boko Haram and armed banditry sponsored by Shuaibu Isa Lau, Taraba North, provided the platform for senators to reasonably suspect a link exists between the escalating insecurity and the coming national elections.

    Senators Sunday Karimi and Danguma Goje did not see the upsurge in insecurity as mere coincidence. They would rather have the Federal Government look deeper into the rising incidents of Boko Haram upsurge ahead of the 2027 elections, especially as they bear the trademark of events of the 2015 polls.

    Senator Karimi, while noting there were cases before the 2015 elections where some individuals threatened violence in case they lost at the polls, lamented that in the last two weeks, several individuals from his district had been kidnapped. “We must ask why? What is the motive behind this? What do they stand to gain? he further asked.

    “We saw similar signs before the 2015 elections where some individuals prepared for violence in case they lost at the polls. The same pattern appears to be emerging now as we approach the 2027 elections. These attacks may not be random; they may be coordinated efforts by those who feel they are losing political relevance and seek to plunge the country into chaos as a strategy to regain power by force,” Karimi further noted. He wants these people unmasked and held accountable.

    Goje supported the view that the rising cases of violence across the country are not just isolated incidents. “We need to ask questions: Why now? Why the sudden surge in violence?” He called for deeper investigations to determine whether these incidents are linked to the political build up to the 2027 elections.

    The suspicion by senators of a nexus between the current upsurge in insecurity and the build up to the 2027 elections is on point. It fits into the pattern of the puzzles that surrounded the emergence of the Boko Haram insurgency and the lethal proportions its activities assumed as the 2015 elections approached. If that experience offers any lesson, then the reoccurrence of similar trends as the 2027 national elections draw closer is bound to raise eyebrows. So, the link which the senators sought to establish between events of the two elections can neither be dismissed with a wave of the hand nor wished away. They present regularities that evoke reasonable suspicion that should compel serious inquisition.

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    Writing in this column last April under the title: “Insecurity and Partisan politics,” I had raised the question as to whether there is a link between the escalating insecurity in the country and the quest by politicians for power? It was also observed that the same question featured prominently when the Boko Haram insurgency reared its ugly head and assumed monstrous dimensions as the 2015 elections approached. The article had also observed that the link is “being talked about even in hushed tones as the momentum of the 2027 elections gathers.”

    The write-up followed resumed killings in Plateau, Benue and Taraba states by suspected herdsmen, and coordinated attacks by the Boko Haram insurgents in parts of north east. Apart from the similarity in the manner of rising attacks, the article also noted the coincidence that in 2015 Jonathan, a southerner, was at the helm of affairs when Boko Haram suddenly raised the bar of insecurity while now, Bola Tinubu, a southerner, is the current president.

    Why insecurity rises when a southern president is about to run for another election is another link worthy of serious investigation. The way it is resolved may well provide a veritable lead to unveiling the motive behind the rising insecurity as elections approach; its motive, sponsors and collaborators.

    The matter has resonated with the position of the senators. Maybe it now offers the needed opportunity to re-examine the puzzles evident in the discordant tunes from the north at the budding stages of the Boko Haram insurgency on what the fight against it really represented.

    Then, a former governor of Adamawa State, Muritala Nyako, had told a meeting of northern governors of the Federal Government’s alleged complicity in the saga, even as he claimed that security officials were passing information to help the terrorists in their deadly operations. He had also alleged that the motive for the Boko Haram insurgency was to reduce the voting population of the north east in the 2015 elections and subsequent ones, and keep the region perpetually underdeveloped.

    Nyako was reported to have repeated the same allegations at a meeting of 12 northern governors with US government officials in Washington DC. The US meeting was organised by the US government, through its Institute of Peace, to explore how Americans can work with state governments in the north to address the Boko Haram insurgency and underlying under-development challenges.

    The claim that Boko Haram was contrived to reduce the voting population of the north in the 2015 elections spoke of the same political link. The only difference is that the blame was laid at the doorsteps of the Jonathan regime. But suspicion of political sponsorship and collaboration with the insurgents by some northern politicians was also evident from the high level of mass abduction of school children in controversial circumstances without any trace.

    The blame game they engendered, and the manner some of the school children were later ferried back without any trace of where they were taken to, raised suspicion of conspiracy rooted in the then coming national elections.

    Insecurity had such prominence that it became an election campaign issue. It became an issue of blackmail as northern governors held former president Jonathan squarely responsible for the upsurge. Suicide bomb attacks on churches and other public buildings provoked so much anger against the government in power then that its loss in the coming election was quite predictable.

    But this conspiracy dimension was not lost on Jonathan. He was later to demonstrate the enormity of the challenge when he disclosed there were Boko Haram sympathisers in his cabinet, at the national assembly and within the judiciary.

    Boko Haram backers and sympathisers are “in the executive arm of the government; some of them are in the parliament/legislative arm of the government while some are in the judicial arm. Some are also in the armed forces, the police and other security agencies,” Jonathan lamented.

    Jonathan was seemingly helpless in confronting the dangerous shape Boko Haram had assumed within the theatres of war and in government circles. Ironically, he was handicapped in dealing with the complexities of the matter, given that Boko Haram enablers, sympathisers and collaborators could be found within the three arms of the government and among the security forces. It was a delicate situation; so difficult to pinpoint those that have nothing to do with the insurgents. Then, it appeared all was fair in war because the objective was to see that administration out by every available means during the polls. And it came to pass. But the monsters are still lying in wait.

