The former Secretary of the National Democratic Coalition, Ayo Opadokun, has urged Chief Bola Ahmed Tinubu to revamp the security framework in the country, emphasizing that the existing structure is inadequate to address the prevailing security challenges, including the escalating violence in the northern region.
Opadokun’s call comes in the wake of a recent assault on three local government areas in Plateau State by suspected terrorists, resulting in the tragic loss of over 150 lives on Christmas Eve and the displacement of more than 10,000 individuals.
The assailants, reportedly armed with 30 motorcycles, unleashed gunfire, causing destruction to properties and claiming lives in the targeted villages.
Just days later, the terrorists issued a fresh threat to another community in the state, and subsequently, gunmen carried out an attack, resulting in the death of three people in Bokkos Local Government Area.
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While acknowledging the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen Christopher Musa’s statement about progress in apprehending suspects linked to the attacks, Opadokun expressed skepticism about the efficacy of the current security architecture in Nigeria.
He argued that the persistent violence is indicative of the system’s inability to deliver effective solutions over the years.
“Buhari as a retired military general promised us that as soon as he got to office, he would defeat the then-raging security crisis but he failed, rather it got worse and that is the situation we are still in.”
Opadokun proposed that for a revision in the existing security setup, the President should authorize the establishment of state police, granting state governors complete authority over the security within their respective states.
“In the case of an individual sitting in Abuja to assess the security conditions in Offa Local Government Area, what knowledge does he possess about it? This underscores the importance of states being better equipped to design the security framework for the establishment of security apparatus within their own jurisdiction.”