Blood on the streets: How killings expose Tinubu’s security failure

FRESH waves of deadly violence across Nigeria are raising serious questions about the effectiveness of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s security strategy, less than two years after he promised to ‘restore peace and stability’ across the country.

From mass killings in Plateau and Benue states to bandit attacks in the North-West and renewed insurgent strikes in the North-East and North-Central, Nigerians are facing what many analysts describe as a worsening security crisis. Despite record budgetary allocations to defence and repeated assurances from the presidency, communities across the federation continue to bury their dead.

In January alone, more than 200 people were killed in separate attacks across states, according to figures compiled from security agencies, local authorities and humanitarian groups. Entire villages have been displaced, farmlands abandoned and local economies disrupted.

Blood on the streets

The death toll from last Tuesday’s attacks in Woro and Nuku in Kwara State stood at 162 on Wednesday afternoon, according to a member of parliament representing the area, Mr Mohammed Omar Bio, the Guardian of the UK reported.

READ ALSO: Woro emptied as mass graves grow after Kwara terror attack

Authorities have played down the number, according to residents, putting it at 75. However, some residents say the number of deaths have reached 200. Head of Woro Village, Umar Salihu, claimed that the lack of adequate security gave the bandits opportunity to operate freely for about 10 hours.

“I received the notification on the January 10 around 7.45 from a man. He is the Hakimi of one small village of about four kilometers from my community.

“According to him, they abducted him and forced him to bring the letter or else they would kill him and that is why he brought the letter to me. When the letter got to me, I went to the DSS in our local government headquarters and the following day I took the letter to the Emirate Council and they wrote a letter in that respect to the various appropriate quarters.

“The content of the letter said they were coming down to preach but there was no date and time. They just said they were coming down to preach.

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“We have soldiers staying there but the bandits came over the night and there was gun exchange between the army and bandits. Since then, they took away the soldiers and that place has remained open.

“There is no security presence and that is why they came and spent almost 10 hours.”

In Plateau State, gunmen attacked several communities in Bokkos Local Government Area, killing several people and forcing thousands to flee. Chairman of Bokkos Local Government, Mr Samuel Amalau, ordered the suspension of all mining activities in early February 2026, and imposed a daily curfew in affected districts due to the escalating violence linked to mining sites and surrounding communities.

“Following the prevailing security challenges currently affecting parts of the local government, and after due consultations with relevant security agencies and stakeholders, I have approved the immediate suspension of all mining activities in Tenti and Mandar districts until further notice,” he said.

Similar scenes played out in Benue State, where suspected herdsmen killed more than 35 villagers in Gwer West and Apa LGAs in 2025. The attacks, which followed weeks of rising tension, underscored the long-running farmer–herder conflict that successive governments have failed to resolve.

In the North-West, bandit groups continue to operate with near impunity. In Zamfara State, kidnappers in Nigeria killed at least 35 people they abducted from a village in northern Zamfara State despite ransoms being paid. Fifty-six people were taken from Banga village, Kauran Namoda Local Government Area, in March 2025. The gunmen then demanded a ransom of N1 million naira each.

READ ALSO: Terrorists built a life in Sokoto forests – digging wells, taking wives before U.S. airstrikes

Local Government Chairman, Mr Manniru Haidara Kaura, said that most of those killed were young people who “were slaughtered like rams.”

“What happened was that the bandits demanded ransom money, and after some back-and-forth, they were given what they asked for. They then released 18 people, including 17 women and one young boy, on Saturday,” Mr Kaura told the BBC.

“Only they [the gunmen] know why they killed them. They are senseless and heartless people. They forget that they are killing their own brothers, and we will all meet before Allah.”

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The North-East has also witnessed renewed violence. In Borno State, insurgents attacked a military base in Marte in May 2025, killing several soldiers and forcing residents to flee.

President Tinubu, who assumed office in May 2023, inherited a complex security landscape shaped by terrorism, banditry, separatist agitation and communal violence. He pledged to adopt a ‘new security architecture,’ including intelligence-led operations, stronger inter-agency coordination and greater use of technology.

More money, less fight

The 2025 budget allocated over N6.57 trillion to defence and security, the highest in Nigeria’s history. This year, both defence and security will gulp N5.41 trillion. Yet, critics argue that funding alone has not translated into safety for ordinary citizens.

“Strong political will at the highest level would be decisive,” said Abuja-based security expert, Mr Chii Omeje. “Without firm leadership from the commander-in-chief, he warned, even well-designed policies would falter at implementation.”

Criticisms rising

Opposition parties and civil society groups have accused the government of reacting only after mass casualties occur. They say early warning systems remain ineffective and perpetrators are rarely brought to justice, encouraging a culture of impunity.

Even within urban centres, fear is growing. Kidnappings on major highways, attacks on schools and the rising cost of private security have made safety a luxury many Nigerians cannot afford.

READ ALSO: Insecurity: Tinubu orders withdrawal of police officers from VIPs – but policy isn’t new

The presidency has defended its record, pointing to ongoing military operations and the elimination of several criminal kingpins. However, for families who have lost loved ones, such claims offer little comfort.

The Donald Trump administration bombed terrorists on Christmas night, targeting ISIS militants he accused of killing Christians. He described the operation as ‘decisive’ and warned that more strikes would follow if the violence continued.

He has since deployed U.S. soldiers to assist the Nigerian military.

“We need political will, but we also need intelligence. We hope that with the United States soldiers entry into Nigeria, the nation will begin to focus more on preventive measures,” said a Lagos-based security analyst, Mr Abel Udobodia.