    When Buhari took over as president, hopes were high that he had a solution to the insurgency, given his military background and election promises to diminish the potency of the insurgents within a few months. After a few months in office, he gleefully told the nation that he had won the war against Boko Haram insurgency.

    In his view, Boko Haram had been so diminished that it could not muster sufficient force and capability to attack military formations. But many knew that Buhari’s claims were in utter variance with facts on the ground. His bogus claims drew caution from the outside world as he was reminded that insurgency is so rooted and complex that it is difficult to dismantle in the manner Buhari had presented.

    It did not take long before Boko Haram put a lie to his claims. It has since continued to mount serious attacks against our security forces with no signs of either retreating or surrendering. The fact that its attacks have resumed in such a manner that compelled senators to call for serious investigation of the resurgence of Boko Haram attacks ahead of the 2027 elections says all about the potency of the insurgent group.

    Just last week, Governor Babagana Zulum of Borno State alleged that Boko Haram has “informants and collaborators within the Nigerian armed forces, within the politicians and within the communities.” These links are nothing new. Their motive? Sadly, despite the weight of information on collaborators and sponsors of terrorism, no substantial effort has been made to unmask and bring the full weight of the law against them.

    There are now four splinter groups from Boko Haram terrorising society. The message in that spread should be instructive. What has been lacking has been the needed political will to deal with the enablers of the cascading terrorism. Until then, the monsters the politicians created will continue to turn around and haunt them.

  • Nigeria turning tide against insecurity, says Defence Minister

    Nigeria turning tide against insecurity, says Defence Minister

    • COAS to troops: Crush terrorists to ground without mercy

    Minister of Defence Mohammed Badaru Abubakar says Nigeria is making significant strides in the battle against insecurity, with recent military operations and strategic investments in defence infrastructure yielding tangible results across the country.

    Speaking in an exclusive interview for an upcoming State House documentary to mark President Bola Tinubu’s second anniversary in office, the Minister painted a picture of renewed hope and momentum in the fight against terrorism, banditry, and other security threats.

    “For the first time in years, Nigerians can travel the Birnin Gwari to Kaduna road even at midnight. That’s progress. Zaria to Funtua to Gusau is now peaceful, and the Abuja-Kaduna road has been largely secured”, Badaru noted.

    READ ALSO: Unlike Amotekun, ESN is illegal, witness tells court

    President Tinubu, he said, issued a clear and urgent mandate upon assuming office: end insecurity decisively and do it fast, before the end of 2025.

    This directive has fueled aggressive military campaigns such as Operation Fasan Yama, among other targeted efforts in various conflict zones.

    Badaru detailed the scale of recent accomplishments by Nigeria’s security agencies: 13,543 terrorists and bandits neutralised, 17,500 suspects arrested, 9,821 hostages rescued, and over 24,000 terrorists surrendered.

    In a statement yesterday, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, Badaru said: “these aren’t just numbers. These are lives saved, villages reclaimed, and communities restored.”

    The Defence Minister reported a return to normalcy in parts of the Northeast and Northwest, saying “markets are back. Farms are productive again. We’ve seen Fulani, Hausa, and other communities rebuilding trust. The progress is real and visible.”

    Crucial to these gains, he said, has been President Tinubu’s strong support for military welfare. The President approved ₦18 billion to clear insurance arrears for military personnel and doubled the troop ration allowance from ₦1,500 to ₦3,000.

    “Life insurance now covers all soldiers, and I’ve personally visited frontline bases to listen to our troops and boost morale,” Badaru stated.

    On the issue of military capacity, Badaru said the Armed Forces are better equipped today than ever before, saying “President Tinubu has not turned down a single request for equipment. We now have attack helicopters, UAVs, MRAPs, APCs, and other top-tier weaponry.”

    The Minister highlighted the recent passage of the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON) Bill as a transformative moment.

    “We’ve signed over 100 local and international defence partnerships. Ammunition is being produced domestically. Two MRAPs assembled locally are parked outside this office. This is the beginning of true defence independence”, he said.

    In the South-South region, the Defence Ministry has recorded a decline in pipeline vandalism and oil theft. Crude oil production has climbed from 1.4 million barrels per day to nearly 1.8 million, a development the Minister attributed to heightened surveillance and enforcement.

    “We’ve arrested six ships, destroyed 2,000 illegal refineries, and dismantled over 5,000 crude oil storage pits,” he said.

    Looking ahead, Badaru assured Nigerians that the administration’s goal of defeating insecurity nationwide by the end of 2025 remains on course.

    “This President is not making empty promises. He’s building the institutions, the morale, the partnerships, and the firepower to secure Nigeria. We are not relenting.”

    He called on citizens to remain united and optimistic, stressing that although progress may be gradual, the foundation for lasting peace is being laid.

    “Change doesn’t happen overnight, but neutral observers will tell you that we’ve made real progress. The President’s commitment is unwavering,” he added.

    ‘Crush terrorists to ground without mercy’

    The Chief of Army Staff, while declaring the COAS Bi Annual conference closed in Maiduguri, where top-ranking army generals brainstormed for three days to discuss the way forward to safeguard national peace and security, said, “there is no contesting our decision to completely neutralise these detractors to peace.

    “Thus, I charge each and every officer and soldier to spare no quarter in running these terrorists and criminals to the ground.

    “They (terrorists) seek to disrupt our way of life and destroy the society that our forefathers built. We will not allow such to happen,” COAS said.

