The Nation Newspaper

Tag: security

  • Fed Govt gave out N2.45tr as infrastructure, security support to states, FCT

    Fed Govt gave out N2.45tr as infrastructure, security support to states, FCT

    The Federal Government disbursed N2.45 trillion to the 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) between March 2024 and August 2025 for infrastructure development and security intervention.

    The sum was to help them repair roads and bridges, improve schools and health facilities, and strengthen security operations during the period.

     Special Adviser to the President on Policy Communication, Daniel Bwala, made this known yesterday in a post on his verified X handle  @BwalaDaniel.

    “This support is helping to fix roads and bridges, improve schools and health facilities, and strengthen security operations in communities across the country where Nigerians need results the most,” he said.

    Bwala explained that federal support to states is consistent with global norms, noting that countries such as the United States routinely provide federal funding to state and local governments to support infrastructure, education, health and public safety.

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     He added that India and several other developed economies also deploy central government grants to help regions deliver major projects and essential services closer to the people.

    Bwala linked the interventions to the policy direction of the administration of Bola Ahmed Tinubu, particularly the 2025 Budget of Restoration, which prioritises securing peace, rebuilding prosperity and strengthening national development.

    Under the budget framework, he said priority remains on security, infrastructure, health and education, with emphasis on transparency, accelerated delivery of energy, transport and public works, job creation and improved living standards.

    Bwala added that sustained cooperation between the Federal Government and the states is critical to achieving a safer and more prosperous Nigeria.

    “Under President Tinubu’s 2025 Budget of Restoration, Securing Peace, Rebuilding Prosperity, priority remains on security, infrastructure, health and education,” he said.

    “The goal is clear to ensure transparent use of funds, accelerate energy, transport and public works, create jobs and improve living standards through strong cooperation between the Federal Government and the states for a safer, more prosperous Nigeria”, Bwala added.

  • NGO seeks action against killing of security personnel

    NGO seeks action against killing of security personnel

    A non-governmental organisation, the Societal Concerns Organisation, has called for stronger collaboration among all security forces to curb the rising killings of security personnel.

    The call was made at the second edition of the Campaign Against the Killing of Security Personnel, held in Abuja, where stakeholders emphasised the need for improved welfare, enhanced intelligence sharing, and closer collaboration between security agencies and host communities to stem increasing attacks on operatives nationwide.

    President of the NGO, Oluwayomi Oluwapelumi, said the campaign was initiated in response to the growing and disturbing attacks on security personnel, describing such assaults as a direct threat to national peace, unity, and stability.

    She explained that the second edition of the campaign was designed to deepen engagement, expand public sensitisation, and translate advocacy into policy-focused dialogue, following earlier activities in Lagos and Ogun states.

    According to her, the Abuja finale was aimed at elevating discussions to the national policy level, consolidating lessons from previous engagements, and addressing the root causes of hostility, misinformation, and mistrust toward security operatives.

    Oluwapelumi stressed that the protection of security personnel must be treated as a national responsibility rather than a sectoral issue.

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    Representing the  Police, SP Kuti noted that the protection of personnel goes beyond arms and equipment to include welfare, morale, responsible media engagement, and a supportive legal framework.

    He warned that attacks on security officers undermine the rule of law and public confidence, adding that communities remain the first line of defence against crime and violent extremism.

    Also speaking, the Commander of the Mining Marshals, Assistant Commander Attah John Onoja, described attacks on security operatives as assaults on the Nigerian state, linking insecurity to illegal mining, banditry, terrorism, and organised crime.

    He called for stronger inter-agency collaboration, community cooperation, and strategic communication to counter misinformation and hostility toward security forces.

    Onoja urged youths to see security operatives as partners rather than enemies and called on traditional and community leaders to use their influence to promote peaceful coexistence. He also appealed to officers across the services to remain professional and guided by the rule of law, noting that public trust remains a critical weapon in the fight against insecurity.

