Insecurity: Mali, Niger, Burkina Faso nationals heighting Nigeria’s insecurity – Tinubu 

​President Bola Tinubu stated that foreign nationals from Mali, Burkina Faso, and the Niger Republic are driving the current wave of banditry, terrorism, and kidnapping in Nigeria, vowing to address decades of security uncertainty.

​Speaking at the Presidential Villa in Abuja while receiving the leadership of the Oyo State Traditional Council led by the Olubadan of Ibadan, Oba Adewolu Ladoja, President Tinubu noted that the administration is systematically addressing the crisis.

​”Each event teaches us new methods, opens our eyes, and challenges us to examine and re-examine our architecture, our strategy, our map, and operations,” the President stated.

​Rejecting ransom and enhancing guards

​Addressing the kidnapping of schoolchildren and teachers from Orire near the Ogbomoso National Park in Oyo State, President Tinubu reiterated that the government strictly rejected ransom demands.

​”We refused to pay ransom,” the President said. “Now we are moving from eight divisions to 12 divisions to shorten the response time… to give that response time the teeth that is needed for us to defeat terrorism and banditry.”

Read also: Human Trafficking: Tinubu calls for vigilance, support for survivors

​The administration is also expanding the capacity of forest guards to actively combat criminals in forested areas rather than restricting them to wildlife monitoring. Furthermore, President Tinubu confirmed plans to establish state police equipped with proper guardrails to prevent abuses, while urging traditional rulers to remain vigilant and report suspicious neighborhood activities.

​Stop unnecessary fly overs

​Shifting focus to governance and fiscal responsibility, President Tinubu urged traditional leaders to encourage state governors to prioritize impactful infrastructure over redundant projects, such as flyovers built without traffic demands.

​”The money that I am pushing to the states, if you had it during your own time or during my time, it would have been different,” the President told the former governor. He noted that governors currently receive significantly higher allocations and that no state is borrowing money to pay salaries.

​Concluding the meeting, the President praised the resilience of security personnel, calling on citizens to support and thank soldiers and police officers for their ongoing efforts.