ABUJA, Nigeria – In a crucial meeting held on Wednesday, April 23, 2025, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, the National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu, alongside other key security officials, briefed President Bola Tinubu on the escalating security situation across Nigeria.
The session, which lasted several hours, was convened amid growing concerns over a wave of violent attacks in Plateau, Benue, and Borno states.
The recent wave of violence, primarily attributed to bandits and insurgents, has led to dozens of deaths and displaced entire communities.
The attacks have sparked widespread public outcry, with many Nigerians questioning the government’s response to the increasingly deadly assaults.
Ribadu, speaking to journalists after the meeting, revealed that the President had issued fresh directives aimed at curbing the violence and restoring order to the affected regions.
According to Ribadu, the session was “detailed and exhaustive,” covering all aspects of the current security challenges.
He emphasized that despite the President’s time away from the country, Tinubu remained actively involved in security matters, giving continuous directives and staying in close touch with security agencies.
“We reported back to him, as he had instructed us to engage with political authorities in those areas. Insecurity is not just a government issue; it often involves local sub-units who are directly in touch with the people,” Ribadu explained, highlighting the need for collaboration between federal, state, and local governments to address the crisis.
He stressed that many of these security challenges are deeply rooted in community-level issues, and thus require active involvement from local communities and their leaders.
The NSA also revealed that security agencies, including the military and police, have been deployed to the most affected regions, particularly Plateau, Benue, and Borno.
Ribadu reiterated that the government is determined to ensure that peace and stability are restored, describing President Tinubu as “deeply concerned” about the security crisis.
He assured the public that all arms of security – including the Armed Forces, civil police, and intelligence agencies – were working round the clock to address the situation.
In his remarks, Ribadu acknowledged that while total security had not yet been achieved, there had been noticeable improvements in the last few months.
However, he emphasized that the government would not stop until significant progress is made in tackling the nation’s security challenges.
“We do not underestimate the loss of even one life. We do not take it lightly. But certainly, a lot has changed and improved,” he said.
Regarding the violence in Borno, Ribadu pointed out that insurgents in the region had been using improvised explosive devices (IEDs) to target civilians, exacerbating the situation.
He described the insurgents as relentless in their efforts to instigate chaos and send a message through these attacks.
Ribadu also noted that the sporadic violence often overshadows the periods of relative calm, which can sometimes lead to public disillusionment.
He reassured Nigerians that security forces are making significant sacrifices to maintain peace and security.
The security crisis, which has also been met with increasing criticism from civil society organizations and lawmakers, continues to call for urgent government intervention.
President Tinubu, who recently returned from a private visit to Europe, condemned the growing violence in the country and made it clear that addressing the issue was a top priority for his administration.
The meeting was attended by key security figures, including the Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS), Oluwatosin Ajayi; the Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) for Force Intelligence, Benjamin Okolo; the Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), Mohammed Mohammed; and the Chief of Defence Intelligence Agency (CDI), General Emmanuel Undianeye.