    The event featured a high-level national security dialogue, stakeholder engagements on civil–security relations, and the recognition of institutions and individuals committed to peacebuilding and national unity. Organisers said outcomes of the discussions would be widely disseminated through strategic media engagements.

  • Federal Govt, states take massive security steps

    Federal Govt, states take massive security steps

    The Federal and state governments have intensified coordinated security measures.

    They are rolling out community-based policing, forest guards, surveillance technology, inter-agency task forces and regional collaborations in a renewed push to curb banditry, terrorism, kidnapping and other violent crimes.

    From the Northwest to the Southeast, Southsouth and Southwest, governors are deploying both kinetic and non-kinetic strategies.

    They are combining manpower expansion, intelligence gathering, welfare incentives and infrastructure investment to reassure citizens and reclaim unsafe spaces.

    At the federal level, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration, through the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), has launched a nationwide Forest Guards Initiative to deny criminal groups sanctuary in Nigeria’s vast forest belts.

    Over 7,000 newly recruited Forest Guards have graduated from an intensive three-month training programme across Borno, Sokoto, Yobe, Adamawa, Niger, Kwara and Kebbi states.

    The programme integrates environmental protection with national security objectives, focusing on endurance training, tactical fieldcraft, patrol simulations, ambush response and rescue operations, alongside strict adherence to human rights and international humanitarian law.

    NSA Nuhu Ribadu said the initiative followed a national security emergency declared by President Tinubu, directing security agencies to recruit additional personnel to strengthen internal security and reclaim ungoverned spaces.

    In the Northwest, governors have adopted a regional approach.

    Katsina State Governor, Dikko Umar Radda, chairman of the Northwest Governors’ Forum, said the governors of Katsina, Kano, Jigawa, Kaduna, Sokoto, Zamfara and Kebbi had resolved to take “full ownership” of regional security.

    Speaking at the graduation of 2,000 Kano Neighbourhood Watch Corps (NWC) personnel, Radda said security “goes beyond state boundaries,” stressing that protection of lives and property is a shared responsibility.

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    Katsina alone, he said, has deployed 6,696 trained community security personnel, backed with over 1,600 motorcycles, 102 Hilux patrol vehicles, 21 armoured personnel carriers, 1,500 tactical kits and 2,750 rifles.

    In Kano, Governor Abba Yusuf has formally launched the NWC, approving N484 million for logistics, including 300 motorcycles and 88 Hilux vehicles, while boosting the Joint Task Force with additional vehicles.

    Kano has also enacted a Neighbourhood Watch Law and moved to absorb NWC personnel into the civil service to ensure career stability.

    Kaduna State has adopted a multi-layered approach under Governor Uba Sani, reforming the Kaduna State Vigilance Service (KADVS), recruiting 7,000 additional personnel, strengthening intelligence-sharing and institutionalising the Kaduna Peace Model for early warning, dialogue and conflict prevention.

    In Jigawa, Governor Umar Namadi has engaged nearly 10,000 youths under a cooperative security scheme linking private security firms to schools and health facilities.

    The state also unveiled a N342 million Safe Schools Rapid Response Coordination Centre, equipped with surveillance technology, patrol vehicles and motorcycles to protect educational institutions.

    In Niger State, Governor Mohammed Umar Bago has recruited forest guards and reactivated the National Forest Guard in collaboration with the Federal Government.

    About 979 guards, drawn from nine security-prone local governments, have been trained, with welfare packages including healthcare insurance and mobility support.

    Nasarawa State Commissioner for Security, Usman Baba, said the state has fortified schools and communities through expanded emergency security meetings, collaboration with vigilantes and neighbourhood watch groups, and sustained support for conventional security agencies.

    In Yobe State, the government has sustained the recruitment of over 3,000 volunteer fighters, known as the Yobe Vigilante Peace Group, who work alongside the military.

    The state provides generous welfare packages, including free healthcare for fighters and their families, stipends, compensation for injuries and support for families of deceased volunteers.