    He insisted that every strategic decision made at the conference must be adopted to achieve the set objectives of the first Biennial conference.

    “As a fallout of our deliberations, we will in the coming weeks, induct more combat enablers into our operations.

    “However, we need to understand that the strength of the Nigerian Army does not solely lie in the weapons we place on the battlefield, but more in the will of our soldiers who wield them.

    “Accordingly, it behoves everyone seated here to show exemplary leadership, to mentor (soldiers) and guide the next generation on the right path.

    “Today, we are faced with an adversary that threatens the very fabric of our socio-cultural heritage.

    It is worth noting that the depth of discourse and clarity of thought expressed during our sessions reflected the intellectual rigour and strategic foresight required to thrust the Nigerian Army into the future filled with unprecedented possibilities.

    “I therefore make bold to say that the objective of this first Bi-Annual conference has largely been achieved, judging by the well-articulated inputs and contributions that have surpassed my expectations. Concerted efforts will be made to implement these suggested measures in our current and future engagements,” Oluyede said.

  • Insecurity: Elephant in the room

    Insecurity: Elephant in the room

    By Nnaji Jekwu Onovo

    The administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has been doing everything possible to save Nigeria from the vicious cycle of push for development and pull for underdevelopment. The administration puts up brave fight against the various factors hindering the nation’s development especially in the economic sector. It confronted and dealt with the two critical issues derailing the economic programs and policies of governments; eliminating fuel subsidy and dual exchange rate. The success in the two fronts came with some discomforts and Nigerians are still grappling with the ripple effect. Nonetheless, an honest assessor of the present economic trajectory, knows we had no option than to eliminate those factors as they created uncertainties and made it difficult for policy makers and analyst to come up with exact figures.

    The latest development in the economic sector is the administration’s response to the raging global trade wars ignited by President Trump of USA. Instead of imposing tariff on imported goods, the government maintained the traditional route of ban on some imported goods. FEC Approved ‘Renewed Hope Nigeria First’ Policy to Boost Local Content, Domestic Economy. This policy aims to reduce import dependency, stimulate local production, and enforce local content compliance. This ban affects products like beef, pork, poultry, fruit juices, medicaments, and alcoholic beverages, among others. Additionally, some products like parboiled rice have been banned from import through seaports.

    READ ALSO: Unlike Amotekun, ESN is illegal, witness tells court

    A critical analysis of the banned items indicates that agricultural products constitute a sizeable chunk of the bulk. It therefore entails intensifying effort in food production. However, there is elephant in the room, insecurity, which deters farmers from cultivating the farmlands.  Insecurity in Nigeria significantly hinders agricultural productivity and food security. Farmers face threats to their lives and property, leading to displacement, abandonment of farmlands, and reduced labour availability. This, in turn, causes lower crop yields, livestock losses, and disrupted supply chains, ultimately impacting food availability and affordability.

    We need to give attention to the agricultural sector. With an array of vastly available agricultural friendly land, we need not look further for economic emancipation as massive investment in agriculture will not only ensure food security but also address the troubling question of unemployment. Our greatest challenge is INSECURITY, which is the elephant in the room, and should be addressed. Thank God, the present administration is giving it attention, as both the executive and the legislative arms of government are taking steps to tackle insecurity.

    The Senate’s resolve to organize a two-day national security summit in Abuja for participants from all levels of government, traditional institutions, civil society and the security sector is welcome. The security summit is coming at a time when the nation’s security challenges appear to be increasing in virtually all the six geo-political zones in the country. They expressed concern over pervasive and growing insecurity in all regions of the country. They had also decried widespread banditry, random kidnappings, terrorism and other forms of violent crimes that placed communities under siege and undermined the work of security agencies. In the 7th Assembly, the Senate organised a similar summit, but its recommendations were never implemented. I hope the recommendations of the scheduled summit will be implemented.

    President Bola Tinubu approved the establishment of a national forest guard system and ordered the recruitment of over 130,000 armed operatives to secure the country’s 1,129 forest reserves. The initiative, approved during expanded Federal Executive Council meeting, mandates each state to recruit between 2,000 and 5,000 forest guards based on their capacity.

    Agriculture, particularly farming, has historically been a crucial livelihood for a significant portion of Nigeria’s population. However, the country’s escalating instability has made farmers and agricultural investors increasingly cautious and skeptical about investing in the sector.

    Furthermore, the entrepreneurs who had ventured into farming for food security and job creation are now reconsidering their continued involvement in commercial agriculture due to the pervasive insecurity. This has, in turn, raised the rate of unemployment in the country. The disruption of agricultural production, coupled with the reluctance of investors to participate in the sector, has had far-reaching consequences on food security and employment. Addressing the underlying security challenges is crucial to reviving the agricultural sector.

    Government should leverage on technologies such as drones for surveillance and general security of the farming communities. Communities should form viable and active vigilante groups to complement government efforts in curbing insecurity in the area.

    With criminal networks getting more sophisticated than ever, new high-tech approaches are being developed to identify them and bring perpetrators to justice. We should explore the new technologies including Mikrokopter, Satellite Imaging, and Digital Radio.

    ⦁ Mikrokopters: Mikrokopters are universal aerial platforms that hover. They can identify a position and hold it as long as necessary to identify images, collect data, or calculate distances. Most mikrokopters are equipped with GPS, compasses, altitude control, telemetry and automatic systems that report back on altitude, power consumption, and so forth. Like drones, mikrokopters can either be pre-programmed to fly specific routes, or operated manually by means of a control stick and can be equipped with sophisticated camera systems.

