President Bola Tinubu on Wednesday met with key security officials, including the National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu, and the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Chris Musa, at the State House in Abuja.
The session, which took place at the President’s official residence, focused on the ongoing security challenges across the country.
Although no official details were provided regarding the exact agenda of the meeting, it is widely believed that the President convened the discussion to address the recent spate of violent attacks in Benue and Plateau States.
These attacks have left over 180 people dead, sparking widespread concerns about the safety of Nigerians in these regions.
The meeting follows President Tinubu’s return from a 19-day working visit to Europe on Monday evening, during which he was briefed on the alarming situation in Benue.
On Tuesday, NSA Nuhu Ribadu visited the state and met with local stakeholders, gathering first-hand accounts of the devastating attacks. The violence in both states has led to heightened fears not only within Nigeria but also internationally, due to the scale of the casualties and the criminal activities spreading across the nation.
While it remains unclear whether other security or intelligence officials were part of the meeting, the location of the gathering suggests it was a focused session aimed at addressing the situation. The hope is that such high-level consultations will lead to concrete measures that offer relief to the affected communities, who have been left traumatized by the violence.
Recall that between March 28 and April 14, 2025, over 100 people were killed in Benue State alone, primarily in Bokkos and Bassa local government areas. Notably, Zike and Kimakpa communities were among the hardest hit, with reports confirming 52 deaths in one area and another 54 in the nearby region. Furthermore, there were additional fatalities across other parts of the state, including 44 deaths from incidents in places such as Otobi Akpa, Ikobi, Gwer West, and Mbasombo.
In the wake of these incidents, local government officials suggested that the attackers may not be native to Nigeria, with some residents speculating that the assailants could be foreign nationals, as they reportedly do not speak any Nigerian languages. Governor Hyacinth Alia of Benue has condemned these attacks, with reports indicating that at least 20 more deaths occurred in coordinated raids on April 19 in the Logo and Ukum Local Government Areas.
Similarly, in Plateau State, Governor Caleb Mutfwang reassured residents of his commitment to safeguarding their lives and property, following a series of protests on Easter Monday. Citizens of the state, who have long been affected by these violent attacks, voiced their concerns through peaceful demonstrations, demanding more action from the government to address the growing insecurity in the region.