Plateau killings and FG’s dangerous silence – Firdausi Abubakar
By Firdausi Abubakar
The recent crisis in Plateau State—marked by mass killings and brutal violence—has once again spotlighted Nigeria’s persistent security failures.
While President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has allegedly directed blame at state governors, particularly Plateau’s Governor Caleb Mutfwang, the root of the problem lies much deeper in the Federal Government’s handling of national security.
The President’s reported statement suggesting that governors are not doing enough to protect their people is not only disappointing but also a gross oversimplification of a complex national tragedy.
Under the 1999 Constitution (as amended), security is exclusively under the control of the Federal Government. Governors, despite being referred to as “Chief Security Officers” of their states, lack the legal authority to command police forces or military personnel.
How then can they be held primarily responsible for a failure they are not constitutionally empowered to fix? Rather than owning up to his constitutional responsibilities as Commander-in-Chief, President Tinubu appears to be passing the buck.
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But the truth is undeniable: Nigeria’s security architecture is broken. From Boko Haram insurgency in the North-East to banditry in the North-West, herder-farmer clashes in the North-Central, and widespread kidnappings across the country, the Nigerian Armed Forces, police, and other federal security agencies have failed to rise to the occasion.
The inability to anticipate, prevent, or quickly respond to crises has become the norm, not the exception. The latest attacks in Bokkos Local Government Area and other parts of Plateau left dozens dead, many more injured, and hundreds displaced.
These massacres occurred while the President was on an overseas trip, deepening public outrage. And yet, upon his return, rather than confront the grave lapses within his security apparatus, blame was deflected toward Governor Mutfwang and other state executives.
Such an approach not only ignores the real issues but also sends a disheartening message to grieving families: that the central authority, which holds the power to secure lives, would rather protect its image than solve the problem.
If truth must be told, something is fundamentally wrong with Nigeria’s security structure. There is an urgent need for sincere introspection and honest dialogue about decentralizing security to give state governments more operational control.
Until that happens, it is unfair and misleading to accuse governors of inaction when they are constitutionally sidelined from security decisions.
Rather than scapegoating state leaders, the President must summon his service chiefs, security advisers, and heads of agencies for a total re-evaluation of current strategies.
Nigeria cannot continue to treat symptoms while ignoring the disease. Communities in Plateau, Benue, Zamfara, Kaduna, Sokoto, and elsewhere are bleeding—and people are losing faith in the government’s ability to protect them.
This is not the time for blame games. What Nigeria needs now is courageous leadership—one that owns up to shortcomings, initiates bold reforms, and is ready to work hand-in-hand with states in tackling insecurity.
The lives of ordinary citizens should never become pawns in political arguments or public relations narratives. President Tinubu must rise to the occasion. He must lead from the front and prioritize security as the sacred duty it is.
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Anything less would be a betrayal of the oath he swore to uphold—and a disservice to the millions of Nigerians who still believe that peace and justice are possible under his watch.
Nigerians deserve leadership that takes responsibility, not one that deflects it. We urge the President to set the tone for real collaboration, listen to the voices of affected communities, and take decisive actions to halt the killings.
Only then can we begin the journey toward a more secure and united nation.
Abubakar, is an intern at PRNigeria, Abuja
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