“Enough is Enough” Amid Ongoing Killings in Borno, Benue, Plateau, and Kwara
President Bola Tinubu has called for an urgent and thorough reassessment of Nigeria’s security strategy, insisting on decisive measures to curb escalating violence in Borno, Benue, Plateau, and Kwara states.
The President issued this directive during a two-hour closed-door meeting with security leaders at the State House on Tuesday, where he condemned the ongoing civilian casualties and proclaimed, “Enough is enough.”
National Security Adviser (NSA) Mallam Nuhu Ribadu briefed the press after the meeting, revealing that the service chiefs presented detailed reports on recent assaults, casualty numbers, and damage to property in the affected regions.
“Mr. President has mandated a new approach to addressing insecurity,” Ribadu stated. “Even while he was overseas in Paris and London, he was closely monitoring the situation and issuing directives. Today’s meeting was comprehensive, and he has provided us with new instructions to amplify our efforts.”
The NSA disclosed that security chiefs had previously visited Plateau, Benue, and Borno—areas severely impacted by recent violence—to assess conditions and engage with local authorities, as directed by the President.
“We assured him of our dedication and updated him on our observations. He emphasized the need for closer collaboration with state governors, local governments, and communities to tackle the underlying causes of these conflicts,” Ribadu added.
President Tinubu expressed significant concern over the attacks, especially the targeting of defenseless civilians through Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) and raids on vulnerable communities.
“The President made it clear that these killings must cease. He stated, ‘Enough is enough.’ All security agencies—the military, police, and intelligence services—are under strict orders to swiftly restore peace,” the NSA asserted.
Ribadu further noted that the new strategy would foster stronger partnerships with grassroots leaders to enhance intelligence gathering and crisis response.
“Security is not solely a federal issue. Local governments and traditional institutions must be actively engaged, as many of these crises arise from communal tensions,” he explained.
The meeting included the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa; Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Taoreed Lagbaja; Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun; and heads of intelligence agencies.
