…Massacres continue across Nigeria despite govt efforts
Persistent insecurity in Nigeria has been blamed on many factors. One that sticks out so prominently is the allegation of ineffective intelligence. Many observers have said that there seems to be an unholy interplay between ineffective intelligence and sheer negligence on the part of relevant authorities.
KWARA
Community frets over unanimous letter
Many observers and critics have continued to point finger at security authorities for failing to protect the citizens or for even abandoning the people when it matters most.
Many have alleged that the attacks on Woro, Kaiama Local Government Area of Kwara State, could have been prevented if the authorities had acted on intelligence they received. That was not in isolation as there have been many similar cases where bandits and Boko Haram insurgents had notified communities of their planned attacks, and there were no practical efforts to act of such notices until the attacks were eventually carried out.
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Just last Friday, Akanbi Kamar Olarewaju, chairman of Oyun Local Government, Kwara State, convened an emergency security meeting at the Council Secretariat in Ilemona following a widely circulated letter alleging an impending attack on parts of the local government.
The Council chairman addressed security agencies, traditional rulers and key stakeholders at the meeting, on the seriousness of the matter at hand.
He spoke about a letter purportedly written by unknown individuals, who claimed they had relocated from Kaiama Local Government and were planning attacks on the Irra and Aho/Inaja axis.
The expectation is that the information would enable relevant authorities protect the communities.
BORNO
Lack of political will major drawback
Tinubu’s administration must wake up to the reality that insecurity is getting worse daily; Nigeria is not getting secure under his watch, as banditry and terrorists are getting bolder and spreading like wildfire at an alarming rate.
For instance, lack of political will, issues of porous borders and weak intelligence gathering have been the major obstacles undermining the spread of terrorism in Nigeria.
No serious nation should allow large portions of its territory to remain outside effective governance.
“Nigeria has over 4,000 kilometres of land borders and close to 870 kilometres of coastline. Across these borders, there are over 1,000 entry points, but only about 100 are properly manned by security agencies. I think the federal government is always treating issues of terrorism with unseriousness.
According to him, weapons often enter the country through unmanned routes, waterways and even official ports, sometimes with internal compromise.
You ask yourself how containers carrying weapons pass through scanners at the ports. There has to be some level of complicity. Such containers cannot pass without someone failing to do their job.
ISWAP operates across borders, and operations against them have also taken place outside Nigeria. This cooperation is a good measure. We need sustained investment in border security, technology and regional cooperation to curb insecurity and restore confidence in affected communities.
A closer look at the composition of various armed groups, including Boko Haram, ISWAP, bandits, and recently discovered Lukarawa, reveals a disturbing trend: many of their foot soldiers are non-Nigerians.
Another obstacle is that corruption has fueled the insecurity bedeviling the whole country because the leaders seem not serious about the claim to fight against terrorists and other criminal elements, which has spurred the proliferation of arms in and out of the country.
Nigeria has not decided to end insecurity once and for all; it is an industry now; our government is never serious with the claim of fighting corruption, no, not at all, because they ought to have allowed EFCC to carry out its operations without anybody interfering with them.
Senator Iroegbu, a security expert, said that despite sustained military operations and repeated assurances from government authorities, the persistence of massacres, abductions, and large-scale attacks, sometimes even preceded by advance warnings from perpetrators, exposes deeper systemic failures in Nigeria’s security architecture.
“Firstly, at the heart of Nigeria’s inability to decisively confront terrorism, banditry, and violent crime is a deficit of political will. Too often, political considerations and short-term calculations overshadow the urgent need to prioritise protecting citizens’ lives and property. Without consistent, decisive leadership, security initiatives remain fragmented and reactive.
“The problem is rarely the absence of intelligence but the failure to act promptly and decisively on available intelligence. Communities, local leaders, and even security agencies frequently provide early warnings. However, when political signals are unclear or operational directives lack urgency, responses become delayed, inadequate, or merely performative — allowing attackers to strike with little resistance.
“Deep-rooted socio-economic inequalities, governance deficits, and exclusion have created widespread grievances across the country. Many communities feel abandoned and vulnerable, which erodes trust in government institutions. This lack of trust weakens intelligence gathering, reduces citizen cooperation, and creates fertile ground for extremist recruitment and criminal exploitation.
“Credible concerns exist about insider leaks and compromised operations. Moles within government institutions, security agencies, or even local communities may deliberately or inadvertently expose tactical information to criminal networks. Such breaches undermine operations and embolden perpetrators.
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“There are allegations that powerful enablers within political, economic, and sometimes religious networks shield or indirectly support violent non-state actors. Whether for financial gain, influence, or political leverage, these actors obstruct genuine accountability and frustrate sustained counterterrorism efforts.
“Nigeria’s insecurity is increasingly shaped by transnational dynamics, including foreign interference, illicit mining networks, arms trafficking, and organised criminal economies that thrive in unstable environments. The country’s porous borders — particularly across the Sahel region — allow terrorists, weapons, and illicit funds to flow freely, complicating domestic security efforts.”
He concluded that “Nigeria’s security crisis is not merely a matter of intelligence failure or negligence; it is a multidimensional challenge requiring strong political leadership, institutional reform, community trust-building, cross-border cooperation, and uncompromising accountability. Until these structural issues are addressed holistically, insecurity will remain persistent despite ongoing military efforts.”
