Tinubu to Security Chiefs: “No More Excuses” as Violence Flares in North

Tinubu to Security Chiefs: “No More Excuses” as Violence Flares in North

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has issued a fresh and uncompromising directive to Nigeria’s security and intelligence agencies: restore peace in troubled regions, or risk being seen as complicit in the country’s worsening insecurity.

The President, who summoned an emergency security briefing at the State House on Wednesday, was said to have delivered a stern message through the National Security Adviser (NSA), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, urging an immediate, results-driven response to escalating violence in parts of Plateau, Benue, and Borno States.

“The President is no longer in the mood for reports without results,” Ribadu told journalists after the high-level meeting that brought together Nigeria’s top security brass, including the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa; the DG of DSS, Mr. Oluwatosin Ajayi; and the Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency, Mohammed Mohammed.

“He [Tinubu] made it clear that enough is enough,” Ribadu said. “He has tasked all of us with delivering tangible progress. Nigerians cannot continue to live under the shadow of fear.”

What marks this directive as distinct, analysts say, is the President’s renewed emphasis on local coordination and accountability. Tinubu is reportedly pushing for a bottom-up security model—one that forces state governors, traditional leaders, and local actors to stop playing blame games and start taking responsibility.

“This is not just about the military or the DSS,” Ribadu explained. “Security is a collective duty. The President has directed us to strengthen ties with local authorities because many of these crises are rooted in unresolved community disputes and political neglect.”

The move comes amid growing criticism that the administration has downplayed the resurgence of violent attacks in recent weeks. In Borno, insurgents have planted improvised explosive devices (IEDs), killing unsuspecting civilians and damaging the perception of progress in the decade-long insurgency war.

Critics argue that while the President’s directive is timely, it must move beyond strong language to systemic change. “We’ve heard ‘enough is enough’ before,” said a civil society observer in Abuja. “What we need now is measurable action—arrests, successful prosecutions, and long-term de-escalation of conflict zones.”

Still, Ribadu insists that progress is being made, even if incrementally. “We’re not where we want to be yet, but there’s a clear trajectory. Intelligence coordination has improved, and operations are more targeted,” he said.

The emergency meeting signals a recognition at the highest level that insecurity remains Nigeria’s most pressing challenge. With an economy under strain, inflation rising, and displaced communities struggling to return home, the cost of insecurity is no longer just political—it’s existential.

“The President is watching, he’s listening, and he wants to see results,” Ribadu concluded. “This country deserves peace, and that is our mandate.”