Tinubu Meets Security Chiefs Over Rising Insecurity

President Bola Tinubu on Thursday met with the country’s top security officials at the Presidential Villa in Abuja to review the security situation across Nigeria and discuss ongoing military operations in troubled parts of the country. The meeting, which lasted more than two hours, brought together the nation’s military commanders, intelligence chiefs and senior security advisers as fresh attacks continue to raise concerns.

Those present at the meeting included the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu; Minister of Defence, Christopher Musa; Chief of Defence Staff, General Olufemi Oluyede; Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Waidi Isa; Chief of Defence Intelligence, Lieutenant General Emmanuel Undiandeye; Director-General of the Department of State Services, Adeola Ajayi; Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency, Mohammed Mohammed; Inspector-General of Police, Olatunde Disu; and the President’s Special Adviser on Homeland Security, Major General Adeyinka Famadewa (retd.), alongside other senior security officials.

The meeting came shortly after security forces recorded fresh operations against armed groups in different parts of the country. In the North-West, troops under Operation FANSAN YAMMA, with support from the Nigerian Air Force, disrupted what the military described as a planned terrorist attack in Zamfara and Katsina states. Air strikes reportedly targeted hundreds of armed men travelling on motorcycles after surveillance aircraft tracked their movement.

Security forces also reported the killing of Alhaji Tukur, identified as a notorious bandit commander and younger brother of wanted gang leader Alhaji Shehu Bagiwaye, during an operation in Dogon Kade.

In the North-East, troops of Operation Hadin Kai successfully defended the Mairari military base against another attack after a series of assaults on military positions in Borno State. Security analysts have linked the recent attacks to efforts by the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) to weaken military operations by targeting frontline bases. Reports indicate that at least 13 attacks on military formations have been recorded across the country this year, with many occurring in Borno State.

Although the Presidency released photographs confirming the meeting, it had not issued an official statement on the decisions reached before the time of reporting.

A similar security meeting held in March saw the Minister of Defence assure Nigerians that the armed forces were making progress against terrorists and bandits, maintaining that many criminal leaders had been eliminated during ongoing operations.

He also expressed confidence that security forces would continue to gain ground in the fight against insecurity.