The government of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has been unable to rein in insurgency, banditry, kidnapping for ransom and herdsmen dangerous activities which have resulted in wanton killings across the country, two years after his inauguration, yet his foot soldiers continue to campaign for his second term in 2027
By Our Correspondent
The killing of the 16 Kano-bound hunters in Uromi, Edo State on Thursday, March 27, 2025, sparked an outrage especially in Kano State and other parts of the Northern region. The alleged hunters were said to be traveling from Rivers State to Kano for the Muslim festival commonly referred to as the Sallah celebration when they were accosted by local vigilante groups. After conducting a routine search, it was alleged that the hunters carried den guns and bags allegedly containing some raw cash.
But because of the rate of kidnappings, ransom demands that run into millions of Naira, raping and killing of innocent local farmers by alleged herders in Uromi and surrounding towns, the local vigilantes had taken the law into their hands and mobbed the 16 hunters without taking them to security agencies.
Available facts indicted that the local vigilantes at Uromi had done what they did in retaliation to the incessant kidnappings and raping of local women in their farms allegedly by herdsmen who have been invading the areas without the authorities taking drastic action to rein them in.
Also recently, a former Director-General of the National Youth Service Corps, retired Major-General Maharazu Tsiga and many other kidnap victims were rescued from their abductors after several weeks in bandits’ den.
The National Counter Terrorism Center handed over Tsiga who spent twenty-two days in captivity along with 18 other rescued kidnap victims to the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu. The handover took place in Abuja on Thursday, April 3, 2025.
General Tsiga was abducted when scores of armed men stormed his residence in Katsina State. The assailants were said to have surrounded the house and begun to break doors, prompting the retired general to step outside to confront them.
A federal lawmaker representing Bakori/Danja Federal Constituency, Abdullahi Balarabe Dabai, had confirmed the abduction, stating that the attackers took control of the premises before taking General Tsiga away. It was also alleged that the abductors had demanded for a ransom of N250 million before they would release Tsiga. Though it was not revealed how much the bandits collected before they released the retired General, unconfirmed report said his military General friends had contributed the ransom with which they secured the release of Tsiga and others.
In another attack, gunmen suspected to be Lakurawa terrorists unleashed an attack on Morai village in the Augie Local Government Area of Kebbi State, killing 13 vigilante members.
A local source, identified as Alhaji Augie, disclosed that the vigilantes had taken cover in nearby shrubs after receiving intelligence about an impending attack. According to him, the attackers arrived and attempted to rustle a herd of cattle.
The vigilantes then launched an ambush in an attempt to recover the cattle and repel the attackers.
“Unfortunately, they were unaware that the terrorists had already surrounded them.
“As soon as the vigilantes moved to intercept the cattle, the attackers opened fire, killing at least 13 of them on the spot. The village where the attack occurred is just about three kilometers from ours,” Augie told newsmen.
Early this month, the Nigeria Police Force in an operation conducted in Kaduna State, said it rescued 17 persons including minors who were abducted since March 3, 2025.
On April 9, 2025, operatives of the Kaduna State Police Command’s Anti-Kidnapping Unit, in conjunction with the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) successfully rescued the 17 victims who were kidnapped from Sarkin Pawa, Niger Sate.
The rescued victims were identified as Williams Ubadia (15), Samuel Ezekiel (15), Duza Ezekiel (13), Ishaku Ishaya (12), Sunday Ezekiel (8), Jessy Friday, Rebecca Ezekiel (32), Jummai Ishaya (32), Terriza Friday (30), Alice Ezekiel (35).
Others were Victoria Ishaya (32), Blessing Ezekiel (20), Gloria Ubadia (13), Gift Ubadia (10), Charity Ezekiel (9), Alheri Ishaya (5), and Favour Ezekiel (1)
All rescued individuals were promptly taken to the Police Clinic in Kaduna for medical examination and were certified to be in stable condition.
An Army captain and a Corporal were among the scores killed by Boko Haram terrorists at Izge village in Gwoza local government area of Borno State recently.
According to sources, the incident took place at about 1 am when armed terrorists invaded troops formation at Izge.
The attack came barely two weeks after armed Boko Haram terrorists raided Wajirko army formation in Damboa local government area and another formation at Wulgo village in Gamboru Ngala Local Government Area of Borno State, which led to the troops suffering severe casualties.