    MikroKopter and drones are often used interchangeably, but MikroKopter refers specifically to a brand of open-source, customizable UAV (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle) platforms, while “drones” is a broader term for any unmanned aircraft. Essentially, MikroKopter is a type of drone. MikroKopter platforms are built on an open-source philosophy, meaning the hardware and software are freely available for modification and customization by users. Commercial drones, on the other hand, are typically proprietary, with less flexibility for users to alter the system.

    ⦁ Satellite Imaging: Global Forest Watch, which was launched by the World Resources Institute in February 2014, is a dynamic, online forest monitoring and alert system that facilitates forest management by combining satellite technology, open data and crowdsourcing to guarantee access to timely and reliable information about changes in forests. Furthermore, seemingly innocuous roads cutting into virgin forests can lead to massive criminal camps that are impossible to identify from the ground. Satellite imaging can help monitor such changes.

    ⦁ Digital Radio: The forest guard service should not use two-way radio network, prone to interference and lacking security features, instead they should be supplied with a digital radio network that allows guards to communicate securely over long distances, coordinate with headquarters, and respond faster to incidents.

    Jekwu Onovo Plot 18 Whitesand Avenue, Lekki, Lagos – Tel: 08184553078, Email: Jekwuonovo@gmail.com

  • Insecurity: Army Generals converge in Maiduguri for COAS bi-annual conference

    Insecurity: Army Generals converge in Maiduguri for COAS bi-annual conference

    Top military officials, including several Major Generals, converged in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, on Thursday, May 22, for the First 2025 Bi-Annual Conference organized by the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt. Gen. Olufemi Oluyede.

    This crucial meeting which was held at the MSA Aliyu Hall, Command Guest House, Maimalari Cantonment comes at a time when certain areas of the North East, particularly Borno State, are experiencing a resurgence of Boko Haram/ISWAP attacks and other criminal activities.

    The Nation reports that one of the key highlights of the conference was the unveiling of new “Vanquish Armoured Tankers” by the COAS, which were subsequently handed over to the Theatre Commander North East ‘Operation Hadin Kai’, Major General Abdulsalam Abubakar.

    According to Ishaku Duwa, a staff member of the manufacturing company, each new Vanquish Armoured Tanker boasts “Night Goggle Vision, can move for over 80kms on flat tyres, all suspension change and 360° (Degree) protection.”

    Declaring the conference open, Lt. Gen. Oluyede emphasized that this “pivotal gathering will deliver strategic foresight, operational alignment and an insight to where military and community engagements converge.” 

    He stated that during the three-day deliberation on topical issues, the Nigerian Army, under his leadership, aims “to identify areas for improvement and develop practical solutions that will strengthen effectiveness in safeguarding the nation’s peace and security.”

    General Oluyede urged the Nigerian Armed Forces not to let current setbacks “dampen their spirit,” but instead to foster “commitment, sacrifices and practical strategies to end insurgency, banditry, kidnapping and other form of crimes in the country.”

     He further added that the Nigerian Army is dedicated to “aligning on the kinetic and non-kinetic operations with the dynamic nature of the operating environment.”

    Despite acknowledging the “renewed pockets of attacks in the North East, North West and other parts of the country,” General Oluyede assured that “there is no cause for alarm, as the Nigerian Army and other security agencies are fully committed in bringing lasting peace and development under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda (RHA).”

    He expressed his appreciation, stating, “It is my pleasure to join you all here in the MSA Aliyu Hall, Command Guest House Maiduguri for the Chief of Army Staff First Bi-Annual Conference 2025. The highlights from the deliberations have been well received and will certainly assist in guiding the decisions and directives that shall stem from this Conference. 

    “My sincere appreciation goes to the Chief of Policy and Plans (Army) for holding the fort in my absence. I also extend a most profound gratitude to other principal staff officers, Formation Commanders, corps commanders, heads of Nigerian Army institutions or establishments and everyone here who has ensured that the activities went on without hitches.”

    He continued, “Nevertheless, I encourage us all to continue in the same stead and passion, so that we can have an even more productive outing going forward. As we continue with the schedule of activities today, it is my expectation that this pivotal gathering will deliver strategic foresight, operational alignment and an insight to where military and community engagements converge. 

    “During the deliberation on topical issues, our goal will be to identify areas for improvement and develop practical solutions that will strengthen our effectiveness in safeguarding the nation’s peace and security. 

    “Recall that during the Chief of Army Staff Annual Conference 2024, I acknowledged the need for the Nigerian Army to commit towards aligning our kinetic and non-kinetic operations with the dynamic nature of the operating environment, ‘ the COAS said.

    Addressing the evolving threat, General Oluyede observed, “It is evident that the terrorists have adopted new strategies that are aimed at shaping the battlespace in their favour.”

    He lamented however that, “We have recorded a number of incidents where our brave warriors have paid the supreme sacrifice in the performance of their legitimate duty. The loss of these brave men is deeply regrettable and serves as a painful reminder of the depth of sacrifice that the officers and men of the Nigerian Army continue to make in the defence of our great nation, Nigeria. However, we must not allow these setbacks to dampen our spirit or diminish our collective resolve to stamp out that which seeks to ridicule the sanctity of our sovereignty.”

    While highlighting the importance of collaboration with sister agencies, , he said, “As the Nigerian Army continues to prioritize its efforts for the best possible results, the ability to collaborate with the Nigerian Navy, the Nigerian Air Force, other security agencies and institutions at the federal and state government levels, have aided us in fulfilling our mandate. 

