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ABUJA, Nigeria (NAN) - President Bola Tinubu is set to convene with the service chiefs to address the escalating violence in Plateau, Benue, and various other areas in the nation upon his return to Abuja from a two-week working trip to Paris, the French capital.
Tinubu arrived back in Abuja on Monday night after spending 18 days for a working visit and retreat in Paris and London.
The Air Force 001 aircraft carrying the President touched down at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja at 09:50pm on Monday, according to an announcement from the State House media office.
Since his departure on April 2, over 120 residents have lost their lives to armed attackers.
Numerous homes have been destroyed, and approximately 3,000 individuals have been displaced, despite the deployment of security forces. In Benue, at least 56 lives were lost in Logo and Gbagir following dual attacks attributed to armed herders.
Various sources indicate that the President is troubled by the security situation and plans to meet with the service chiefs and the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, immediately regarding these developments.
A senior official privy to the situation confirmed that the security meeting will assess the increasing violence and the strategies to mitigate it.
“The President will definitely meet with the service chiefs to evaluate the security situation nationwide, particularly in the hotspots of Plateau, Benue, and Borno.
He has been receiving security briefings during his trip and issuing directives to the security leaders. Thus, he will meet with his security chiefs and ministers as well,” he confirmed.
This statement comes as the Presidency attributed the rising instances of killings across the nation, especially the recent events in Plateau, Benue, and Enugu States, to the state governors. It pointed out the governors' inadequate financial support for security agencies in their states even though they receive considerable security votes.
Special Adviser to the President on Policy Communication, Daniel Bwala, made this claim during his appearance on TVC’s Beyond the Headlines show with Nifemi Oguntoye on Monday evening.
Bwala expressed concern, stating, “What we are witnessing, unfortunately, is that certain states allocate N20m to the SSS, N20m to the police, and N20m to the army as a monthly budget for combatting insecurity.
Meanwhile, their security vote ranges from N1bn to N3bn. Where is the money going?”
In discussing the push for state police, Bwala contended that the demand obscures the inadequate local governance in the states.
He claimed that bloodshed could be reduced “within the existing laws and resources that they (governors) currently oversee,” if state leaders abandon their tokenistic approach and properly fund the federal bodies operating within their regions.
Bwala continued, “There are those who still believe that within the current framework of the state’s security architecture, we can effectively address insecurity if we comprehend what is necessary to do so. What does it require? Each state, for instance, has the SSS, police, military, and paramilitary units. Additionally, each state has the authority to establish a quasi-paramilitary organization and receive state support to tackle legal matters.
“For example, a governor who gets over N2bn to N3bn as a security vote could choose to allocate only N1bn to purchase necessary equipment like drones, vehicles, and all essential resources for surveillance and security efforts. That governor can provide adequate facilities to assist federal agents within their states…because crime in Nigeria is highly dynamic; we’re hearing that criminal elements even utilize drones. How can unaccountable groups employ advanced surveillance systems while the state lacks such capabilities?”
Bwala firmly asserted that the current security framework comprising police forces, DSS, military detachments, and locally-formed vigilantes can be effective if governors allocate their funds transparently.
“Within the context of the resources currently available, governors can deploy this security budget appropriately. For instance, they could implement local government vigilante systems at every local government level. Reshape the approach similarly to how we organize in politics, attending to polling units, wards, and local governments.
“If such a proactive system of vigilance and defense is set up, members could contribute to intelligence gathering and provide frontline support against insurgents, and I assure you, we would achieve significant results. However, we have perpetually entertained this weak excuse where governors assert, ‘I lack the capacity to do anything because I’m not the Chief Security Officer of my state,’” he argued.
The presidential aide emphasized that governors who struggle to meet payroll cannot sustain an entirely new police force. “If we were to establish a state police now, a governor claiming he struggles to pay salaries would be tasked with funding another police system or expecting officers to work for free. Do you truly understand what it means for a state to maintain a security agency akin to a police force? It’s not trivial. Do we even possess the budget now to sustain such an initiative?
“While I’m not implying that we do not require it, what I am suggesting is that we do not have to wait for it to ensure the safety of lives and properties.”
On another note, the appeal by former Chief of Army Staff, Theophilus Danjuma, for Nigerians to defend themselves against armed aggressors has caused a split among northern states. While Umar Namadi, Governor of Jigawa State, rejected this advice, suggesting it could exacerbate the security dilemma, stakeholders in Plateau and Taraba states supported self-defense as an avenue to diminish attacks.
Speaking at a public event in his hometown, Takum, Taraba State, Danjuma reaffirmed a warning issued five years ago, arguing that solely relying on governmental security personnel has become unrealistic.
“The warning I issued years ago stands true. Nigerians need to rise and defend themselves before these bandits overrun the entire nation,” he asserted.
However, Governor Namadi maintained that insecurity in Nigeria has not escalated to a level where citizens should resort to self-defense.
In a conversation on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily on Monday, Namadi expressed that allowing citizens to protect themselves from bandits could result in chaos and worsen the situation.
“He (Danjuma) is an experienced person in security, but I believe letting citizens defend themselves will instigate anarchy. The government is doing its utmost with the architecture and arrangement for security,” he asserted.
He referenced his experiences managing the farmer-herder conflict in Jigawa State, where he prioritized dialogue over self-defense. “This method has fostered peaceful coexistence between the groups,” he stated.
Similarly, the Nasarawa State Government has argued that after numerous measures aimed at adequately safeguarding the lives and properties of its residents across the 13 Local Government Areas of the state, there is no justification for the people to resort to arms for self-defense.
The Senior Special Assistant to the governor on Public Affairs, Peter Ahemba, noted that Governor Abdullahi Sule has consistently engaged with security agencies to address insecurity since taking office, arguing that the self-defense proposition is unwarranted.
He called on residents to report all conflicts and disputes to the security agencies.
“For us in Nasarawa State, I can assert that we are fortunate to have a diligent governor, Engr Abdullahi Sule, who prioritizes the safety of lives and properties in the state. The state government has invested enormously in security, which is why we maintain relative peace. That assertion may hold in other places, but for us in Nasarawa State, such a suggestion is not welcomed. Thus, the people of Nasarawa State have no justification for taking up arms for self-defense, as the state government under the leadership of Engr Abdullahi Sule is fulfilling its duty to secure their lives and properties,” he added.
The SSA further encouraged residents across all 13 LGAs to continue to live peacefully and harmoniously with one another, reiterating that dialogue remains the best method for resolving conflicts in their respective towns and communities. Nonetheless, Danjuma's call resonated significantly with stakeholders in Plateau and Taraba States, who have long endured the impacts of violent attacks.
Residents accused the Federal Government of failing to safeguard them, asserting that communities can no longer afford to be passive as violence prevails unchecked. A variety of stakeholders in Plateau expressed that self-defense is vital given the current security circumstances.
A security officer, Jackson Dauda, stated, “I believe that self-defense is a legitimate means of safeguarding lives and properties. The necessity for its application is urgent in Plateau State, given the numerous lives we have lost due to attacks.
This is especially true with the emergence of terrorist groups like Mahmuda, which have been terrorizing rural communities in the North Central region. Therefore, the government must provide the necessary support to local communities to empower them to defend themselves against any form of terrorism.”
However, Dr. Simon Nuhu, a security expert, disagreed, arguing that self-defense could incite further violence and instability.
He advocated for effective policing and initiatives to mitigate the underlying causes of the violence. “I’m not in favor of this self-defense rhetoric. Consider the implications there will inevitably be chaos. Containing that will prove immensely challenging,” he cautioned.
