President Bola Tinubu has asserted that Nigeria’s security has significantly improved since he assumed office.
Speaking through the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, during the inaugural international lecture hosted by the News Agency of Nigeria in Abuja on Thursday, Tinubu compared the current state of security to what it was in 2022 and early 2023 under the leadership of former President Muhammadu Buhari.
The President expressed confidence in the country’s current security state, stating that Nigerians can now travel from the capital, Abuja, to any part of the country without fear of attacks.
“We have not been talking; we have been working. We work and talk less. And I can assure you that we are on the right track. Nigeria is becoming more stable. You will feel it, you will see it. Give us time,” Tinubu said.
He further reminded the audience of the grim security situation in the previous year, saying: “This is also a gentle reminder to some of us, don’t forget the Nigeria of 2022. Here in Abuja, bad people and terrorists would come here and kill our soldiers. In Nigeria, people would come in and attack our prisons, releasing the most dangerous criminals; just in 2022 up to 2023. They would attack a train and kidnap hundreds of people.”
Tinubu continued, “That was Nigeria in 2022. But now, I can assure you, Abuja is secure. Today, you can drive at night. You can travel to Kaduna, Lokoja, Minna, or Lafia and feel safe. This has happened in just one year and four months. In Nigeria, you can now travel to any part of the country without the fear you had in 2022.”
Despite the President’s assurances, a recent report by SBM Intelligence has painted a more complex picture of the security landscape in Nigeria. The report highlights that no fewer than 7,568 individuals were abducted across the country between July 2023 and July 2024.
The report details that the security situation remains challenging, with various armed groups and non-state actors taking advantage of the state’s weakened control.
Issues such as Boko Haram’s resurgence in the Northeast, armed gangs in the Northcentral and Northwest, secessionist violence in the Southeast, and gang-related activities in the Southwest have continued to fuel instability.
“Amid these diverse security threats, widespread kidnap for ransom has emerged as a common thread. Between July 2023 and June 2024, our research found that no fewer than 7,568 people were abducted in 1,130 incidents across the country,” the report noted.
(SAHARAREPORTERS