Nigerian Leaders Urge President Tinubu to Establish Task Force Amid Rising Violence

Concerned political leaders from across Nigeria have called for immediate action in response to alarming levels of violence in the country, urging President Bola Tinubu to establish a Presidential Task Force on National Security.*

In a joint statement issued on Saturday, the group highlighted distressing statistics from Amnesty International, revealing that over the past two years, at least 10,217 Nigerians have lost their lives to violent attacks. This number is starkly comparable to civilian casualties reported in Ukraine, despite Nigeria being in a state of official peace.

“While some regions of Nigeria are experiencing wartime levels of violence, the nation as a whole is officially regarded as at peace,” the statement emphasized.

The leaders provided a regional breakdown of the violence, noting that Benue State has suffered the highest toll with 6,896 deaths and more than 450,000 individuals displaced. Plateau State recorded 2,630 fatalities, alongside significant destruction of farmland and essential resources. Zamfara has seen the sacking of 638 villages, where residents are reportedly coerced into paying criminal levies via phone to avoid further violence.

The statement also highlighted ongoing violence in states such as Sokoto, Kebbi, Katsina, and Niger, where criminal gangs have established control over entire districts. In the North-East, there are growing concerns about Boko Haram’s resurgence, with recent attacks reported in Gwoza, Damboa, Biu, and Bama. Additionally, the South-East is witnessing a surge in violence attributed to unidentified gunmen.

“To address this crisis, we urgently propose the establishment of a Presidential Task Force on National Security, endowed with extraordinary powers and a clear mandate to coordinate and implement emergency measures to curb the violence,” the leaders declared.

“These are unprecedented times that demand exceptional yet constitutionally sound strategies,” they stressed.

The statement was co-signed by notable figures including Osita Chidoka, Mohammed Abdullahi, Sergius Ogun, Kadaria Ahmed, Nuruddeen Muhammad, Frank Nweke, Opeyemi Adamolekun, Tonye Cole, Sam Amadi, Jamila Bio Ibrahim, and many others representing all six geopolitical zones.

The leaders underscored the necessity for a unified political front in addressing Nigeria’s escalating insecurity, citing the successful reform efforts of nations like Colombia and Rwanda that overcame significant internal strife.