President Bola Tinubu has issued fresh directives to Nigeria’s top security and intelligence chiefs, declaring that the persistent wave of violence in parts of the country must come to an end, stating firmly: “Enough is enough.”
The President made the declaration during a high-level security meeting held on Wednesday at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
The meeting was attended by National Security Adviser (NSA) Nuhu Ribadu; Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), Mohammed Mohammed; Chief of Defence Intelligence, Maj.-Gen. Emmanuel Undianeye; Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS), Mr. Oluwatosin Ajayi, and the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila.
Addressing journalists after the meeting, NSA Ribadu said President Tinubu gave the security chiefs several hours to brief him on the current situation, adding that the discussions were “very detailed, exhaustive, and complete — from A to Z.”
According to Ribadu, the President had been consistently engaged with developments in the country, even while he was abroad. “He was constantly in touch, giving directives, following developments,” the NSA said. “This time, we were able to sit with him for hours and give a proper briefing. We also took new instructions from him.”
Ribadu emphasised that President Tinubu expressed deep concern over the ongoing insecurity, particularly in Plateau, Benue, and Niger states, as well as in Omoru. The President directed that the security apparatus must now fully engage with political authorities and grassroots structures in affected communities.
“Insecurity is not only a government problem,” Ribadu said. “It also involves the subnational units — the communities, local governments, and especially the governors. The President directed that we work more closely with them.”
The NSA noted that security agencies had already acted on earlier instructions from the President by visiting flashpoints, meeting with state leaders, and gathering feedback on local challenges. “Some of these problems are community-related. While not entirely so, that element plays a significant role,” he stated.
Speaking on the current security posture, Ribadu acknowledged ongoing efforts by the armed forces, police, and intelligence community across various regions. He said operations are running “24 hours a day,” and praised the dedication of personnel who, he noted, “do not sleep, take no holidays, and sacrifice daily to keep the country safe.”
On Borno State, where recent months have seen an uptick in violence, Ribadu attributed the resurgence to insurgents planting IEDs and carrying out opportunistic attacks following periods of relative peace. “This enemy does not give up easily. When there’s peace for a long time, they try to shock the public with an isolated incident,” he said.
Ribadu admitted that the country was not yet at 100% security, but insisted that Nigeria is on the right course. “Security is relative. You compare what it was before and what it is now. There has been significant improvement,” he noted. “We don’t downplay any loss of life, but things have changed for the better, and we are committed to sustaining that progress.”
He concluded by stressing the President’s unwavering resolve to achieve peace. “Mr. President is working hard to ensure that Nigeria enjoys peace and stability. We are not relenting. We will not stop until we get the results he demands,” Ribadu said.
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