    Similarly, Adamawa State has deployed 987 trained forest guards, with Governor Ahmadu Fintiri charging them to act professionally and respect human rights. The initiative is coordinated with ONSA and forms part of the national forest security framework.

    In the Southeast, Anambra State Governor Chukwuma Soludo has reinforced security through joint patrols, reorganised checkpoints and strengthened community vigilance.

    The state relies on over 2,600 Agunechemba and community vigilante members, supported by a joint security outfit, Operation Udo Ga Achi, involving the military, police and paramilitary agencies.

    In Enugu State, Governor Peter Mbah has invested heavily in technology, inaugurating drones, patrol vehicles and an AI-enabled Command and Control Centre linked to surveillance cameras.

    The state claims these measures have contributed to an over 80 per cent reduction in violent crime, alongside dismantling kidnappers’ dens and sustaining the Enugu State Security Trust Fund.

    Abia State, under Governor Alex Otti, has adopted a mix of enforcement and regional collaboration, dismantling criminal enclaves, fencing flashpoint markets and working with neighbouring states, particularly Imo, to secure major highways. The state has also donated vehicles to security agencies to enhance mobility.

    In Akwa Ibom, Governor Umo Eno has prioritised security through a dedicated Ministry of Internal Security and Waterways, headed by a retired general, and a state-owned Ibom Community Watch operating across the 31 local governments. The state has provided patrol vehicles and gunboats to secure both land and waterways.

    Bayelsa State operates a 607-strong Community Security Corps, consolidating multiple vigilante groups into one structure to support police operations at strategic locations statewide.

    In Ondo State, Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa is recruiting 500 additional Amotekun officers, commissioning new command and control facilities, deploying forest guards and establishing ranger camps to secure reserves and border communities. Joint patrols have been intensified to prevent cross-border criminal infiltration.

  • Government should decentralise security – Expert

    Government should decentralise security – Expert

    A security consultant, Francis Eloagu, has called on the federal government to decentralise Nigeria’s security architecture, stressing that insecurity will persist unless the country adopts intelligence-led, technology-driven and locally coordinated security systems.

    Eloagu, a security expert with SolidPro Security Company Ltd, said Nigeria must urgently shift from reactive security measures to preventive strategies that rely on real-time intelligence, surveillance technology and rapid response frameworks.

    According to him, insecurity continues to thrive because threats move faster than the current response mechanisms. He noted that deploying more personnel without integrated systems has proven ineffective in tackling modern security challenges.

    “My interest is driven by the need for preventive, intelligence-led security in Nigeria. Being careful is individual and reactive, but being security conscious is systemic and proactive,” Eloagu said.

    He explained that effective security requires the integration of manpower, technology and institutions, adding that the absence of this coordination remains the missing link in Nigeria’s security framework.

    Eloagu urged state governments to establish Traffic Command and Control Centres to monitor security situations within their jurisdictions. 

    He said such centres should be supported by live CCTV surveillance of local government areas, major roads and identified threat zones, allowing for centralized analysis and faster decision-making.

    “With real-time monitoring and coordinated response, threats can be detected early and addressed decisively before escalation,” he said.

    The security consultant also emphasised the role of technology such as smart CCTV, drone patrols, vehicle scanners, plate recognition systems and geo-tagged community reporting, describing them as essential tools for modern security operations.

    He argued that while security agencies remain committed, they are overstretched and require technological support to improve efficiency and reduce response time.

    Eloagu further advocated the introduction of state police, supported by centralized intelligence systems and strong oversight, saying this would enable states to respond effectively to their peculiar security challenges.

    He also raised concerns about Nigeria’s dependence on foreign security equipment, urging the government to invest in local capacity and manufacturing.

    “National security is not something you outsource. While we need foreign technology, we are equally capable of developing our own solutions,” Eloagu said.

    According to him, insecurity has worsened over the past 15 years partly due to youth unemployment, poor education and lack of inclusion. 

    He urged the government to invest more in youth development and win the trust of young people across the country.

