FG’s approach to curbing insecurity has failed, says Kwankwaso

By Chinelo Obogo

Former Governor of Kano State, Rabiu Kwankwaso, has said that the federal government’s approach to tackling insecurity across Nigeria has failed, warning that the country is “bleeding profusely” under the weight of banditry, terrorism, kidnapping, and communal violence.

In a statement posted on his X handle on Tuesday, vice presidential candidate of Nigeria Democratic Congress, said that despite massive budgetary allocations to Nigeria’s security sector, the situation continues to deteriorate at an alarming rate, with innocent citizens losing their lives daily and thousands of families displaced from their homes.

He raised the alarm at what he described as the brazenness of criminal elements who now conduct live social media sessions to taunt security forces and terrorise the public, a development he said was “totally unacceptable and not befitting of a sovereign nation.” Kwankwaso argued that the country’s security crisis is not beyond resolution, pointing to his own record of confronting and reducing security challenges during his tenure as Kano governor through what he described as “decisive leadership and community engagement.”

‎He said: “I have noted with grave concern the escalating wave of insecurity that has engulfed our beloved nation. Once again, Nigeria is bleeding profusely. From Zamfara, Borno, Sokoto, Katsina, and Kwara to Oyo and several other parts of the country, our citizens can no longer sleep with both eyes closed. Banditry, kidnapping for ransom, terrorism, communal clashes, and armed robbery have tragically become daily occurrences. 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.

“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. What we lack today is not resources, but the requisite political will and sincerity to confront this menace head-on. The current approach has clearly failed. Despite massive budgetary allocations to the security sector, the situation continues to deteriorate rapidly. Innocent lives are being lost daily, families are displaced in their thousands, and our economy is suffocating under the heavy weight of fear and instability.

“We cannot continue on this dangerous path. Nigeria’s security architecture requires an urgent and comprehensive overhaul. Additionally, to safeguard our socioeconomic wellbeing, the government must prioritise the provision of quality education, modern infrastructure, accessible healthcare, reliable electricity supply, and essential agricultural inputs. This approach will strengthen local food production and reduce over-reliance on imports for food security. 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 through massive investment in quality education, skills acquisition, and job creation for our teeming youth.”