A retired Group Captain, Sodeeq Shehu, has expressed disappointment over the security performance of President Bola Tinubu’s administration, stressing that the current government has not shown significant progress compared to the previous one. Speaking during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Thursday, Shehu explained that while there have been slight improvements in coordination among security agencies, the overall security landscape in Nigeria remains largely unchanged. According to him, there has been visible progress in collaboration among the Army, Navy, Air Force, Police, Department of State Services (DSS), and Civil Defence, but such synergy has not yet translated into real safety for citizens. Shehu emphasized that the real measure of a government’s success in security is not in internal synergy but in the number of lives saved and protected. He pointed out that incidents of killings, injuries, kidnappings, and armed attacks have not reduced significantly under Tinubu’s leadership. The retired officer revealed that, in his professional assessment, he would rate the Tinubu administration between 40 to 45 percent on security. He argued that addressing insecurity is not a short-term task but a long-term process requiring consistent policies, adequate funding, and effective intelligence. “When conducting an appraisal, you have to evaluate where we were, where we are now, and where we should be ideally. It is true that there are slight improvements, particularly in synergy within intelligence units and among the armed forces – the Army, Navy, and Air Force – as well as their collaboration with the Police, DSS, and Civil Defence. However, globally, when measuring how secure or peaceful a country is, the most reliable indicators are the number of people killed, injured, kidnapped, or directly affected by violent attacks. Sadly, when we compare the figures, there has been no major difference between now and the past government. That is my honest assessment. Based on this, I will score the Tinubu administration around 40 to 45 percent on security. As I have said before, tackling insecurity is a marathon and not a sprint. There are still critical areas requiring urgent improvement.” Shehu’s remarks highlight the deep-rooted security challenges in Nigeria, ranging from terrorism in the North-East, banditry in the North-West, communal clashes in the Middle Belt, and rising cases of kidnapping across various states. His statement further raises questions about the effectiveness of government security policies, public trust in institutions, and the urgent need for reforms to protect lives and property.
Governor Hyacinth Alia of Benue State has alleged that some current politicians serving in Nigeria’s National Assembly are behind the recurring attacks across various communities in the state. During an interview on Politics Today, a programme aired by Channels Television, the governor described the situation as completely intolerable. According to Alia, a judicial panel he constituted to investigate the violent incidents has produced an interim report implicating several high-profile individuals—although he refrained from disclosing any names at this stage. The governor emphasized his determination to address the findings head-on as soon as he receives the panel’s comprehensive report within the coming week. “The situation is deeply disturbing. Senior political figures who are actively involved in legislative duties in Abuja are not only instigating these acts but are also harbouring the perpetrators. They are allegedly offering them shelter, sustaining them in the forests, and supplying necessary materials and tools,” Alia revealed. “This conduct is absolutely unacceptable. If their political ambition outweighs their concern for human lives, I will prioritize the welfare of the ordinary citizens, as it is both a duty and a responsibility I owe them.” Governor Alia further explained that the judicial panel was established specifically to uncover the root causes of the consistent and escalating violence in the state. He confirmed that an interim report had already been submitted and indicated that the final report would be in his hands by Tuesday or Wednesday of the following week. In a related development, tragedy struck again on Friday as numerous people were reported dead and several others sustained injuries following a fresh onslaught by armed herdsmen on the Makurdi–Naka road. Despite repeated assurances from security agencies, the Makurdi–Naka axis reportedly remains under the persistent threat of armed Fulani militia groups, who have held sway in the area for several weeks.
