Security chiefs must heed Tinubu’s ‘Enough is enough’ order
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s recent marching order to the country’s security chiefs could not have come at a more critical time. With rising killings in Borno, Benue, Plateau, Kwara and other states, insecurity in Nigeria is no longer just a national embarrassment—it is a full-blown emergency. When the president declared “enough is enough” during a […]
Tinubu
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s recent marching order to the country’s security chiefs could not have come at a more critical time. With rising killings in Borno, Benue, Plateau, Kwara and other states, insecurity in Nigeria is no longer just a national embarrassment—it is a full-blown emergency. When the president declared “enough is enough” during a closed-door meeting at the Presidential Villa, it echoed the frustration and desperation of millions of Nigerians who live in constant fear. The big question now is: Will the security chiefs finally act decisively?
For years, Nigerians have endured a myriad of tragedies: banditry in the North-West, farmer-herder conflicts in the Middle Belt, kidnapping for ransom in the South, and terrorism in the North-East. These horrors are no longer distant headlines; they have become daily realities. Entire communities are displaced, businesses destroyed, schools shut, and citizens traumatised. The social and economic cost of this crisis is immeasurable, and it is threatening to unravel the very fabric of our nation.
President Tinubu’s directive must be seen not as a ceremonial rebuke, but as a call to action with zero tolerance for excuses. The time for routine security briefings and recycled strategies is over. Nigerians do not need reassurances—they need results. The Service Chiefs, the Inspector-General of Police, the National Security Adviser, and heads of intelligence agencies must now rise to the challenge. They must show that they are not only capable of wearing the uniforms, but also of delivering the safety they were appointed to guarantee.
First, security agencies must overhaul their intelligence gathering and sharing systems. Nigeria has long struggled with intelligence failures that allow attacks to happen despite warnings. Our borders remain porous, and coordination between federal and state security outfits remains disjointed. This must change. Every security apparatus must work as part of a unified command, with real-time data sharing, joint operations, and performance-based accountability.
Second, there must be a shift from reactive to proactive policing. Waiting for communities to be attacked before dispatching troops or police is unacceptable. Communities vulnerable to violence must be mapped and protected in advance. Surveillance technology, community policing, and early-warning systems should be deployed aggressively, particularly in known flashpoints.
Third, and crucially, there must be political will to confront all threats without bias or favoritism. Whether they are terrorists, armed herders, kidnappers, or criminal militias, all perpetrators must be treated as enemies of the state—regardless of region, ethnicity, or religion. Security is not a matter of negotiation; it is a constitutional obligation.
But the burden is not on security agencies alone. The National Assembly must ensure adequate budgetary allocations for security, while also exercising oversight to prevent mismanagement of funds. State governments must complement federal efforts, not politicize them. And the judiciary must ensure that those arrested for violent crimes are prosecuted swiftly and fairly. Justice delayed is not only justice denied—it is an invitation for impunity.
Nigerians also have a role to play. Community vigilance, intelligence sharing, and support for law enforcement are vital. But these depend on trust—and trust can only be built if citizens see real improvements, not just press statements.
President Tinubu has made his stance clear: there is no more room for failure. This directive must not end as another hollow declaration. If insecurity is not addressed urgently and effectively, it will erode public confidence, cripple economic progress, and diminish the president’s credibility.
Morufu Adeola, a public affairs analyst wrote from Ilorin, Kwara State