By Our Reporter
A former Governor of Kano State and erstwhile Minister of Defence, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, has raised a grave alarm over the worsening state of insecurity across Nigeria, declaring that the nation is “bleeding profusely” under the heavy weight of banditry, terrorism, and kidnapping.
In a strongly-worded statement released to the press, Kwankwaso expressed deep concern over the expanding geography of violence, noting that no region of the country is safe from the clutches of criminal elements.
From the northern strongholds of Zamfara, Borno, Sokoto, and Katsina to Kwara and down to Oyo State in the south, the elder statesman lamented that ordinary citizens can no longer sleep with both eyes closed.
Kwankwaso, who is the National Leader of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), pointed out a disturbing new dimension to the security crisis: the psychological warfare being waged by criminals on social media.
”Banditry, kidnapping for ransom, terrorism, communal clashes, and armed robbery have tragically become daily occurrences,” Kwankwaso stated.
“What is most alarming is the audacity of these criminals, who now brazenly hold live sessions on social media to taunt the authorities and terrorise the public. This is totally unacceptable and not befitting of a sovereign nation like ours.”
The former minister argued that the current administration’s approach to tackling the menace has clearly failed. He noted that despite trillions of Naira in massive budgetary allocations to the security and defence sectors over the years, the security situation continues to deteriorate rapidly.
The failure of these strategies, he said, has resulted in the daily loss of innocent lives, the displacement of thousands of families, and an economy that is currently suffocating under an atmosphere of fear and instability.
Drawing from his extensive governance and military-oversight background, the former Defence Minister insisted that the security challenges facing Nigeria are not insurmountable.
He recollected his tenure as Governor of Kano State and his time in the Ministry of Defence, where he noted that decisive leadership and aggressive community engagement were successfully deployed to confront and significantly reduce security threats.
According to him, Nigeria’s failure to defeat the current wave of criminality is not due to a lack of resources, arms, or personnel, but rather a severe deficit of political will.
”What we lack today is not resources, but the requisite political will and sincerity to confront this menace head-on. We cannot continue on this dangerous path. Nigeria’s security architecture requires an urgent and comprehensive overhaul,” he asserted.
The Blueprint for Peace
To salvage the nation, Kwankwaso proposed a multi-dimensional strategy that moves beyond kinetic military operations. He called for an immediate boost to the morale of the armed forces, urging the federal government to prioritise the welfare and motivation of all security personnel on the frontlines. Furthermore, he advocated for the strengthening of intelligence-gathering mechanisms and the institutionalisation of robust community policing.
However, the NNPP leader maintained that lasting peace cannot be achieved without addressing the socio-economic drivers of crime, which he identified as poverty, mass unemployment, and poor governance.
He urged the government to embark on massive investments in quality education, skills acquisition, and job creation tailored specifically for Nigeria’s teeming youth population.
Socioeconomic Well-being and Food Security
Linking national security directly to economic stability, Kwankwaso warned that the current crisis is a major threat to food security. He urged the government to safeguard the country’s socioeconomic well-being by prioritizing critical infrastructure.
”The government must prioritise the provision of quality education, modern infrastructure, accessible healthcare, reliable electricity supply, and essential agricultural inputs,” Kwankwaso advised. “This approach will strengthen local food production and reduce over-reliance on imports for food security.”
He concluded with a stern warning that the current trajectory is unsustainable, calling on the federal government and all stakeholders to act with sincerity and urgency before the nation drifts into further chaos.