Former Kano State Governor and presidential candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, has called for an urgent overhaul of Nigeria’s security architecture, warning that the country is facing a deepening security crisis despite massive investments in the sector.
In a statement posted on his X account on Tuesday, Kwankwaso expressed concern over the escalating wave of violence across the country, saying many Nigerians now live in fear due to the growing threat posed by banditry, kidnapping, terrorism, armed robbery and communal conflicts.
“I have noted with grave concern the escalating wave of insecurity that has engulfed our beloved nation. Once again, Nigeria is bleeding profusely,” he said.
The former governor identified several states, including Zamfara, Borno, Sokoto, Katsina, Kwara and Oyo, as areas experiencing persistent security challenges, noting that many citizens could no longer enjoy peace and safety in their communities.
According to him, the worsening situation has exposed weaknesses in the country’s current security framework and requires urgent and decisive intervention.
Kwankwaso also expressed concern over what he described as the increasing boldness of criminal groups, pointing to reports of armed gangs openly using social media platforms to intimidate authorities and spread fear among the public.
“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,” he said.
Drawing from his experience as a former Minister of Defence and Governor of Kano State, Kwankwaso argued that Nigeria’s security challenges can be effectively addressed with the right leadership, strategy and commitment.
“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,” he said.
He maintained that the country’s problem is not the absence of resources but the lack of sufficient political will to tackle insecurity decisively.
According to him, despite substantial budgetary allocations to the security sector over the years, the current approach has failed to deliver the expected results, while innocent lives continue to be lost and thousands of families displaced from their homes.
Kwankwaso called on the government to prioritise the welfare and motivation of security personnel, strengthen intelligence gathering, improve coordination among security agencies and expand community policing initiatives.
“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,” he said.
The former governor further stressed the need for greater investment in education, healthcare, infrastructure, electricity supply, agriculture, skills acquisition and job creation, arguing that addressing socio-economic challenges would help reduce the conditions that fuel crime and insecurity.
Security experts have repeatedly linked rising insecurity in parts of the country to a combination of poverty, unemployment, weak governance structures and the proliferation of arms. The challenges have continued to affect economic activities, agricultural production and social stability in several regions.
Kwankwaso’s remarks come amid renewed concerns over persistent attacks by armed groups, kidnappings for ransom and communal violence in different parts of Nigeria, with calls growing for a comprehensive review of the nation’s security strategy to better protect lives and property.
