Tinubu to Meet Service Chiefs Over Rising Insecurity in Plateau, Benue
President Bola Tinubu is set to meet with Nigeria’s service chiefs and the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, to address the recent surge in killings across Plateau, Benue, and other parts of the country. This meeting will take place following his return to Abuja on Monday night after an 18-day working trip to Paris and London.
Since Tinubu’s departure on April 2, over 120 people have been killed by armed attackers, with at least 3,000 displaced and numerous homes destroyed—despite the presence of security personnel. In Benue, 56 people were reported killed in Logo and Gbagir following attacks allegedly carried out by armed herders.
A presidential aide confirmed to The PUNCH that Tinubu has been receiving security briefings while abroad and is now prioritizing a strategic review of the violence in hotspots including Plateau, Benue, and Borno.
Meanwhile, the Presidency has blamed state governors for underfunding local security operations, despite receiving significant security allocations. Presidential adviser Daniel Bwala criticized the disparity in funds, noting that some governors allocate as little as ₦20 million monthly to police and military agencies, even while drawing security votes running into billions.
Bwala argued that rather than waiting for the establishment of state police, governors should more effectively use existing structures—like the police, DSS, and military—along with local vigilante groups, to tackle insecurity.
In response to General TY Danjuma’s call for Nigerians to defend themselves, the suggestion sparked mixed reactions. While some stakeholders in Plateau and Taraba supported the idea as a last resort due to persistent attacks, others warned that promoting self-defence could lead to chaos.
Jigawa Governor Umar Namadi and other officials advocated for peaceful dialogue and improved collaboration with security agencies. In contrast, some Taraba and Plateau residents insisted self-defence had become necessary in the face of government inaction.
Retired generals weighed in on the debate, with some urging the use of trained veterans in local security outfits, rather than widespread arming of civilians. Brig. Gen. Peter Aro (retd.) suggested forming structured, legally backed Neighborhood Watch groups led by retired personnel. Others, like Brig. Gen. George Emdin (retd.), supported self-defence but cautioned that it must be well-regulated to avoid anarchy.
On Monday, protests erupted in Jos, Plateau State, led by Christian leaders and civil society groups, demanding urgent action from the government. The demonstrators decried the ongoing violence and marched to the Government House, where Governor Caleb Mutfwang promised to pursue justice and hold perpetrators accountable.
In Ogun State, Oba Akintunde Akinyemi of the Iselu Kingdom urged President Tinubu to take firmer action against the rising violence, warning that insecurity is becoming a “lucrative industry” for some.
The Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre also called for united efforts to stop the killings and reduce national trauma, emphasizing that protecting citizens’ lives is a constitutional obligation of the government.