It was learned that the terrorists struck with Rocket Propelled Grenades (RPGs), targeting the Izge platoon formation of ‘Operation Hadin Kai’, which led to a fierce battle and exchange of gunfire for some hours, before resilient residents of the community, with support from vigilantes and local hunters, complimented the efforts of the military to repel the attack. Izge is located in the heart of Sambisa forests, and is about 20km South West of Gwoza town.
Reacting to the incident, Senator Mohammed Ali Ndume (APC, Borno South), who also hails from Gwoza council area, expressed shock over the unabated and increasing Boko Haram onslaught in his constituency.
He noted that although the military and other security agencies were doing their best, the federal government should take a decisive action by deploying sophisticated and technological warfare, including drones to the military and other security agencies, to end the Boko Haram crisis affecting the people of the north east.
In his reaction to the sustained attacks by terrorists on Borno State, the Governor Babagana Zulum lamented the daily killings, dislodgement of military formations and abduction of people by the rampaging Boko-Haram terrorists in the state. Zulum stated this on Tuesday, April 8, 2025 and insisted that the spate of Boko Haram attacks and kidnappings in many communities in his state on a daily basis without commensurate effort by the government to quell the attacks signaled that Borno State was losing ground to insurgency.
The Borno state governor who was speaking at a special Expanded Security Meeting (ESM), said, “As I address this important gathering today, it is unfortunate that the renewed Boko Haram attacks and kidnappings in many communities almost on daily basis without confrontation signaled that Borno State is losing ground.
”As you are all aware that my administration has been very supportive to the military and other security agencies in the fight against Boko Haram and other terrorists leading to a relative peace in the last three years, it is disheartening to note the recent attacks and dislodgement of military formations in Wajirko, Sabon Gari in Damboa local government, Wulgo in Gamboru Ngala, Izge in Gwoza local government areas among other related killing of innocent civilians and security agencies calls for serious concern, and it is a setback in the fragile state of Borno and the North East region.
“In as much as Borno Government under my leadership commends the federal government under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the security agencies for their unwavering support in the fight against Boko Haram, more efforts have to be put in place through equipping and deploying of technological warfare to the military to stem the tide of all renewed attacks bedeviling parts of the Sahelian Borno which shares international border with three African countries of Chad, Niger and Cameroon”.
Lamenting the escalating insecurity in the country in recent times, the Chairman of the Senate Committee on the South East Development Commission (SEDC) and Senator representing Abia North Senatorial Zone, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, called on the Inspector General of Police and the Abia State Government to ensure the immediate arrest and prosecution of those responsible for the killing of two Chinese expatriates and a police inspector in Isuikwuato area of Abia State.
The victims were reportedly ambushed by gunmen while being transported to a mining site in the area.
In a statement issued by his media office on Sunday, April 6, 2025, Kalu condemned the attack, describing it as both deliberate and unprovoked, and expressed dismay over the recurring spate of insecurity despite ongoing efforts to curb crime.
“Despite our rigorous efforts to end insecurity, crimes persist. I condemn these unfortunate and unprovoked attacks that took the lives of two Chinese expatriates, a policeman, and left several others injured near the Huan Cheng Mining Quarry site located at Agukwu Amaya, in the Ndundu community of Isuikwuato Local Government Area of Abia North Senatorial District,” the statement read.
The former Abia State Governor urged the Inspector General of Police, other relevant security agencies, and the Abia State Government to act swiftly by arresting and prosecuting the perpetrators. He also emphasized the need for robust security measures to prevent a recurrence.
The latest attacks on some local government areas in Plateau State by bandits and terrorists has compelled the state Governor, Caleb Mutfwang to insist that there was an orchestrated genocide against his people. Mutfwang maintained that the continuous and sustained attacks in communities in the state should not be described as conflicts between herders and farmers but a genocide against the Plateau natives.
On Friday, March 28, 2025, more than 120 citizens of the state including women and children were massacred after suspected herdsmen attacked some communities in Bokkos and Bassa Local Government Areas (LGAs) and their environs.
A statement by Governor Mutfwang’s Director of Press and Public Affairs, Gyang Bere, said the governor spoke during the “Experience Plateau: Art Meets Fashion” held last week in Abuja. Mutfwang said, “In the last week, Bokkos Local Government Area has come under renewed attack by murderers who are desperate to break our spirit. Many advised that we suspend this function, but we realized that these attackers intend to keep us in perpetual mourning, to force us indoors, and to shackle our collective spirit.
