Since President Bola Tinubu took office on May 29, 2023, Nigeria has witnessed a significant spike in violence, with 13,346 people killed and 9,207 abducted across various regions of the country. This wave of insecurity, affecting 667 local government areas, has been largely attributed to terrorism, banditry, farmer-herder conflicts, and other forms of social unrest.
A recent report by Beacon Consulting, a security risk management firm, offers a grim analysis of the situation. From May to December 2023 alone, the country recorded 5,802 deaths and 2,754 kidnappings. However, the situation deteriorated further in 2024, with 7,544 people killed and 6,453 abducted between January and September.
Security experts are expressing growing concerns over the escalating violence, urging the Tinubu administration to adopt more decisive measures to tackle the crisis. Nnamdi Chive, a prominent security analyst, described the situation as dire, emphasizing that the economic downturn has exacerbated the security challenges.
“The security crisis is severe,” Chive told *Saturday PUNCH*. “Economic hardship has only compounded an already grave situation.”
During a security and peace summit hosted by the North-West Governors Forum in Katsina State in July, President Tinubu acknowledged the ongoing security issues, particularly in the North-West, attributing them to “inherited security compromises.” He suggested that the current banditry and insurgency were partly driven by historical injustices faced by communities affected by conflict.
Despite this, experts argue that a more comprehensive and effective strategy is urgently needed. Chive stressed the importance of securing Nigeria’s borders, particularly in the North-East and North-West, to prevent foreign elements from destabilizing local communities. “National security involves protecting your borders effectively,” he noted.
Assessing the government’s response to the crisis, Chive acknowledged some progress, particularly in Borno State, where displaced persons have started returning to their communities. However, he warned that insurgents are adapting to military strategies by shifting their operations to new areas.
Colonel Yomi Dare, another security expert, highlighted the role of economic hardship and corruption in exacerbating the situation. “The current crisis has been worsened by economic hardship, adding to an already dire scenario,” Dare stated.
As Nigeria continues to grapple with this escalating security challenge, calls for a more robust and coordinated response are growing louder. Experts insist that without significant intervention, the violence could further destabilize the country.
This report is sourced from The Punch newspaper, with minor edits and adaptations by The Spectacles for clarity and readability.
