President Bola Tinubu returned to Abuja on Monday night after an 18-day working visit to Paris and London, landing at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport at 9:50 p.m. aboard Air Force 001, the State House media office confirmed. The President is expected to convene an urgent meeting with service chiefs and National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu to address the worsening security situation across Nigeria, particularly in Plateau, Benue, and Borno states.
Since Tinubu’s departure on April 2, over 120 people have been killed in violent attacks, with more than 3,000 displaced and numerous homes destroyed, despite the presence of security forces. In Benue, twin assaults in Logo and Gbagir, attributed to armed herders, claimed at least 56 lives. A senior official confirmed to reporters on Monday that the President, who received regular security briefings while abroad, will review the rising violence and discuss strategies to curb it.
The Presidency has pointed fingers at state governors, accusing them of underfunding security operations despite receiving substantial security votes. Daniel Bwala, Special Adviser to the President on Policy Communication, criticized governors for allocating minimal funds—sometimes as low as N20 million monthly—to agencies like the SSS, police, and military, while retaining security votes ranging from N1 billion to N3 billion. “Where are we going?” Bwala questioned.
Bwala dismissed calls for state police, arguing that the existing security framework, including federal agencies and state-created vigilante groups, could be effective if governors utilized their resources transparently. He urged state leaders to invest in equipment like drones and vehicles to enhance surveillance and support federal agents, noting that criminal elements are increasingly using sophisticated technology.
