RE: Violence Deepens, Tinubu Must Act
By Joel Maina
write in response to The Punch editorial, “Violence Deepens, Tinubu Must Act,” published on June 9, 2026. The editorial rightly reflects the growing frustration of Nigerians over the worsening insecurity that continues to claim lives and destroy livelihoods across the country. Terrorism, banditry, kidnapping, communal violence and other forms of organised crime have become persistent threats to national stability. While the call for stronger presidential leadership is justified, attributing the crisis primarily to President Bola Tinubu oversimplifies a deeply entrenched national challenge that predates his administration.
Nigeria’s security crisis did not begin in May 2023. It is the culmination of decades of institutional weaknesses, poor intelligence coordination, porous borders, widespread poverty, youth unemployment, corruption and the proliferation of illicit arms. Some of the country’s worst security failures occurred before the current administration assumed office. In March 2022, terrorists attacked the Abuja-Kaduna passenger train, killing several passengers and abducting dozens despite earlier security warnings. Four months later, in July 2022, heavily armed terrorists stormed the Kuje Medium Security Custodial Centre in the Federal Capital Territory, freeing hundreds of inmates, including suspected Boko Haram members. Earlier that same year, gunmen attacked St. Francis Catholic Church in Owo, Ondo State, killing over 40 worshippers during a Sunday service. These incidents exposed serious deficiencies in intelligence gathering, infrastructure protection and emergency response long before President Tinubu took office.
This historical context does not absolve the current administration of responsibility. Rather, it underscores that the crisis is systemic and demands systemic solutions. As Commander-in-Chief, President Tinubu bears the constitutional responsibility to lead Nigeria’s security response. Encouragingly, his administration has taken notable steps, including increased budgetary allocations for defence and security, the acquisition of additional military hardware, enhanced intelligence-led operations, renewed regional cooperation against terrorism, and support for constitutional amendments seeking to establish state police. Yet, despite these efforts, recurring attacks in Plateau, Benue, Zamfara and Katsina States demonstrate that military operations alone cannot resolve the crisis without broader institutional reforms.
One of Nigeria’s greatest security challenges remains the weakness of intelligence gathering and coordination among security agencies. Many attacks occur despite advance warnings from local communities and intelligence reports, suggesting persistent gaps between information gathering and operational response. Without seamless collaboration among security institutions, intelligence loses much of its preventive value.
Socio-economic conditions have equally compounded the crisis. Rising unemployment, poverty and inflation have left many young Nigerians vulnerable to recruitment by criminal gangs, terrorist organisations and kidnapping syndicates. While economic hardship does not excuse criminality, it undeniably creates fertile ground for organised crime to flourish. Addressing insecurity, therefore, requires not only military action but also sustained investment in economic opportunities, education and social development.
Nigeria’s security architecture is also overstretched. With a police-to-population ratio far below international standards, vast rural communities remain largely unprotected. Criminal groups have exploited these security gaps by occupying forests, controlling illegal routes and launching attacks with minimal resistance. Meanwhile, allegations of corruption, intelligence leaks and collusion between some security personnel and criminal elements continue to undermine public trust and weaken security operations.
The consequences are devastating. Thousands of Nigerians have been killed or displaced, farming communities have abandoned their lands, worsening food insecurity, while attacks on schools have disrupted education across several states. Investor confidence has also declined as businesses increasingly view insecurity as a major obstacle to economic growth and expansion. Beyond the economic losses, the psychological impact on citizens has been profound, with many communities living in perpetual fear.
Persistent insecurity also threatens Nigeria’s national cohesion. Communities that perceive unequal protection or prolonged government inaction often lose confidence in state institutions, fuelling ethnic tensions, vigilantism and self-help security arrangements that further complicate the country’s security landscape.
Addressing these challenges requires more than presidential directives. Intelligence gathering must be strengthened through better inter-agency cooperation, integrated data systems, digital surveillance, drones and improved forensic capabilities. Security agencies require adequate funding, continuous professional training and greater operational efficiency to confront increasingly sophisticated criminal networks.
Equally important is tackling the socio-economic drivers of insecurity. Government at all levels should prioritise job creation, vocational training, rural development and youth empowerment to reduce the conditions that criminal organisations exploit for recruitment.
Community policing should also be institutionalised. Residents often possess valuable local intelligence that can significantly improve early warning systems and enhance trust between security agencies and the public. Likewise, the ongoing constitutional debate on state policing deserves serious consideration. Given Nigeria’s vast territory and diverse security challenges, decentralised policing could improve responsiveness while complementing federal security institutions.
Furthermore, corruption within security institutions must be confronted decisively. Officers found aiding criminal groups or compromising operations should face swift investigation and prosecution. Public confidence can only be restored when accountability becomes an integral part of security governance.
The Punch editorial performs an important public service by drawing attention to Nigeria’s deteriorating security situation. However, framing the crisis primarily as the failure of one administration risks overlooking the institutional reforms required to achieve lasting peace. The evidence of the past four years, from the Abuja-Kaduna train attack, the Kuje prison break and the Owo church massacre in 2022 to the recurring mass killings in Plateau and Benue States under the current administration, demonstrates that Nigeria’s insecurity is systemic rather than personal.
President Tinubu must continue to provide decisive leadership, but sustainable security will require coordinated action by federal and state governments, the National Assembly, security agencies, traditional institutions, civil society organisations, the private sector and citizens alike. Nigeria must move beyond assigning blame and focus instead on building stronger institutions, modernising intelligence and policing, addressing the socio-economic roots of violence and ensuring accountability across the security sector. Only through such comprehensive reforms can the country reverse the tide of violence, restore public confidence and guarantee the safety and security every Nigerian deserves.
Joel Maina is a 300-level student of Strategic Communication, at University of Abuja, an intern at IMPR, can be reached through [email protected]Joel