    “There are many youths who still want to fight for this country, but they must be given the opportunity,” he added.

  • Depressing security outlook

    Depressing security outlook

    • By Michael Oyewole

    “Nigeria’s security outlook is depressing. The unending attacks suggest a failure of intelligence. Government must rethink its strategy now.”

    — Bola Ahmed Tinubu, 14 April, 2014

    Nigeria is bleeding. The country is currently experiencing one of the most challenging periods in its history. The violence that once appeared isolated has now become a nationwide epidemic, crossing state boundaries, social classes, religious groups, and ethnic communities. From acts of terrorism, banditry to kidnapping, cult-related killings, and urban crime, insecurity now characterises the Nigerian experience. From the farms of Benue to the villages of Zamfara, from the suburbs of Kaduna to the creeks of the Niger Delta, death has become ordinary. Farmers are slaughtered in their sleep, schoolchildren abducted in broad daylight, travellers burned alive on highways, worshippers gunned down in churches and mosques. The statistics are numbing: thousands of Nigerians lost their lives to violence, thousands more displaced, entire communities erased.

    These are not “incidents.” This is a collapse of the most basic duty of any state, protecting the lives of its citizens. Non State actors ride into villages on hundreds of motorcycles, armed with AK-47s and rocket launchers, and operate for hours without a single military jet or helicopter in sight. Terrorists collect taxes, impose curfews, and appoint emirs where governors are powerless. Kidnappers run industrial-scale hostage businesses while security forces claim they “lack intelligence.”

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     Kidnapping has evolved into an organised industry of extortion, with families often compelled to gather ransom payments overnight amid fears that the state cannot guarantee their loved ones’ safety. When public confidence in government protection diminishes, the social contract begins to deteriorate.

    As Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu bears the constitutional responsibility to protect lives and properties. The nation requires resolute leadership grounded in empathy and decisive intervention.

    Mr. President  swore an oath to defend the lives and properties of every Nigerian—Muslim, Christian, northerner, southerner, farmer, herder, man, woman, child.

    Insecurity is no longer a northern problem or a rural problem—it is an existential threat to Nigeria itself.

    When citizens lose faith that the state can protect them, they will protect themselves—by any means necessary. That road leads only to chaos.

    The Constitution clearly stipulates that the security and welfare of the people are the primary responsibilities of government. Without security, economic reforms, infrastructure development, and foreign investment cannot succeed.

    A nation in which citizens are afraid to travel, farm, or run businesses cannot experience sustainable prosperity.

    The President must recognise that insecurity is not solely a law-and-order issue; it constitutes an existential threat to national unity, food security, and investor confidence.

    Overhaul Nigeria’s security infrastructure by implementing modern intelligence systems, fostering inter-agency collaboration, deploying advanced surveillance technologies, and empowering states and communities with decentralised security models. Treat kidnapping and banditry as acts of terrorism by dismantling their financing networks, blocking supply routes, and deploying specialised units to protect major highways and vulnerable rural areas. Ensure the security of agricultural zones through safe farming initiatives, expansion of agro-ranger programmes, and strengthened rural policing. Strengthen the justice system by guaranteeing swift trials for violent crimes and imposing strict sanctions on illegal arms trafficking. Build trust within communities by leveraging local intelligence, providing compensation for victims, and delivering visible developmental projects in high-risk areas.

    Nigeria faces a profound loss of lives and shattered dreams, with families mourning their loved ones. Government must rise to the occasion. The nation demands action and  solutions. The true measure of this administration will be its capacity to ensure the safety and security of its citizens.

    On the issues of security, Mr. President have always posited very strong views, he once said and I quote:  “But if you control the armed forces and you are the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic, why should any part of this country be under occupation? And you give us excuses every day. In any civilised country, Jonathan should resign.”

    Leadership in governance must be both visible and impactful. Citizens simply desire the right to live without fear; to travel, farm, send children to school, operate businesses, and sleep peacefully.