ADAMAWA
‘Bad eggs in the neighbourhood’
Yusuf Buba, a lecturer and journalist, described the state of insecurity in the country as “sheer negligence,” arguing that the protection of lives and property remains the government’s foremost constitutional responsibility.
According to Buba, national security encompasses the overall well-being of citizens, including safeguarding lives, protecting property, and defending national sovereignty against threats such as crime, insurgency, and kidnapping.
“The issue of insecurity in Nigeria can be traced not only to government negligence but also to institutional and community negligence, as well as the politicisation of security matters,” he said.
He noted that although significant allocations are made to the security sector in the national budget, tangible improvements remain limited.
Buba further decried situations where insurgent groups allegedly issue advance threats to communities without effective preventive action by authorities.
“There have been instances where insurgents openly announce their intention to attack communities, yet such information is treated lightly. They eventually invade, destroy property, kidnap residents, and cart away valuables, with little or no consequences. To me, this amounts to total negligence,” he said.
Titus Takodoba expressed concern that insecurity, especially in northern Nigeria, has become deeply entrenched in daily life.
“Insecurity has become almost part and parcel of our existence. There appears to be no place that is truly safe,” he said.
He cited a past incident in Garkida, located in Gombi Local Government Area of Adamawa State, where members of Boko Haram reportedly issued prior notice before carrying out attacks that resulted in abductions, destruction of homes, and looting of food supplies.
“Government often reacts after incidents occur rather than taking proactive measures to prevent them,” he said.
“From all indications, we are not making significant progress in addressing security challenges. Even leaders cannot confidently say they sleep with both eyes closed.”
Ekong C. W. (Rtd) said the security architecture was a complex situation.
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Pointing out that Military may be doing well but some personnel are not in support of what the Federal Government is doing, they keep sabotaging the efforts of the FG. He added that back in the days, it was not so.
Ekong stated that unless the security architecture is headed by a neutral person, like the arrangement previously between Nigeria and the US, the political undertone will continue to play out.
“There’s a lot of negligence on the side of authorities concern; personally, I don’t buy the idea of incorporating ‘repentant Boko Haram’ into Nigeria’s security outfit,” he said.
PLATEAU
Plateau in panic, families flee
Plateau State remains gripped by fear as killings and kidnappings continue across the state. Residents in several communities live under constant threat, while security agencies move to restore order.
Recently in Wase Local Government Area, hundreds of residents of Zurak and Sabon Gari communities fled. Men, women, and children were seen trekking to neighbouring villages like Kampani, carrying their belongings in search of safety.
The latest attacks left a soldier and five residents dead in Zurak, while three soldiers were declared missing. Residents said attackers first targeted security posts before moving into homes, burning houses and shops, and looting food and valuables.
A Wase resident, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said, “We understand that they are doing their best, but the bandits often come in large numbers and overpower the security. Our lives are not guaranteed. People cannot continue to live in fear all the time. When law and order are restored, we will return.”
These followed repeated kidnappings and raids, including the December 2025 abduction of 28 travellers from Zak community enroute Sabon Layi.
A recent assurance from the authorities through a statement said: “The arrival of these special forces will be a game changer in addressing the threat of insecurity and restoring lasting peace in Plateau State. You must be decisive and ruthless in offensive operations against bandits and all criminal elements disturbing the peace of our communities.”
KADUNA
Desperate situation in Kaduna
Kurmin Wali is a remote community in Kauru Local Government Area, located in Southern Kaduna that is predominantly Christians who are farmers. The village is surrounded by thick forest, and it also lacks basic infrastructure like good access road to the community. Also, the village has no electricity, no primary or secondary schools, and no primary health care facility, forcing children and patients to travel long distances for essential services.
Ishaku Danazumi Danazumi, Village head, told BusinessDay that government presence was largely limited, a situation that he said has left them vulnerable to repeated attacks by criminal groups operating in the region.
Some community leaders recalled that Kauru Local Government Area, located in Southern Kaduna, has suffered persistent insecurity since 2010, beginning with an attack on Kizachi community in Chawai Chiefdom, where eight persons were killed.
According to them, armed groups over, the years, have established camps within dense forests surrounding Kauru, using the difficult terrain to launch repeated raids on villages, abduct residents for ransom and rustle livestock, forcing many families to abandon their homes and farmlands. They added that the prolonged violence have left thousands displaced and in urgent need of humanitarian assistance, including food, shelter and medical care.
But findings revealed that the onslaught paved the way for many bandits to escape and move towards Kajuru forest. One of the community leaders, Israel Yohana, remarked, “The bandits who were attacked in Kauru were seen moving towards Kajuru; it was these same bandits that attacked the Churches in Kurmi Wali. We have pledged as communities to continue cooperating with the security agencies by exposing criminal hideouts.”
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Interestingly, the January 18 attack followed another kidnapping incident on January 11, where 25 villagers were abducted from the same community. Residents interviewed said they raised N2.5 million through personal savings and loans to secure their release.
In the recent attacks, the police authorities and local government denied any of such. The denials were first made by the Commissioner of Police, Muhammad Rabiu, followed by the Kauru Local Government chairman, Dauda Madaki together with Kaduna State government represented by the Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Sule Shauibu. They described the reported kidnap as mere falsehood which was being peddled by conflict entrepreneurs who wanted to cause chaos in Kaduna State.
However, the community insisted that their people were abducted by the bandits and within 24 hours after police denials, they released the names of those in captivity.
With the release of their names, the police made a U-turn and said its earlier remarks on the attack was to avoid panic, but to allow it carry out its work diligently.
