‘Below Average’, Experts Score Tinubu’s Terror, Banditry Fight On First Anniversary

Security specialists rated President Bola Tinubu's efforts to combat terrorism and banditry over the past year as "below average."

In honour of President Bola Tinubu's first anniversary, the experts Victoria Ekhomu, Shehu Sadeeq, Kurfi Garba, and Alfred Ononugbo were guests on Channels Television's May 29 Special programme.

After taking office on May 29, 2023, Tinubu promised Nigerians a number of things, including the safety of their lives and their possessions. A new set of service chiefs was included in the security architecture of the nation, which was one of the reforms implemented by the former governor of Lagos.

One year later, though, many don't seem to be impressed with the President's security accomplishments, with kidnappings for ransom still commonplace in the nation and continuing chaos caused by insurgents and bandits in Nigeria's North-East and North-West geopolitical zones, respectively. Oil thieves have not spared the South-South area either, as the Southern roads in the nation grow increasingly dangerous, akin to the Northern highways besieged by roving insurgents and abductors.

Verifiable data shows that the Tinubu administration managed to neutralise over 20 terrorist commanders, free 4,641 kidnapped individuals, arrest 7,000 terrorists, kill 9,300 terrorists, and recover 85,000 weapons and ammunition despite the situation appearing overwhelming at the time.
"Below Average"
Although she gave the administration a "below average" rating, Victoria Ekhomu, Managing Director of Transworld Security Systems Limited, noted that "the administration is trying but not there yet."

She said that even though the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) have lessened their agitation since Tinubu took office, the government still has a lot of work to do to fend off Nigerians' cunning enemies.

Ekhomu supported state police as the answer to the frightening security issues, claiming that the amount of money being spent on security has not yet produced results that are justified. "When atrocities are committed, there should be prompt reinforcements if the money is being spent well," she declared.

"I Score Tinubu 45%"
Retired Group Captain Shehu Sadeeq gave Tinubu's anti-terror campaign a 45% rating in his submission. "I just look at the government's promises in the Renewed Hope agenda when grading the administration, and since that is already one-quarter of the way through, I'll give it 45%," he stated.

In contrast to his colleague Ekhomu, the retired group captain stated that caution should be used in the establishment of state police. Support for the creation of state police and the amendment of the 1999 Constitution to permit the same has grown over the past few months, with 16 governors expressing their support.

In order to dispel the rumours that governors would rise to the position of emperor and misuse their positions, Sadeeq suggested that the state police be set up in a way that allows both the federal and state governments to have control over it. He claimed that a federal-and-state-controlled structure would also reduce the inefficiencies linked to security agencies that are under the strict control of the central government.

In order to have more people on the ground to combat evil forces, Sadeeq added, more men ought to be enlisted in the security services.

"Very Little Progress"
In a similar vein, APT Securities CEO Kurfi Garba concurred with Sadeeq and Ekhomu that security hasn't improved all that much over the past year.

He claims that even if success is achieved, it won't have much of an effect on the homeless since they are unable to return to their farms. "To be honest, I come from Katsina State. If you go to the local governments, they will tell you there haven't been many improvements," Garba stated, noting that security measures to combat banditry in the North Central haven't been coordinated.

Since the marauders have moved from the North-East to the North-West and North Central zones, he has called for an all-encompassing response to combat banditry, terrorism, and other security challenges. In addition, he asked the government to send more soldiers into the conflict zone.

Garba opposed state police, claiming that state governors had appropriated and arrogated powers to themselves through local government elections. Garba expressed concerns that governors would weaponize state police and use it against opposition politicians and organisations in their states.

According to Bell Protocol and Security Support Services CEO Alfred Ononugbo, the security environment in Nigeria existed before the Tinubu government. To counter the threat, he advocated spending money to buy better weapons.

Additionally, Ononugbo asked the government to improve security agents' motivation. Remarking that insurgents are more financially motivated than security agents, he said that motivation is everything and that this could be demoralising to the troops.

security agents and the lack of scholarships for their children, saying the terrorism fight in the country will be given a boost when these incentives are put in place for security agents at the theatre of war.