    .Oyewole contributed this piece from Ilogbo-Ekiti and can be reached via oyewolemichael9@gmail.com

  • Closing the gaps in security emergency

    Closing the gaps in security emergency

    • By Lekan Olayiwola

    Sir: President Tinubu’s declaration of a nationwide security emergency is more than a tactical mobilisation; it is a rare moment of political clarity. By authorising mass recruitment, redeployment of VIP escorts, and forest guard deployments, the government has signalled seriousness and urgency. Citizens see this as reassurance that their trauma is being recognised.

    The declaration also opens a window for deeper reform. Its centre of gravity is capacity and manoeuvre, but the opportunity lies in pairing that surge with measures that strengthen justice, disrupt harmful economic incentives, and rebuild civic trust. What makes this declaration significant is not only its scale but its symbolism.

    But symbolism alone cannot sustain trust. Unless the surge in manpower is matched by reforms in justice, resource governance, and civic engagement, the declaration risks becoming a temporary spectacle rather than a turning point.

    Nigeria’s insecurity is not born in the forests alone. It is rooted in the collapse of the social contract. The NBS Labour Force Report (Q2 2025) indicates youth unemployment remains a pressing concern, while inflation exceeds 20% in several states, as noted in the April 2025 IMF’s Regional Economic Outlook for Sub-Saharan Africa. These conditions can contribute to desperation, recruitment pressures, and civic fatigue.

    The judicial system compounds the challenge. Lengthy pre-trial detention, systemic inefficiencies, and slow case management mean that even when suspects are arrested, convictions can take months or years. Deploying tens of thousands of new officers into this context risks overwhelming the system, which could inadvertently erode trust unless reforms are implemented in tandem.

    Banditry and kidnapping are not random violence; they reflect structured, localised economies. Research in Security Journal (2024) highlights how ransom cycles in northwest Nigeria generate sustained incentives, with communities often bearing the costs even after payments are made.

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    Nigeria’s artisanal and small-scale gold mining sector illustrates another layer of complexity: informal networks and unregulated practices can inadvertently create economic incentives that sustain insecurity. While these dynamics are not fully understood, engaging with them constructively is essential to long-term solutions.

    The security emergency targets perpetrators in the field but also presents an opportunity to address the wider structural incentives that perpetuate violence. Policies that strengthen transparency, governance, and community oversight can make the response more sustainable.

    The emergency declaration is top down. It treats communities as terrain to be secured, not partners in intelligence. Rapidly trained recruits deployed without civic engagement risk widening the trust deficit. Human rights abuses or indiscriminate raids will alienate populations further, cutting off the intelligence flows that are the true firewall against instability.

    The declaration’s blind spots are threefold: (i) Justice: Without specialised courts and expedited prosecution, arrests risk overloading the system and impunity may continue; (ii) Economic incentives: Without transparent governance of resources and disruption of harmful networks, some incentives for violence remain; (iii) Community trust: Without integrated civil–military engagement, new recruits risk alienating citizens, which can undermine intelligence and cooperation.

    Insecurity is civic before it is military. A security emergency is also a legitimacy emergency. Leveraging the surge for structural reform strengthens both protection and public confidence. Justice sector measures could include specialised courts, expedited case processing, and transparent sentencing. Responsibility lies with the Ministry of Justice and the National Judicial Council, supported by legislation where necessary.

    Resource governance reforms could mandate tracking of minerals and other high-risk commodities, transparent licensing, and community benefit arrangements, coordinated across relevant agencies including the Ministry of Mines, EFCC, and Financial Intelligence Unit. Civic engagement and civil–military integration should embed grievance redress, civilian-harm monitoring, and restitution mechanisms. Ministries and security services, with civil society participation, can ensure accountability.

    Operationalising this approach includes community security councils integrated into local command structures, dignity-first training for new recruits, and grievance desks with defined timelines. Across fragile contexts, populations turned against governments when security measures neglected respect and inclusion. True security requires the presence of dignity, safety, and civic participation.

