….Push for for Multi-layered Approach to National Security
President Bola Tinubu is due to arrive in Benue State today, for an on-the-spot assessment of conditions in the North-central state following persistent violent killings by suspected Fulani herders.
The President is undertaking the visit after rescheduling his earlier programme to visit Kaduna State on an official visit to the state. He will now visit Kaduna State tomorrow, Thursday.
During his visit he would try to foster peace and address impacted communities in the state.
According to a release on Tuesday by the presidential spokesperson, Bayo Onanuga, the president’s visit aims to assess first-hand the recurring crisis that has claimed numerous lives and caused significant destruction in Benue State.
During his stay, Tinubu will hold a town hall meeting with stakeholders, including traditional rulers; political, religious, and community leaders; and youth groups, to seek lasting solutions to the hostilities.
In preparation for the visit, Tinubu has already sent Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), George Akume; Inspector General of Police (IGP), KayodeEgbetokun; National Security Adviser (NSA), MallamNuhuRibadu; heads of intelligence agencies; and Chairmen of the Senate and House Defence Committees to Benue State.
He had previously condemned the violence in Benue State and called on all leaders and residents to embrace peace, love, and mutual understanding.
Speaking also at the inauguration of the Greater Abuja Water Supply Network, Loops 1, 2, 5, and 6, held along Airport Road, Tinubu observed a minute of silence in honour of victims of recent violence in Benue State, and extended his heartfelt condolences to the affected families and communities.
The president said in the statement, “While I sympathise with the people of Benue, I’ve spoken to the governor. The leadership of Benue should accept our condolences and try hard – very consciously – to maintain peace and harmony among themselves.
“We are a huge family living in the same house, staying in different rooms, but living together in harmony.”
Meanwhile,President Bola Tinubu and Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Tajudeen Abbas at another occasion stressed the urgent need for a comprehensive and multifaceted strategy to address Nigeria’s complex and evolving security challenges.
They emphasised the importance of strengthening the legal framework to improve coordination and intelligence sharing among the country’s security agencies.
Tinubu and Abbas spoke during a one-day legislative dialogue focused on constitutional amendments and reforms to the national security architecture, organised by the House Committee on Constitution Review, in collaboration with the Office of the National Security Adviser (NSA).
Speaking through the Minister of Defence, Mohammed BadaruAbubakar, Tinubu stressed the need to realign Nigeria’s security structure with current realities.
He cautioned that relying solely on a centralised system or moving towards complete decentralisation would not adequately secure the country.
According to Tinubu, rising calls for the creation of state police, increasing cybercrime threats, and the demand for improved inter-agency intelligence cooperation highlight the need for a more flexible and collaborative security setup.
He outlined the range of security threats facing Nigeria, from terrorism in the North-east and banditry in the North-west to the farmer-herder conflicts in the Middle Belt and separatist movements in the South-east, emphasising that no single agency can address the issues alone.
Tinubu pointed to the government’s integrated security strategy, which included intelligence coordination, joint task forces, and unified offensives, as having yielded tangible outcomes, such as breaking up separatist groups in the South-east and disrupting criminal operations in the North-west.
“These initiatives have led to fewer high-profile kidnappings and stronger responses to cross-border threats,” Tinubu said, citing them as proof that an all-of-government approach is effective.
Under the Renewed Hope Agenda, Tinubu highlighted progress, such as the establishment of the National Safe Schools Response Coordination Centre, the deployment of surveillance drones and mine-resistant vehicles, and a shift towards community policing to build trust with citizens.
Earlier, Abbas, in his remarks, stated the timeliness of the dialogue, stressing the importance of reviewing outdated laws to better respond to current security threats.
He argued that Nigeria’s security issues required a strategy that was “multi-dimensional, inclusive, technologically informed, and responsive”, saying such a strategy must rest on a firm legal and institutional base.
Abbas stated, “Our goal is to redesign the security system so it can truly address insecurity. This dialogue also serves as a platform to fine-tune key bills, such as the one proposing state police.
“The House of Representatives is prepared to go beyond mere legislative motions to enact meaningful reforms that support federal anti-insecurity measures.”
Deputy Speaker, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu, who chairs the Constitution Review Committee, described the event as a critical “diagnostic session.”
