The Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Policy Communication, Daniel Bwala, has insisted that insecurity in Nigeria is not worsening, saying the Federal Government is actively working to contain the situation.
Bwala made the remark during an appearance on Head to Head, a programme on Al Jazeera hosted by journalist Mehdi Hasan at Conway Hall in London. The interview was later released on the programme’s social media platforms.
Addressing concerns over rising security threats, the presidential aide acknowledged the existence of insecurity but argued that government interventions are yielding results. He said the country experienced relative stability during the early years of the current administration and rejected claims that the situation has deteriorated.
According to him, insecurity exists in many parts of the world, noting that even major global cities face security challenges. He pointed to international collaboration as part of Nigeria’s strategy to address the problem, including security partnerships with countries such as Turkey and the United States.
Bwala explained that Nigeria has strengthened cooperation with foreign partners to combat terrorism, emphasizing that global terrorism requires shared responsibility among nations. He also stated that several terrorist leaders linked to groups such as Boko Haram and other armed networks including Lakurawa had been arrested or eliminated before recent public statements on insecurity.
He noted that the government declared a national emergency on insecurity months before heightened international commentary on the issue and argued that security agencies have recorded operational successes. “We are working day and night to manage the situation,” he maintained, adding that kidnappings have become a criminal economy that authorities are actively confronting.
On the issue of attacks against schools and students, he referenced government efforts under ongoing safety measures aimed at protecting learners, including relocating students from high-risk areas to safer environments to ensure access to education.
Despite these assertions, Nigeria has recently witnessed renewed attacks in several states. In recent weeks, suspected gunmen and terrorist elements have reportedly carried out abductions and deadly assaults across different regions.
For instance, suspected fighters attacked communities in Ngoshe in Gwoza Local Government Area of Borno State, abducting over 100 women and children and reportedly killing the community’s chief imam, several elders, and security personnel.
Elsewhere across the country, security agencies have also reported multiple kidnapping incidents and violent attacks in states including Kaduna, Katsina, Zamfara, Plateau, and Benue, where armed groups have targeted communities, highways, and schools in recent months. These incidents have triggered renewed public debate over the effectiveness of ongoing counter-terrorism and anti-kidnapping operations.
Authorities maintain that operations against armed groups are continuing, while critics argue that the frequency of attacks demonstrates the depth of Nigeria’s security challenges.