    As Nigerians prepare to accept extraordinary measures, the nationwide security emergency should not be limited to recruitment and redeployment. It must also embed accountability, transparency, and civic trust. Accompanying the security surge with reforms will not only reassure citizens but also strengthen the legitimacy that underpins long-term peace and stability.

    The emergency can thus be leveraged not merely for force projection, but for restoring civic confidence and strengthening institutions. The true emergency is not insurgency alone; it is the fragility of state legitimacy. Fixing Nigeria’s security blind spots requires attention to justice, economic governance, and trust-building. Only then can the declaration move Nigeria from emergency to resilience.

    •Lekan Olayiwola,

    lekanolayiwola@gmail.com

  • Fixing security starts with protecting the people who protect us

    Fixing security starts with protecting the people who protect us

    By Bayo Orebiyi

    Nigeria has proven more than once that tough reforms can move forward when leadership is willing to act. The removal of the fuel subsidy and the effort to stabilise the currency were bold steps. They showed that the administration is prepared to confront issues that once seemed impossible to touch. Security now needs the same level of commitment because the country cannot build anything durable while fear continues to spread across rural and urban communities.

    We speak often about insecurity, yet we hesitate to examine the institutions that carry the heavy burden every day. A police officer who reports for duty without protective equipment is already at a disadvantage. A police division that cannot fuel its patrol vehicles or repair them on time is not positioned to win against heavily armed criminals. A criminal ecosystem that can mount attacks in several states while displaying weapons online is operating in a space where the state’s presence is inconsistent.

    In 2022, the Federal Government distributed 10,635 bulletproof vests to the Nigeria Police Force. It was a welcomed step, but it also shows how far behind we are. The police serve more than two hundred million people. A single distribution from three years ago, without visible follow up, leaves many officers exposed. Some still report to work without vests, helmets or proper communication tools. Many buy their own uniforms and boots. Some contribute money for fuel or minor repairs. These costs do not belong on the pockets of the people asked to face danger on our behalf. We cannot expect courage from people who do not feel protected by the system they serve.

    Criminal groups understand this weakness. Some openly broadcast their activities on social media, boasting about the weapons they possess and the hesitation of security agencies to engage them. A state cannot thrive when criminals are more confident than the institutions meant to restrain them. Confidence is a security asset. When criminals hold it, the environment shifts. When the state holds it, stability becomes possible.

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    Nigeria does not lack security agencies. The police, the Civil Defence Corps, the armed forces and several specialised units all exist for a reason. What is missing is a modern, coordinated structure that binds their efforts into a reliable system. Without that structure, every agency improvises, and improvisation cannot defeat organised violence.

    Following the Money

    Two financial areas must come under closer scrutiny if Nigeria intends to take security seriously.

    The first is the system of security votes. Governors and many local government chairmen receive them monthly. At a time like this, Nigerians deserve to know how these funds translate into improved safety. This is not an accusation. It is a call for clarity. If citizens are told how much was spent on equipment, intelligence, community response and emergency operations, trust will rise. Transparency strengthens leadership. It does not weaken it.

    The second is the money that fuels criminal activity. Ransom payments, both private and suspected public, sustain the business of kidnapping. The recent release of abducted worshippers in Eruku in Kwara State raised difficult questions. Dozens of people were held, yet they returned without a single arrest or confrontation. Nigerians noticed. Many concluded that ransom must have been paid. When the public begins to believe that kidnapping is becoming a business transaction, confidence in the system erodes even further. Large scale banditry does not survive without financial backers. Nigeria must strengthen its ability to follow the money or the cycle of violence will continue.

    What Real Reform Requires

    Nigeria appears closer than ever to adopting state police. If decentralisation is the path forward, it must be built with the discipline of an institution, not the improvisation of politics. Recruitment must follow clear standards. Training must be consistent across all states. Equipment must be procured transparently. Oversight must be strong enough to prevent political interference. Without these safeguards, we risk multiplying security agencies without improving security.

