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By Onogwu Daniel When National Security Adviser (NSA) Nuhu Ribadu visited Benue State to commiserate with the people after a spate of deadly terrorist attacks that claimed over 80 lives, his remarks came off as more than just insensitive—they were dangerously disconnected from the reality on ground. Rather than acknowledge the intensity of the crisis, Ribadu astonishingly claimed that “no part of the country is under the control of terrorists.” The NSA said: “Today in our country, I believe that we’re not doing badly given the massive nature of the problem and the challenge.
There is no part of Nigeria controlled by them; we have done fairly well, though we’re not yet over. The issue of security or insecurity is not something that you can instantly say you will address.” That statement, coming from someone who should have access to the most accurate security intelligence in the country, is both baffling and disappointing.
Benue State Governor Hyacinth Alia did not mince words when he declared that his state was under siege by bandits and militias. His statement was not an exaggeration. It was a heartfelt cry for help, a sobering reflection of the horror his people were experiencing.
But Ribadu’s reaction, which downplayed the scale of destruction, seemed like an attempt to play ostrich. One must ask: is the NSA truly unaware of the security quagmire in the country, or is he merely living in a bubble? The current wave of insecurity is not peculiar to Benue alone. The carnage extends far and wide.
In Zamfara, bandits have practically set up parallel governments, imposing levies on communities. Katsina and Niger states have become frequent hunting grounds for terrorists who operate with near impunity. A dusk to dawn curfew has been imposed on Minna, the Niger State capital due to security concerns.
Plateau State continues to suffer from unabated violence. Even Kwara, which once enjoyed relative peace, is now facing rising security threats with emergence of a new terror group, Mahmuda. These are not isolated incidents.
They are part of a disturbing national pattern that shows just how overwhelmed our security architecture has become. To say that no part of the country is under terrorists’ control is not only misleading, it is a dangerous narrative that downplays the pain and anguish of thousands of Nigerians. Ribadu’s assertion gives the impression that the government is either unaware of the severity of the situation or, worse, unwilling to confront it with the urgency it demands.
What is more troubling is that Ribadu’s denial robs the Tinubu-led administration of the chance to take decisive action. The first step to solving any problem is to acknowledge it. Living in denial only delays intervention, frustrates recovery efforts, and leaves the affected citizens feeling abandoned by the very system meant to protect them.
Ribadu must realise that platitudes and political correctness cannot erase the bloodstains on the soil of Benue, Plateau, Borno, Zamfara, Niger, and many other places. Security is not just about military presence or public relations statements. It is about intelligence, swift response, justice for victims, and restoration of normalcy.
It is about ensuring that farmers can return to their fields, children can go back to school, and families can sleep without the fear of being slaughtered in the dead of night. If Ribadu cannot see that parts of the country are slipping into anarchy, then he is clearly out of touch—and that is a dangerous place for a National Security Adviser to be. The time for sugarcoated statements is over.
Ribadu must wake up to the painful reality that Nigeria is in a deep security crisis. He must advise the president honestly and help mobilise all relevant security and intelligence resources to tackle the menace head-on. Onogwu Daniel, a concerned Benue citizen wrote from Orokam, Benue State Unlock AI's potential! Get top prompts for content, blogs, social media, research, draft proposals and more.
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