By Ibrahim Danladi
Since President Bola Tinubu assumed office, Nigeria has witnessed a surge in violent attacks, resulting in the tragic deaths of at least 78 individuals, with 12 others abducted. The affected regions include Rivers, Zamfara, Kaduna, Ogun, Sokoto, and the Federal Capital Territory, as reported by the Nigeria Security Tracker, a Council on Foreign Relations project.
On May 29, gunmen in Rivers killed four people and brutally beheaded two. The following day in Zamfara, bandits claimed the lives of a vigilante leader and 24 others. Also on May 30, two APC women leaders were kidnapped after attending the Kaduna governor’s inauguration. In a separate incident, a man was killed, and his wife and four children were abducted in Kaduna. The same day, suspected cultists murdered six individuals in Rivers communities.
On May 31, gunmen dressed in camouflage attacked a farm in Ogun, killing three and abducting two. In Abuja on June 4, 2023, gunmen kidnapped four individuals. The most recent tragedy unfolded on Sunday when bandits in Sokoto killed 37 people for refusing to pay a levy.
Maj. Gen. Musa Danmadami, the Director of Defence Media Operations at the Defence Headquarters, has yet to respond to inquiries regarding the escalating violence. Security expert Timothy Avele emphasizes that urgent action is required from the President to address this menace, suggesting a reset of the security structure and increased accountability for the heads of security agencies. The nation’s security crisis demands immediate attention.