Former Kano State governor and leader of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, has raised alarm over what he described as a dangerous escalation of insecurity across the country. He urged the Federal Government to act urgently as kidnappings and violent attacks spread through multiple states.
Gatekeepers News reports that in a statement posted on X, Kwankwaso said the security situation had reached a “level that demands urgent attention,” pointing to a series of recent incidents that expose deepening gaps in Nigeria’s counter-terrorism and internal security systems.
Kwankwaso condemned the kidnapping of 25 schoolgirls in Kebbi State, noting that the incident evokes painful memories of previous mass abductions that shocked the nation and drew global concern. He warned that attacks on schools in northern Nigeria remain a recurring tactic by armed groups seeking ransom or political leverage.
He also described the killing of Brigadier-General M. Uba by terrorists in Borno State as one of the darkest moments in Nigeria’s long fight against extremist violence. The senior officer, ambushed while on operational duty, is one of the highest-ranking military personnel killed in recent years.
Kwankwaso said the general’s death represents “a shocking intelligence and operational failure,” calling for a swift investigation to restore confidence within the armed forces.
The former defence minister further expressed concern over fresh mass kidnappings in Zamfara State, where armed groups continue to raid rural communities and abduct residents despite repeated military operations and local negotiations. He added that recent bandit attacks in Shanono and Ghari LGAs of Kano State show that insecurity is now spreading beyond traditionally volatile regions.
Kwankwaso acknowledged the Kano State Government’s efforts, including its recent donation of operational vehicles to security agencies, but insisted stronger federal backing is needed.
He emphasized that the Federal Government must fulfil its primary responsibility, warning that the incidents were not isolated occurrences but signs of “serious setbacks in the battle against insecurity.”
Kwankwaso called for renewed investment in the armed forces and a broader strengthening of the Nigeria Police Force, arguing that frontline units are overstretched and lack adequate tools, intelligence support, and mobility to respond swiftly or deter attacks.
Nigeria has witnessed repeated spikes in insecurity in recent months, with the military battling jihadist factions in the northeast, bandit groups in the northwest, and separatist militias in the southeast.
Kwankwaso urged authorities to take decisive action to protect citizens, warning that continued failures risk deepening public distrust and worsening the humanitarian crisis in vulnerable communities.