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    Therefore, as we continue our deliberations and discussions, we must not forget the opportunities that inter-agency cooperation borne from effective collaborations afford us and its multiplier effect on our operations.”

    The Nigeria Army Chief concluded by expressing gratitude: “At this juncture, we are immensely grateful to the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Grand Commander of the Order of the Federal Republic for his strategic guidance and support which have continued to ensure our successes in various operations.

     I also extend my most sincere appreciation to the various state governors, heads of services and institutions, our royal fathers, members of the press and the great citizens of our dear country, Nigeria. In many ways than one, you have contributed to the fight against terrorism, criminality and the ill wind that accompanies them,” he said.

  • Insecurity: Tinubu orders new security push, regional ties to tackle Sahel threat

    Insecurity: Tinubu orders new security push, regional ties to tackle Sahel threat

    …states, LGs, communities must join federal effort — Musa

    President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has ordered the immediate implementation of new security strategies, including enhanced regional cooperation, in response to the recent surge in terrorist activity affecting several northern states.

    The President issued the directive during a high-level security meeting at the State House, Abuja, on Friday, where he met with the nation’s security and intelligence chiefs to review the worsening security situation in Plateau, Benue, Borno, and other flashpoints across the country.

    Addressing journalists after the closed-door session, the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, revealed that President Tinubu expressed deep concern over the resurgence of violence, which he attributed largely to transnational terrorist pressure across the Sahel region.

    “There is a global push by terrorists and jihadists all over the Sahel area, and that pressure is what actually came into Nigeria because of the nature of our borders.

    “Mr. President has given directives as to what to do next—for us to intensify our efforts and collaborate with all our sister countries around. It is the porous nature of our borders that is aggravating our issues on the ground”, General Musa said.

    General Musa noted that all operational theatres across the country have been reinforced with new equipment and that the President had recently approved the acquisition of additional air assets to boost the armed forces’ response capacity.

    “Equipment has been bought, and Mr. President has also given us multiple approvals for air assets and other aspects of security. But it’s not only about the kinetic effort—the non-kinetic aspect is most important too”, he disclosed.

    The Defence Chief emphasized that a whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach is being adopted, with the President expected to engage state governors in efforts to promote grassroots development and ensure that the dividends of democracy reach vulnerable communities, thereby addressing one of the root causes of insecurity.

    “The President is also looking at engaging the governors for their support and buy-in, ensuring that dividends of democracy extend to the communities to help stamp down insecurity,” General Musa said.

    Also present at the meeting were the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu; Minister of Defence, Mohammed Badaru; Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Olufemi Oluyede; Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla; Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Hassan Abubakar; Director General of the Department of State Services, Mr. Oluwatosin Ajayi; Deputy Inspector-General of Police, Sadiq Idris Abubakar; and Chief of Defence Intelligence, Maj.-Gen. Emmanuel Undiandeye.

    General Musa underscored the importance of unity among the security agencies, asserting that the current approach is built on inter-agency collaboration and a shared commitment to peace.

    Read Also: Insecurity: Group demands minister’s resignation, urges Tinubu to rejig defence ministry 

    “You can see we are together—the National Security Adviser, the DG DSS, and all the service chiefs. Members of the armed forces are working in unity, including the police, to make sure that Nigeria is peaceful. That is our mandate, and we are committed to it.”

    He also used the occasion to caution Nigerians against the spread of fake news and sensationalist social media content, many of which he said are recycled or foreign videos that do not reflect the current situation in Nigeria.

    “There’s a lot of fake news being spread out, making it look worse than it is. Most of the videos being circulated are from other countries or old footage made to look new. Why do some individuals feel happy when things go bad in their country? If Nigeria is destroyed, we all go down. So it is important that we all cooperate with the armed forces and security agencies”, he warned.

    The Defence Chief also reassured residents of Borno, Plateau, and other affected states of the military’s commitment to restoring peace and stability.

    He revealed that top military and ministerial officials have recently visited the North-East to strengthen coordination with state governments.

    “We were just in the North-East with the ministers. I just came back from Maiduguri. We’re working together with the governors because we know we cannot do it alone. The federal government is doing so much, but states need to come in,” he said.

    General Musa concluded with a rallying call to all Nigerians to support the nation’s security agencies and play their part in securing their communities.

    “Local governments and communities—everyone has a role to play in ensuring peace in Nigeria. That’s what we’re pushing. We’re happy that Nigerians are warming up to it and disregarding the naysayers. We’re going to continue to succeed. That, we assure all Nigerians”, he said.

  • Speakers conference seeks more action against insecurity

    Speakers conference seeks more action against insecurity

    Conference of Speakers of State Houses of Assembly Chairman Adebo Ogundoyin yesterday spoke of the need to step up action against escalating insecurity across the land

    Ogundoyin, who doubles as Oyo State House of Assembly Speaker, tasked federal and state lawmakers to rise to the occasion and enact laws that support intelligence-driven and security measures.

    Identifying security as a major challenge, the Chairman of Speakers said nothing should be spared to end the loss of lives in the country.

    House of Representatives Speaker Abbas Tajudeen noted that mere passage of laws does not translate to any meaningful development, but rather the implementation of such laws.

     They spoke at the opening of the Inaugural National Policy Dialogue on the Legislative Agenda of the 10th House of Representatives in Abuja yesterday.

