Former Kano State Governor and vice-presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, has called for an urgent overhaul of Nigeria’s security architecture, warning that insecurity continues to worsen despite massive investments in the sector.
In a statement shared on X on Tuesday, Kwankwaso expressed deep concern over the escalating wave of violence across the country, saying many Nigerians now live in fear as banditry, kidnapping, terrorism, communal clashes, and armed robbery become increasingly common.
“I have noted with grave concern the escalating wave of insecurity that has engulfed our beloved nation. Once again, Nigeria is bleeding profusely,” he stated.
The former governor identified states such as Zamfara, Borno, Sokoto, Katsina, Kwara, and Oyo as among the worst affected by the security crisis, lamenting that many citizens can no longer sleep peacefully due to fear of attacks.
Kwankwaso also raised concerns about the growing confidence and boldness of criminal groups, noting that some now openly use social media platforms to intimidate authorities and spread fear among the public.
“What is most alarming is the audacity of these criminals, who now brazenly hold live sessions on social media to taunt the authorities and terrorise the public. This is totally unacceptable and not befitting of a sovereign nation like ours,” he said.
Drawing from his experience as a former Minister of Defence and Governor of Kano State, Kwankwaso maintained that Nigeria’s security challenges are not beyond solution.
“As someone who has served this country at various levels, including as Governor of Kano State and Minister of Defence, where we confronted and significantly reduced security challenges through decisive leadership and community engagement, I remain convinced that insecurity is not insurmountable,” he stated.
According to him, the major challenge is not a lack of resources but the absence of sufficient political will to confront insecurity decisively.
He argued that despite huge budgetary allocations to the security sector over the years, the current strategy has failed to deliver the desired results, while innocent lives continue to be lost and thousands of families displaced.
Kwankwaso called on the government to prioritise the welfare and motivation of security personnel, strengthen intelligence gathering, expand community policing initiatives, and address the underlying causes of insecurity.
“We must immediately prioritise the welfare and motivation of our gallant security personnel, strengthen intelligence gathering, enhance community policing, and, most crucially, tackle the root causes of this crisis—poverty, mass unemployment, and poor governance,” he said.
He further urged the government to increase investments in education, healthcare, infrastructure, electricity, agriculture, skills acquisition, and job creation, arguing that such measures would help reduce poverty and unemployment, which often contribute to insecurity.
His remarks come amid renewed concerns over rising insecurity in several parts of the country, as attacks by armed groups, kidnappings, and communal violence continue to threaten public safety and economic activities nationwide.
