President Bola Tinubu is expected to meet with service chiefs and top security officials to address the rising wave of killings in Plateau, Benue, and other states, following his return to Abuja on Monday night after an 18-day “working visit and private retreat” in Paris and London.
According to the State House media office, the presidential aircraft, Air Force 001, touched down at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, at 9:50 p.m.
During Tinubu’s absence, over 120 people were reportedly killed in separate attacks—mostly blamed on armed herders—in Benue, Plateau, and parts of the North-Central region. Homes were razed, and over 3,000 residents displaced despite the presence of security forces.
In Benue State alone, at least 56 people were reportedly killed in coordinated attacks on Logo and Gbagir communities.
Sources close to the presidency disclosed that Tinubu, who has received regular security briefings while away, is deeply concerned about the escalating violence and will immediately convene a high-level meeting with security chiefs and National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu.
A top government official confirmed that the meeting will review ongoing security operations and develop a robust response to contain the crisis.
“The President is expected to meet with the service chiefs and relevant ministers to assess the flashpoints, especially in Plateau, Benue, and Borno states,” the source said. “Even while abroad, he has been issuing directives. This meeting will focus on recalibrating the current strategy.”
Presidency Blames Governors for Poor Security Spending
Meanwhile, the Presidency has criticized state governors for underfunding federal security agencies despite receiving large security votes, blaming them for the deteriorating security conditions in their states.
Speaking on TVC's Beyond the Headlines, Special Adviser to the President on Policy Communication, Daniel Bwala, accused some governors of releasing paltry sums to security agencies while keeping billions in security votes.
“In some states, governors allocate just N20 million each to the SSS, police, and army monthly, even when their security votes exceed N1 billion,” Bwala said. “Where is the rest of the money going?”
He argued that state executives already possess the tools and resources needed to curb insecurity, without necessarily clamoring for state police.
“There’s too much tokenism. We have federal security presence—SSS, police, military—in every state, and governors are permitted to establish quasi-paramilitary outfits. The challenge is poor funding and lack of will,” Bwala said.
He cited examples of how governors could utilize their votes to procure surveillance tools like drones, vehicles, and communications systems to support federal forces on ground.
“The irony is, even criminals are using drones now. Why should the state be left behind?” he asked.
Bwala also warned against rushing into state policing, stressing the financial burden it would impose on governors who already struggle to pay salaries.
“Creating state police is not the silver bullet. Do these states even have the resources to sustain it? What we need is optimal use of the resources already at their disposal.”
Danjuma’s Self-Defense Call Sparks Debate
As insecurity worsens, former Chief of Army Staff, General Theophilus Danjuma (rtd), has reignited his call for citizens to defend themselves against armed attacks. Speaking in his hometown, Takum, Taraba State, Danjuma said Nigerians could no longer rely solely on state forces for protection.
“The warning I gave five years ago is still valid. Nigerians must rise and defend themselves before these bandits overrun the entire country,” Danjuma said.
His call has sparked mixed reactions across the North. While stakeholders in Plateau and Taraba backed the self-defense advocacy, Jigawa State Governor, Umar Namadi, rejected the idea.
In an interview on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily, Governor Namadi warned that allowing citizens to arm themselves would lead to anarchy.
“Yes, General Danjuma is a respected figure, but self-defense is a dangerous path. It will only worsen the crisis,” Namadi said, citing his administration’s success in resolving farmer-herder clashes through dialogue.
“When we came in, we focused on peace-building, engaged traditional rulers, and promoted dialogue. That’s why we’re enjoying relative calm in Jigawa,” he added.
As Nigeria continues to grapple with insecurity, all eyes are on President Tinubu’s upcoming security meeting and the actions that may follow to restore peace in affected communities.
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