    According to Ogundoyin, it is not just enough to condemn acts of terrorism, kidnapping and other forms of criminality, the legislature must rise to the occasion and enact laws that support intelligence-driven security measures.

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    One of the several ways of addressing the security challenges, he said, is for leaders to rise above partisan interest and regional differences.

    He said: “Security remains a paramount concern for every Nigerian. It is not enough to merely condemn acts of terrorism, banditry, kidnapping, and communal violence each time they occur. As legislators, we must enact laws that support proactive, intelligence-driven security measures, strengthen the capacity of our security agencies, and promote community-based policing.”

    “To achieve this, we must overhaul our security architecture for greater professionalism, efficiency, and better service delivery.

    “This includes recruiting and training more personnel, providing modern equipment, and adopting technology-driven approaches to combat emerging security threats. The recruitment of unemployed graduates into our security agencies should be a strategic, long-term investment in national security, not just a short-term response to unemployment.

    “Our security forces must be proactive, technologically enabled, and deeply integrated into the communities they protect. They must serve as a preventive shield against terrorism and criminality, not just as a reactive force. Life is sacred, and the needless loss of innocent lives must end.

    “Beyond security, we must address the root causes of youth unemployment and economic despair – key drivers of crime and instability. To deter our youth from engaging in criminal activities, we must create more meaningful economic opportunities.”

    He said the effective translation of many of the legislative agenda set by the Federal Legislature into meaningful national impact often requires collaboration and partnership with State Houses of Assembly.

    Ogundoyin went further: “This cooperation is essential for aligning federal and state policies, promoting inclusive governance, and ensuring that legislative actions resonate with the diverse needs of our people across the federation”.

    “In this regard, I urge the National Assembly and State Houses of Assembly to collaborate in the areas of youth empowerment and skills acquisition, supporting MSMES, promoting agricultural development and food security, advancing digital economy and innovation and access to quality healthcare and education”

    He commended the Speaker for his thoughtfulness and proactive leadership in constituting the Committee on Nutrition and Food Security, as well as for inaugurating the National Legislative Network on Nutrition and Food Security.

    British High Commissioner to Nigeria Richard Montgomery expressed support for the British government to promote democratic practice in Nigeria, while commending the House for its principles of inclusive governance.

    He said the British government was impressed by the move by the House to ensure equal representation for women in the legislature through the bills seeking special seats for women on the legislature.

    Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abdullahi Sabi, commended the cordial working relationship between the House and the Executive, saying such collaboration was vital to achieving food security, which is one of the three cardinal objectives of the Tinubu government.

    •      Abbas: passing laws alone not enough, implementation is key

    •      At the inaugural National Policy Dialogue on the Legislative Agenda of the House of Representatives in Abuja yesterday,  Speaker Abbas said the House recognises that mere passage of bills does not translate to development.        He stated that while the House has passed several bills, it has strengthened its oversight mechanism to ensure that they are implemented when they become laws.

    Abbas added that the cordial relationship between the 10th House and the Executive paved the way for the implementation of the Legislative agenda.  

        He also said the House was conscious of the challenges facing Nigerians in crafting its legislative agenda to address the critical needs of the country.         The Speaker said: “When the 10th House was inaugurated in June 2023, Nigeria faced significant challenges. The economy was weak, and there were pressing development and security crises. The populace was understandably frustrated and losing hope in democracy’s ability to meet their aspirations.

    •        “This was followed by the shock of the removal of fuel subsidies, which exacerbated economic hardships and increased public anxiety. We recognised that extraordinary times required an extraordinary response from the legislature.

    •        “From the onset, the House dedicated itself to creating and implementing the most ambitious legislative agenda in our history. Designed to deliver good governance, this agenda aims to restore hope in democracy for our people.

       “President Tinubu’s openness to the perspectives of the National Assembly and his readiness to listen and act on our collective insights have been instrumental in fostering policies that reflect the aspirations of the Nigerian people.

    “This mutual respect and partnership between the Executive and the Legislature have enabled us to navigate challenges, enact transformative legislation, and drive meaningful development. It testifies to the power of dialogue, shared vision, and collective action.”

  • Senate resumes to begin work on Tax Reform Bills, Rivers crisis, insecurity, others

    Senate resumes to begin work on Tax Reform Bills, Rivers crisis, insecurity, others

    The passage of the Tax Reform Bills, reconciliation of the warring parties in Rivers State and how to tackle the resurgence of Boko Haram in the Northeast are on top of the agenda of the Senate as it resumes from the Eid-el-Fitri and Easter holidays.

    The Red Chamber said it will also continue work on constitution review and the amendment of the Electoral Act.

    Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele announced this in a statement yesterday in Abuja.

    He said: “As scheduled, the National Assembly will resume plenary today, (May 6, 2025), to continue with the pursuit of the mandate of the electorate.

    “First on our agenda is the further consideration of the Tax Reform Bills, 2024. Its passage has become imperative to reform the country’s tax regime and shore up the revenue of the federation.

    “This will also help governments at all levels to implement projects and deliver the dividends of democracy.

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    “As we resume back, the Senate will work with the Executive to resolve all the lingering socio-political issues across the federation, including the situation in Rivers State.

    “The essence is to ensure that all stakeholders come to terms on the need to address the root causes of those issues and ensure proper reconciliation of all key actors in the overriding public interest.

    “The recent resurgence of insecurity in different parts of the federation, especially Benue, Borno, Katsina, and Plateau, has caught our attention.