    Reform also requires predictable funding for equipment, welfare and modern technology. Officers need protective gear that is replenished regularly, not in occasional batches. They need reliable communication tools and vehicles that are maintained on schedule. They need a welfare structure that allows them to focus on their work rather than personal financial burdens. They need data driven systems that help them respond faster and anticipate threats. When institutions are starved of tools, insecurity grows.

    The way we treat victims must improve as well. The Eruku release exposed a gap in our emergency response. Survivors stepped off buses exhausted and injured, only to be seated publicly for quick checks. People who have been through captivity should be taken directly to a hospital. They should receive private evaluation and trauma care, not a public display. Dignity is part of national security. A country that cannot care for its rescued citizens cannot claim to be winning the fight.

    Nigeria has the potential to build a security system worthy of its population and ambitions. But potential is not enough. We must move from improvisation to competence, from reaction to preparation and from fragmented efforts to a unified system. The nation has shown before that when a project becomes a priority, progress follows. Security must now become that priority.

    Nigeria cannot afford a security system that hopes for courage when what we need is competence.

    • Orebiyi, a public administration expert, writes from Yewa-South Local Government, Ogun State.

  • Probe every security breach, abduction

    Probe every security breach, abduction

    Kebbi State governor Nasir Idris has been livid over the abduction of some 25 schoolgirls from a government school in Maga community in Zuru Emirate. He was angry that despite being tipped off about the impending attack, the security agencies could still not prevent the crime. Worse, according to him, the manner of the abduction reeked of conspiracy. He said: “As a responsive government, when we received intelligence on a possible attack, we summoned a security meeting…The security agencies assured us that all was well and that personnel would be mobilised to the school…The military was deployed, but they later withdrew by 3 am, and by 3:45 am, the incident happened…Who authorised the military to withdraw? How did security personnel pull out at such a critical time? That is our concern. We have asked the military to investigate and identify who gave that order…Our duty as leaders is to ensure that our daughters return home safely, and we are doing everything possible to achieve that…What is happening in this country shows that enemies are working against this government.”

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    The governor’s allegation should be probed. In fact, every case of abduction should be probed to rule out conspiracies and collaborations. While it is true that security personnel are spread dangerously thin everywhere, an indication that the country’s security paradigm is unworkable, it does not necessarily preclude the possibility of conspiracy. On the heels of the tragic execution of a brigade commander in the Sambisa sector of the Northeast during counterinsurgency operations, incidents that smell of conspiracy need to be investigated in order to reassure Nigerians that the security agencies have not turned on themselves. Dealing with the enemy without is far better than dealing with the enemy within. The loss of a brigade commander, Musa Uba, and the Maga abduction should be investigated.

  • Group seeks international support to address security in Nigeria

    Group seeks international support to address security in Nigeria

    A coalition under the banner of the Concerned Nigerians for Human Security has called for international attention and support to help address the security situation in Zamfara State and other parts of northern Nigeria.

    In an open letter addressed to the U.S. President, the group described the violence in Zamfara as a humanitarian tragedy that requires urgent global response.

    According to the coalition, thousands of Nigerians, including men, women, and children, have been affected by attacks from armed groups, leading to loss of lives, abductions, and destruction of communities.

    The group appealed to the international community to partner with the Nigerian government in finding sustainable solutions to the crisis, including humanitarian assistance, improved intelligence sharing, and support for displaced persons.

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    It commended President Bola Tinubu for deploying special forces and strengthening the nation’s security framework but emphasized that more collaborative efforts were needed to achieve lasting peace.

    “We are appealing for moral intervention and international support to help end the cycle of killings and displacement in Zamfara and across northern Nigeria,” the coalition added.

    The group also stressed that the violence in Zamfara should not be seen from a religious perspective, noting that both Muslims and Christians have suffered significant losses.

    It further called on the Nigerian government to consider additional measures, including a possible state of emergency in Zamfara, to restore peace and rebuild affected communities.