“But I said no, life must go on. Plateau must move forward by the grace of God. The genocide on the Plateau will come to an end. What is happening is not a farmer-herder conflict. Let me be clear: it is genocide, and I urge the international community to take note. We know there are powerful forces behind these atrocities. By the grace of God, we will expose them and bring them to justice. Plateau remains a land of peace and hospitality. Our communities will continue to welcome visitors.
“No one will rewrite that narrative. Some of our people were slaughtered while observing a wake; others were murdered in their sleep. May their blood cry out for justice, and may God grant them eternal rest”.
Speaking further, the governor said, “I want to assure you that the lives lost in Bokkos will not be in vain. Some advised that we cancel this meeting due to the tragic circumstances, but after wide consultations with our leaders both at home and in the diaspora, we decided to forge ahead.
“Since the December 2023 attacks, we had begun reclaiming our identity as the Home of Peace and Tourism. For over a year, we recorded no major incident. But these attacks are clearly orchestrated, deliberate attempts to impoverish and intimidate our people at the start of every farming season.
“Let it be known: we will farm this year. No amount of intimidation will stop us. I appreciate the outpouring of sympathy and support from Nigerians across the country. I’ve had deep consultations with security chiefs and I want to assure the people of Plateau State that everything possible will be done to protect lives and property.”
The Christian Association of Nigeria in the 19 Northern states and the Federal Capital Territory, condemned the killings in Bokkos LGA and demanded government’s action.
While these killings are going on, President Tinubu in the midst of the wailing and condemnation that trailed them, jetted out of the country for another holiday. This insensitive action forced a former Senate President, Senator Adolphus Wabara to express shock and disappointment over the simultaneous foreign trips embarked upon by Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima, describing it as the height of executive rascality.
Tinubu travelled to France for a two-week working visit, while Shettima departed for Dakar, Senegal, to represent the President during the country’s 65th Independence Day anniversary celebrations on April 4.
Reacting to the development, the former Senate president faulted Tinubu and Shettima “for leaving Nigeria headless”.
He described the scenario as “a serious dereliction of duty and display of utter disregard for the people of Nigeria.”
“While Mr President has the right to travel outside the country when necessary, he should duly hand over power to his Vice in an acting capacity. It is absolutely not proper for the VP who should be the Acting president to also travel out of the country while Mr President is still away. In this case, the foreign affairs minister should have been delegated, instead of the vice president leaving the country headless.”
“It amounts to a flagrant display of disdain for the people on whose mandate they occupy such sensitive offices. The office of the president and vice president of a country is so serious that the occupants should place national interest above personal gains.”
Speaking further, Senator Wabara said the action of the two leaders, “Is to say the least, an insult both to Nigeria and the offices they occupy. It’s baffling to hear that the President and his Vice both abandoned governance and travelled out of the country at the same time, thus leaving the country headless.
‘’How can the country be burning and the number one and number two citizens of the country be away? This can only happen in Nigeria.
“How else can a leader show disdain for the people he swore an oath to lead and defend. Leaving the country headless at a time so many boiling issues demand presidential intervention is a misplacement of priority.
“With the rising tension in Edo State and threats of reprisal in parts of the north; the bloodbath in Plateau, Zamfara, Sokoto and Benue; the political apprehension in Rivers and Bayelsa states; plus the festering insecurity in many states, travelling out of Nigeria is the least to expect from any serious-minded, patriotic President and his Vice.
“Tinubu and his vice, have again, clearly demonstrated that either they are overwhelmed or simply not prepared for governance. They have shown that they have little or no regard for Nigeria and Nigerians.”
In his own reaction, Senator Ali Ndume accused Tinubu of focusing all attention on his second term ambition in 2027 instead of curbing the insecurity in the land. During an interview on Monday, April 7, 2025, Senator Ndume made a statement regarding the focus on the 2027 general elections.
In his comments, Ndume questioned the premature emphasis on 2027 by some of the close allies of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
He pointed out that the current government, under President Tinubu, should not be distracted by talks of the future when critical issues remain unresolved.
Ndume outlined three key factors that would determine the success of the Tinubu administration, including security, the welfare of the citizens, and the economy.
According to him, these areas must be prioritized for the government to succeed.
He argued that without improvements in security and citizens’ well-being, and with a struggling economy, no amount of political rhetoric would make a difference.
Ndume said, “2027 is a year ahead, and we don’t know whether Ndume is going to be alive then or even the president. They are busy shouting about 2027. Three things will determine whether this government is going to succeed or not: one is security, two is the welfare of the citizens, and three, which is related to welfare, is the economy itself. If it’s not performing, then you can go and be talking nonsense. It will not work”.
