President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has held a closed-door meeting with the National Security Adviser (NSA), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, and the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Christopher Musa, amid growing security concerns across several parts of the country.
The high-level meeting took place on Wednesday afternoon at the Presidential Villa in Abuja. According to sources within the Presidency, the meeting was convened at the request of President Tinubu, who only recently returned from a two-week trip to France and the United Kingdom.
The NSA and CDS arrived at the Villa around 3 p.m. and proceeded directly into a private session with the President. While the details of their discussions were not disclosed, it is widely believed the meeting focused on recent violent attacks in Plateau and Benue States, where more than 100 people have reportedly been killed by unidentified gunmen in the past three weeks.
This marks the first time the President is meeting with key security figures since his return to the country on Monday.
Nigeria has witnessed a spike in violent attacks over recent weeks, especially in the North-Central region. Plateau and Benue States, long plagued by farmer-herder clashes and communal violence, have once again come under the spotlight following a string of deadly raids on rural communities.
In Plateau State, at least 54 people were killed in Mangu and Barkin Ladi local government areas in a series of night-time attacks. Survivors and community leaders say the attackers moved in with sophisticated weapons, burning homes and killing residents indiscriminately.
In Benue State, similar scenes played out in Guma and Logo LGAs, where several villages were overrun, leaving dozens dead and thousands displaced. Local officials have described the situation as a humanitarian emergency, with many residents now seeking refuge in makeshift camps.
Despite repeated promises by the government to tackle insecurity, the situation appears to be deteriorating. The recent wave of violence has drawn criticism from opposition leaders, civil society groups, and community associations.
President Tinubu’s absence from the country during this critical period has not gone unnoticed. While the Presidency maintained that his trip was for medical and diplomatic purposes, critics argue that the President should have cut his visit short in light of the security crisis back home.
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and other opposition figures have accused the administration of being disconnected from the suffering of ordinary Nigerians.
“This is not the time for foreign trips,” said PDP spokesperson Debo Ologunagba earlier this week. “Our people are dying. Entire communities are under siege, and the President is nowhere to be found.”
Wednesday’s meeting with Ribadu and Musa appears to be part of an urgent effort by the President to take control of the worsening security situation and reassure the public of his government’s commitment to national safety.
While the current focus is on Plateau and Benue, insecurity remains a national problem. From Boko Haram and ISWAP in the North-East, to banditry in the North-West, and kidnapping-for-ransom in the South, the country is facing a complex mix of security threats.
In the South-East, separatist agitation and clashes between security forces and armed groups continue to cause tension. Meanwhile, reports of sea piracy and oil theft persist in the South-South region.
Though no official statement has been released, the meeting is expected to have included discussions on military deployment strategies, intelligence coordination, and community engagement to stop further attacks in the North-Central.
Some sources suggest that the President may be considering fresh directives to security agencies, including the possibility of deploying additional troops to affected areas and increasing aerial surveillance to monitor criminal movements.
There is also speculation that the President may soon call a broader National Security Council meeting, involving other service chiefs such as the Inspector-General of Police, Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS), and heads of paramilitary agencies.
For many Nigerians, the hope is that this meeting will not be “just another talk.” Communities in Plateau and Benue are calling for not only military action but also long-term solutions to address the root causes of the violence — including land disputes, poverty, and ethnic tensions.
Mrs. Mnena Iortyer, a community leader in Guma, Benue State, said, “We have seen enough bloodshed. What we need is action. Let the President show us that our lives matter.”
Similar sentiments were echoed by faith-based and civil society groups. The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has urged the federal government to urgently intervene and restore peace, warning that the situation could worsen if left unchecked.
As the President meets with his top security advisers, all eyes will be on what concrete steps will follow. The weeks ahead will likely determine the administration’s ability to manage the security crisis and respond to public outcry.