  • Fed govt refutes claims of religious genocide, says security crisis not about religion

    Fed govt refutes claims of religious genocide, says security crisis not about religion

    • …cites arrests, convictions, interfaith milestones, warns against “divisive” narratives

    The federal government on Sunday rejected allegations circulating on international platforms that terrorists in Nigeria are waging a systematic genocide against Christians, calling the claims “false, baseless, despicable, and divisive.”

    In a statement signed by the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, the government said portraying the country’s security challenges as a targeted campaign against a single religious group “is a gross misrepresentation of reality” that oversimplifies a complex, multi-faceted environment and “plays into the hands of terrorists and criminals who seek to divide Nigerians along religious or ethnic lines.”

    According to the statement, terrorist violence in Nigeria “is not confined to any particular religious or ethnic community,” with criminals targeting “all who reject their murderous ideology, regardless of faith.

    “Muslims, Christians, and even those who do not identify with any religion have suffered at their hands,” the minister noted.

    Reeling off recent security gains, the government said that between May 2023 and February 2025, 13,543 terrorists and criminals were neutralized and nearly 10,000 hostages rescued in multiple operations across the country.

    It added that the top leadership of Jama’atu Ansarul Muslimina fi-Biladis Sudan (ANSARU), Nigeria’s Al-Qaeda affiliate, was captured last month in a coordinated counter-terrorism operation.

    The arrested figures, named in the statement, are Mahmud Muhammad Usman (aka Abu Bara’a/Abbas/Mukhtar), described as the group’s self-styled Emir, and Mahmud al-Nigeri (aka Mallam Mamuda), identified as Abu Bara’a’s proclaimed Chief of Staff and Deputy.

    These “feats underscore the determination and success of our security forces and expose as unfounded the notion that Nigeria is passively tolerating religiously motivated terrorism,” the government said.

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    On accountability, the statement stressed that the Nigerian Armed Forces and Police have conducted several court-martials and prosecutions to sanction any officials found culpable of misconduct, underscoring “discipline and adherence to the rule of law within our security agencies.”

    The minister also pointed to judicial progress against extremist networks, saying seven batches of Boko Haram suspects have been prosecuted to date, yielding over 700 convictions, with an eighth prosecution cycle underway.

    “Under the leadership of President Bola Tinubu, our administration remains steadfast in its commitment to upholding justice and enhancing security,” Idris said.

    Reaffirming Nigeria’s religious diversity, the government described the country as a multi-religious state with large populations of both Christians and Muslims, “home to one of the largest Muslim communities in the world, alongside some of the biggest Pentecostal churches and the largest Anglican congregation globally.”

    “Christianity is neither endangered nor marginalized in Nigeria,” the statement said, adding that “the current heads of both the Armed Forces and the Police Force are Christians,” a fact the government cited as evidence of inclusivity in national leadership.

    The statement further emphasized that Abuja continues to work with international partners to address the global dimensions of terrorism, while remaining “unwavering in its commitment to completely degrading terrorist groups and securing the lives and property of all citizens.”

    Framing Nigeria’s recent record as one of “resilience, diversity, and a globally acknowledged commitment to peaceful coexistence,” the government cited the inaugural Commonwealth Peace Prize awarded in March to Rev. Dr. James Movel Wuye and Imam Dr. Muhammad Nurayn Ashafa, co-founders of the Interfaith Mediation Centre in Nigeria.

    Their decades-long work, the statement said, now serves as a model for peacebuilding across all 56 Commonwealth countries, showing that Nigeria is exporting “proven frameworks for interfaith harmony,” not intolerance.

    While condemning sensational portrayals of the security situation, the minister urged international media and commentators to “act with responsibility and have respect for facts,” avoid “ignorance, sensationalism, and divisive rhetoric,” and support Nigeria’s ongoing efforts against terrorism and criminality.

    “The Nigerian story is not one of religious genocide or persecution. It is a story of a nation confronting terror with resolve, prosecuting offenders under the law, and strengthening the bonds of unity among its diverse people”, Idris said.