Kalu observed that past security-related laws were often crafted without adequate input from those engaged directly in the field.
“As lawmakers, our reforms must be grounded in accurate diagnoses. We’re here to hear from those on the frontlines who understand the real challenges,” Kalu said.
Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Christopher Musa, also called for urgent updates to Nigeria’s legal and constitutional frameworks in light of emerging threats, such as cyber warfare, hybrid conflicts, and insurgency.
He criticised the existing legal structures as outdated, pointing to unclear chains of command and ambiguous detention protocols that hinder effective internal military operations.
Musa recommended: reforms to amend the Armed Forces Act and related constitutional clauses, setting up field and permanent court martials in all commands, giving constitutional status to court-martials as superior courts of record, granting the military power to investigate and detain suspects during internal security missions, empowering the navy to collaborate with Customs and Immigration on inland waterways to tackle piracy and smuggling, and introducing a merit-based system for appointing service chiefs.
He further proposed that court-martials be authorised to prosecute individuals captured in acts of terrorism or insurrection under martial law.
“Security is more than just weaponry, it depends on legal clarity, institutional capacity, and public trust,” Musa said.
National Security Adviser (NSA), NuhuRibadu, represented by National Coordinator, National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC), Maj. Gen. Adamu Laka, emphasised that constitutional structure and national security were deeply linked.
He stressed the need for a constitution that was inclusive, proactive, and capable of addressing the root causes of conflicts, arguing that such a constitution is essential to building national cohesion.
“The constitution must grow with the aspirations and challenges of Nigerians. It should help resolve grievances, protect rights, and strengthen trust between citizens and the state,” Ribadu said.
He praised the National Assembly for initiating the dialogue and urged lawmakers to consider reforms that decentralise service delivery, enhance institutional capacity, and improve governance efficiency.
“As we deliberate today,” he stated, “let’s remember that constitutional reform is not only about structure, it’s also about safeguarding the unity, stability, and sovereignty of our Republic.”
Also,Benue State Governor Hyacinth Alia, yesterday, confirmed that at least 151 people were killed in the recent massacre in Yelewata, Guma Local Government Area, during an attack by armed herders and terrorist groups.
Alia, who spoke during an interview on ARISE TV Primetime, described the assault as the most devastating in recent times. He said the death toll rose from 59 earlier in the day to 151 as more bodies, many burned beyond recognition, were discovered in homes and bushes.
“Two are still in the morgue, and 18 have yet to be buried,” he said, stressing, “Four more bodies were just found in the bushes.”
Despite the long history of farmer-herder conflicts in Benue State, the governor emphasised that the attacks had evolved into something far more sinister.
“This is no longer about farmer-herder clashes,” he said, “What we are facing now are full-scale assaults by well-armed bandits and terrorists.”
The Yelewata area, which borders Nasarawa State, was targeted by the assailants who reportedly arrived via a river route, bypassing military and police checkpoints.
“They came in large numbers and first attacked the security personnel on the highway. When they were pushed back, they regrouped and overwhelmed the community,” Alia explained.
He acknowledged that President Bola Tinubu had previously ordered the Chief of Army Staff to take personal charge of the security situation in Benue following similar attacks.
“Three mobile military units were deployed, and they helped calm the situation in Sankara, where the earlier violence had occurred,” he said.
However, he observed a dangerous shift in attacks from the Sankara axis to Guma and Gwer West previously considered calm.
He said despite federal intervention, the attacks had continued.
“Yes, there was support from the federal government. But it is not enough if people are still being slaughtered,” the governor stated.
He said local forces needed to be empowered to defend their communities, stressing that Nigeria must man its unmanned borders.
Asked about Tinubu’s suggestion to organise peace meetings between warring communities, Alia expressed scepticism about negotiating with faceless terror groups.
He said, “We’ve handled farmer-herder crises through community reconciliation in the past. But this is now on a different level. These are external armed groups, not local communities at odds.”
He, however, said he remained hopeful, regardless.
“We had visits today from the Inspector General of Police and the Chief of Defence Staff, who both promised new strategies if current ones fail. The president is also expected in Benue on Wednesday, and his presence will go a long way,” Alia explained.
The governor sued for unity and vigilance, saying, “We need to man our borders, think together, plan together, and protect our land together. We need peace and we must all come together to defend it.”
