President Bola Tinubu is set to hold an emergency meeting with Nigeria’s service chiefs and the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, following a surge in violent attacks that have left over 120 people dead across Plateau, Benue, and other states in the North-Central region.
According to The PUNCH, the President, who returned to Abuja after an 18-day working visit to Paris and London, is expected to deliberate on the worsening security situation that has raised nationwide concern.
Benue State has been particularly hard-hit, with local sources confirming that at least 56 people were killed in recent attacks by suspected armed herders in the Logo and Gbagir areas alone.
In response to the carnage, the Presidency has criticized state governors for not allocating sufficient funds to support security operations, despite receiving monthly security votes ranging from N1 billion to N3 billion.
Presidential aide, Daniel Bwala, accused governors of failing in their duties. “Some governors allocate a meagre N20 million to security agencies while sitting on billions meant to secure lives and property. The issue isn’t lack of structure, but a failure to utilize available security frameworks effectively,” he stated.
Bwala also dismissed calls for the creation of state police, arguing that existing institutions—such as the Nigerian Police Force, Department of State Services (DSS), military, and community vigilantes—are adequate if managed properly.
Amid the rising insecurity, former Chief of Army Staff, General Theophilus Danjuma (retd.), reignited a national debate by urging Nigerians to defend themselves. His comments have been met with mixed reactions across the country.
Community leaders and residents in Taraba and Plateau states welcomed Danjuma’s call, citing repeated attacks and government inaction. “We’ve cried for help, yet the killings persist. People can’t just sit and wait to be slaughtered,” a Plateau-based youth leader told reporters.
However, governments in Jigawa and Nasarawa states cautioned against the implications of self-defence. “Encouraging citizens to take up arms could plunge the country into anarchy,” a senior Nasarawa official warned.
Security analysts have also raised concerns that promoting self-defence could worsen the already fragile security landscape. They called for a balanced approach that involves government accountability, intelligence gathering, and strengthened local security collaboration.
President Tinubu’s forthcoming meeting is seen as a critical test of his administration’s capacity to address the country’s worsening security challenges.
