Senator for Kebbi Central, Adamu Aliero, says Nigeria’s security situation under Bola Tinubu has become “alarming”, warning that the country’s security architecture is too understaffed, ill-equipped and poorly motivated to confront the scale of insurgency and terrorism ravaging several regions.
Speaking in an interview with ARISE News on Thursday, Aliero said the government’s efforts have so far failed to produce the required results, leaving communities overwhelmed by well-armed terrorists.
“The security situation in Nigeria is alarming. Government is doing its very best, but unfortunately the very best is not good enough,” he said. “Insurgents are attacking villages, killing thousands, displacing whole populations and driving people from their farmlands into IDP camps.”
The senator said the scale of violence across the north-west and north-central remains the same from Zamfara to Kebbi, Sokoto and Niger. He blamed this largely on a severe manpower deficit across security agencies.
“We don’t have enough workforce. The police are slightly above 280,000 — far below the UN requirement of over two million for a country of 220 million people. The army has about 177,000 soldiers. How do they police the entire nation?”
He added that nearly half of all police personnel are deployed as escorts for “governors, ministers, senators and judicial officers”, leaving the country with barely 190,000 officers for public policing.
The senator said insecurity has worsened across successive administrations, with new groups such as the Lakurawa, infiltrating from Mali and Burkina Faso.
“They are going around Sokoto, Zamfara, Kebbi and Niger, killing people, abducting them, rustling cattle and imposing taxes. Policemen can’t confront them because they are not properly armed and the bandits have more sophisticated weapons.”
Aliero acknowledged that Nigeria’s youth feel abandoned after 16 years of unending insurgency.
“The youth are disappointed — rightfully so. We started this crisis in 2010. Three governments have passed and the end is not in sight.”
“We don’t pay tribute to people. It’s unfortunate. It should go beyond Armed Forces Remembrance Day. Even victims of insurgency should be included in such national commemorations.”
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