    “As the foremost democratic institution that makes laws for the peace, order and good government of the federation, the Senate will speed engagement with key actors in the security sector and come up with mechanisms for the effective management of national security.

    “We are committed to putting an end to all acts of terrorism across the federation.”

    Bamidele said the Senate would also screen the nominees President Bola Ahmed Tinubu appointed during the National Assembly’s recess.

    “While the Senate was in recess, the Presidency announced a number of appointments, including the management of the South-South Development Commission.

    “On this ground, we will be screening nominees of the President for different appointments that require the approval of the Senate.

    “The review of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended) is going on steady. Now that we have resumed, the Constitution Review Committee, chaired by Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Barau I. Jubrin, will speed up the review process with a view to strengthening our federal structure in the interest of all.

    “Likewise, the Senate will kick-start the review of the Electoral Act, 2022, for the conduct of a more credible and transparent election.

    “Finally, we have Bills of strategic national interest that are pending before the Senate on different sectors of the economy.

    “There is an urgent need to consider those Bills and ensure their passage expeditiously.

    “We will also encourage our special and standing committees to put in place public hearings that will give us the opportunity to engage with the electorate on various aspects of law-making and give their own inputs.”

  • Insecurity: Imansuangbon urges Nigerians to adopt local defense mechanism

    Insecurity: Imansuangbon urges Nigerians to adopt local defense mechanism

    Chairman of Pacesetters schools, Kenneth Imansuangbon has urged Nigerians to begin to organise local security structures to defend their communities.

    He also backed General Theophilus Danjuma (rtd), who advocated for self-defense against criminals.

    Imansuangbon, popularly known as the “Rice Man” for his humanitarian outreach, said this during a press interaction to mark his 59th birthday.

    The politician lamented the present security challenges facing the country.

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    He called on lawmakers and state governors to support these community driven defense strategies beyond paper legislation but adequate funding.

    “We are not calling for lawlessness. We are calling for action. The Constitution does not say we should fold our arms while criminals take over,” he said.

    Imansuangbon added: “Do not give in to fear. Our lives matter. Our families matter. If the government won’t fight for us, we must organise for ourselves with courage, unity, and purpose.”

    He said he was thankful to God for his life journey even as he looks forward to the future with hope and optimism.

  • Quell this raging fire of insecurity

    Quell this raging fire of insecurity

    Sir: I call the attention of the state and the federal governments to the spate of insecurity in the land and incessant violence mostly in our farming communities across the country. It is sad and pathetic to see thousands of innocent citizens being murdered in cold blood on daily basis for just no cause.

     In the past couple of years, thousands of innocent lives have been lost through various acts of banditry and insurgency just as an estimated 300,000 peasant farmers have been displaced. Most recently in Ondo State, over 30 farmers and 15 travellers were murdered while many others were injured by suspected armed herdsmen. To tackle the challenge, the state government had to set up a joint security task force comprising of Police, the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, (NSCDC) the Army and Amotekun Corps.

    Also, there have been incessant attacks on innocent people in Plateau and Benue states particularly the farming communities. In Plateau State, more than 70 people were killed and their houses burnt down in the month of March. In Benue State, 40 people were reported to have been killed on their farms by herdsmen during the same period.

    Also in April, suspected armed herders reportedly killed about 19 people in separate attacks on some communities in the Kwande Local Government Area of Benue State. In the first attack, 16 farmers returning to their village were said to have been killed and their bodies thrown into River Katsina-Ala. In the second attack, which occurred in the same Local Government Area, three persons were murdered. Also in the same month, nine farmers were reportedly killed by bandits in Kagau in the Shiroro Local Government Area of Niger State.

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    If one may dare to ask: what is really going on along most of our land borders? How the herdsmen said to behind the dastardly acts get into the country? What exactly are we doing to checkmate the activities of these terrorists? These are questions that beg for answers.

    Today, many of our farmers have refused to go back to their farms simply because of insecurity hence the food scarcity, rising food prices despite various federal government interventions.

    This writer recalls a 2024 report by the World Food Program (WFP) identifying the persistent violence as a major factor hindering food availability. In fact, the banditry and kidnapping in the Northwest and farmer-herder conflict in the North-central states are known to have exacerbated the prevailing economic struggles.

    It is therefore imperative that state governors take the bull by the horn  to end this recurring mayhem since they are the chief security officers in their states. Enough of the rhetoric; the masses want concrete action now!

    •Oladele Oladipupo,oladeleoladipupo@gmail.com

  • Insecurity and the scourge of a nation

    Insecurity and the scourge of a nation

    • By Mike Kebonkwu

    Until the lice are completely eliminated from the head, the thumbnail will continue to bleed.  We cannot cease to talk about insecurity until citizens can live and travel in safety without being kidnapped or killed on our roads.  We cannot stop discussing insecurity until our children can go to school and return in safety and all those in captivity are released.  We will continue to nag on security until farmers can go to farm and return home with their harvest in safety. 

    The nation failed our children, and the girl child’s right to education denigrated when the Chibok Girls and Leah Sharibu are left in the lair of the Boko Haram insurgents since captured from  their school hostels. 

    Today, the famished earth has turned crimson; the land is bleeding and saturated with blood; blood of the innocent citizens; women, children and the elderly.  From the desert to the savannah land of the Northeast and Northwest to the Middle Belt, and the Creeks down to the forest of the south and Southwest, we are losing our country to political bitterness, religion, ethnicity and greed.  There is an eclipse of fear and violence across the geo-political zones without exception. 

