The Presidency has issued a strong advisory urging Nigerians, especially those undertaking long-distance journeys, to refrain from traveling at night and to maintain increased vigilance on major routes in the North-Central region. This call comes amid growing security challenges affecting travelers and transport operators.
Presidency Urges Caution on Night Travel
Dr. Abiodun Essiet, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Community Engagement (North-Central), emphasized that recent security developments require greater caution. She advised travelers to plan trips during daylight hours and stay alert throughout their journeys, stressing that safety must take priority over convenience. Transport operators were also urged to suspend night trips until security conditions improve, as this would reduce risks to passengers and motorists.
Kwara Stakeholders Condemn Insecurity
Meanwhile, prominent elders and stakeholders in Kwara North Senatorial District, under the Kwara North Development Commission (KNDC), have accused President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's administration of failing to halt escalating banditry and terrorism in the region. They claim that over 1,200 people have been killed since 2023. The group warned that without urgent and decisive action to restore security, the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) risks losing the goodwill and support of the people ahead of the 2027 elections.
Statement from KNDC
In a statement issued yesterday and signed by KNDC National President Alhaji Abdullahi Manzuma and Publicity Secretary Hajia Zainab Seko, the stakeholders described the security situation as a “near-total collapse,” alleging that hundreds of residents are also being held captive by bandits and terrorists. The group stated that insecurity has devastated communities across five local government areas: Baruten, Kaiama, Edu, Patigi, and Moro, leaving residents displaced, farms abandoned, and economic activities crippled.
“The region, once regarded as the food basket of Kwara, has become a shadow of itself due to incessant attacks by armed groups operating freely across vast rural territories,” the statement said. The stakeholders acknowledged the efforts of Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq but maintained that the constitutional responsibility for securing lives and property rests with the Federal Government. They warned that unless confidence is restored through concrete security measures, it would become increasingly difficult for political leaders to mobilize support for the APC in future elections.
Arewa Think Tank Commends President
In contrast, the northern group Arewa Think Tank (ATT) has commended President Tinubu for approving the recruitment of 1,000 forest guards in Oyo State and deploying a specialized security team to rescue abducted pupils and teachers in Oriire Local Government Area. In a statement by its Convener, Muhammad Alhaji Yakubu, the group described the President’s intervention as a bold demonstration of leadership and commitment to tackling insecurity across the country. “The approval of 1,000 forest guards by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is a timely and strategic response to the growing security concerns in many parts of the country,” Yakubu said.
