Criminologists urge Tinubu to tackle insecurity, strengthen welfare for security personnel

From Taiwo Oluwadare, Ibadan

The Nigeria Society for Criminology (NSC) has renewed calls on President Bola Tinubu to prioritise national security, warning that Nigeria’s growing insecurity poses a serious threat to the country’s stability and citizens’ safety.

The call formed the central focus of discussions at the 2026 International Conference of the NSC, where scholars and security experts stressed the need for decisive government’s action to secure the nation and protect citizens from terrorism, kidnapping and other violent crimes.

In a statement yesterday, the NSC president, Professor Oludayo Tade, said the conference, themed, “Securing Nigeria and protecting Nigerians” underscored the urgent responsibility of the government to address insecurity, while improving economic conditions that often fuel criminal activities.

Professor Tade noted that as Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, President Tinubu must demonstrate stronger political will in safeguarding the country’s territorial integrity and ensuring that citizens can travel, work and live without fear.

He argued that Nigerians should not have to contend with constant threats of abduction, terrorism and violent attacks, adding that security agencies must intensify efforts to identify and prosecute criminal elements and their collaborators.

The criminology scholar also urged the Federal Government to improve welfare packages for security personnel, who have been injured or lost their lives in the fight against insurgency and other security challenges.

According to him, officers and soldiers making sacrifices to defend the nation, as well as their families, deserve greater support and protection from the government.

A major highlight of the conference was a keynote address delivered by Professor Jibrin Ibrahim, Senior Fellow at the Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD), Abuja, who warned that insecurity has deepened citizens’ frustrations and weakened confidence in the Nigerian state.

Professor Ibrahim argued that many Nigerians now feel increasingly vulnerable, creating fears about the country’s future and national cohesion. He maintained that the only sustainable path forward was for the state to effectively fulfil its primary responsibility of securing lives and property.

The scholar identified corruption, citizenship-related conflicts and democratic governance challenges as key factors driving Nigeria’s current crisis. He cited issues such as insurgency, farmer-herder clashes, separatist agitations, militancy and communal conflicts as symptoms of deeper structural problems confronting the nation.

Meanwhile, members of the Nigeria Society for Criminology re-elected Professor Tade and his executive team for a second term in office, citing their performance and leadership achievements during their first tenure.

Chairman of the NSC Board of Trustees, Professor Etannibi Alemika, commended the executive committee and called for more research-driven approaches to understanding and addressing Nigeria’s social and security challenges.

The conference, hosted at Cosmopolitan University, Abuja, attracted academics, researchers and practitioners from Nigeria and abroad. Among the notable participants was Professor Temitope Oriola, President of the Canadian Sociological Association and an internationally recognised expert on criminology and terrorism studies.