    That the country is under relentless and sustained siege is restating the obvious; it is not to create panic or alarm; the evidence is everywhere.  The tempo and intensity of insecurity is rising and spreading like a plague.  It is a constitutional duty incumbent on the government to provide safety and security to every citizen and protect our territorial integrity.  Armed men and non-state actors, terrorists, bandits, kidnappers and “unknown gunmen” are terrorizing and sacking communities.

    The government has been unable dominate and exert sphere of influence and control across our land space. They have left ungovernable space and no-man’s-land which have been taken over by insurgents, bandits and other criminal elements from where they unleash violence on the people. 

    The argument that security agents cannot be everywhere is a dumb argument and balderdash.  Government has not chosen to administer only the city centres and state capitals.  Security agents do not need to be everywhere to be able to secure lives and property.  No country has ever deployed security agents in every inch of its land. We have surveillance cameras and satellite launched into the orbit for intelligence gathering.  It is not enough to invest huge sums of money in defence and security; the investment must be smart and targeted. The criminals terrorizing Nigeria are not so sophisticated that local intelligence gathering and use of informants cannot expose; after all they live and do business in our midst.  There is rather misplacement of priority, lack of commitment and professionalism, corruption and profiteering.  

    People can no longer ply their trade and do their businesses with freedom.  On the roads from Zamfara to Katsina, Sokoto, Kaduna, Plateau and Benue states, there is desolation, blood and tears.  People are kidnapped, ransomed and killed.  Many communities are known to be paying protection fees to criminal gangs and bandits, including in the Southeast.   On the Lokoja road to both Southeast and Southwest, the daily experience is terrifying as kidnappers and bandits abduct travellers in their numbers with frightening audacity into the bush.  It gets so bizarre when the victims are still killed after collecting ransoms, with their bodies displayed on the internet without consequences.  We have become savages trading on human parts. 

    There has to be a national conversation beyond the usual political statement of giving marching orders that are not followed through; we cannot continue like this. The government has to come clean and unmask the masterminds and merchants of insecurity in Nigeria.  Are they foreigners masquerading as herdsmen with local sponsors and protection? What is their motive; is it political, for the purpose of annexation of territories or land grabbing, or just pure criminal enterprise by gangsters? 

    Are the government and security agencies doing enough in the fight against insurgency and criminality in the country?  One will score the state and the security agencies low; they can do better.  In this era of smart tracking devices, it is a shame that the security agencies cannot geo-locate the position of a bunch of criminals terrorizing the country.  In this age of un-manned aerial surveillance vehicles and drones, we are still complaining about foreign partners not helping us to expose and fight local terrorists.  

    The government has to do well to first identify these criminals and their sponsors; they are not from the outer space.   Government should also get serious about fighting insecurity in Nigeria instead of the cosmetic approach of appeasement.  If the government makes it its business to negotiate and rehabilitate criminals and insurgents, it is an admission of failure to adequately police our state.  It should never be the business of the security forces to provide training and rehabilitation to criminals levying war on the state and killing its troops who are martyred in the lines of duty, and innocent civilians. The security forces are not equipped with the Bible and the Quran as their tools of trade. Our armed forces is not a seminary training  ground for winning souls; it is an institution trained and equipped with lethal weapons to fight the enemies of the state. 

    Why would a serious government sew national dress for insurgents and provide them with food and money for start-up when the victims are still agonizing in IDP camps and cannot return to their communities to farm because the activities of the insurgents and bandits are still active? The ability of the state to provide security and protect lives and property is waning and receding by the day. We cannot continue to call on the International Criminal Court (ICC) to prosecute our leaders for alleged political offences and other malfeasance.  We should take responsibility and reform our judicial system and insist on accountability by government and everybody should be subject to the rule of law.    Nobody is going to fight our battle for us; we either save our country or we sink! 

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    If the government is saying that its security forces and police cannot be everywhere to protect our territorial integrity, we should be ready for unbundling the federation by restructuring the federation into manageable units and sizes; including allowing people agitating for self-determination. It is now beyond any controversy that there are some elements and forces bent on destabilizing Nigeria for both political and economic reasons. These forces are both internal and external with close nexus.  The state has to scrutinize some politicians that are providing oxygen to insurgents and bandits for selfish interest.  If we say that the invaders are foreign herders, how did they find their way into our communities and deep into our forest? We should also be ready to finger the security and intelligence communities for dereliction of duty. It is a huge mistake to embrace a leper because he is your brother; just the same way to proselyte for a terrorist or bandits because you share cultural affinities. 

    Insecurity is driving ethnic tension and tribal clashes in Plateau, Benue and Kaduna states down to the states in the south like Edo/Delta, Ondo and Oyo states in the Southwest.  Can we continue to sustain the Nigeria’s demography as presently constituted with very hostile and bellicose attitude between the ethnic nationalities?  Our constitution is the supreme law of the land but it must be understood that it is not cast in stone or iron.  If it can no longer sustain those lofty aims and objectives of our founding fathers, it behoves on us to invoke the appropriate doctrine and change it to allow the different nationalities to decide whether they want to live together.  We made the constitution and so we can also amend or repeal it. 

    There is now an exigency to have a national dialogue to deal with the burning issues of insecurity which is tied down to our corporate existence. The forces behind the destabilization plot are not only the insurgents and bandits, kidnappers and unknown gunmen.  The rogue politicians and godfathers with corrupt and compromised security agents are the scourge of the nation.

    • Kebonkwu Esq writes from Abuja.