Former Kano State Governor, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, has voiced serious concerns over the escalating insecurity in Nigeria, highlighting what he sees as the federal government’s inability to effectively tackle the crisis.
In a statement posted on his 𝕏 account on Monday, Kwankwaso lamented the growing reliance on state-level vigilante groups to maintain security, warning that such measures may be exacerbating the problem rather than solving it.
“The recent developments in our country have filled me with deep concern about the state of national affairs,” he wrote. “Having served in key positions within the system, I know that the primary responsibility for ensuring security lies with the Federal Government, working alongside state and local authorities and other stakeholders. Unfortunately, it seems the government is overwhelmed.”
Kwankwaso cautioned that the deployment of vigilante outfits—often lacking proper training—has unintentionally fueled the spread of small arms and light weapons across the nation. He also highlighted a worrying trend of political actors exploiting the situation to form militias, further threatening peace and stability.
The former Minister of Defence also raised alarm over rising ethnic and regional profiling, as well as social media-driven harassment and hate speech. He emphasized that targeting citizens based on their ethnicity or religion could severely undermine national unity.
“In recent times, disturbing reports have emerged of individuals being harassed, arrested, or even tortured in parts of the country simply because of where they come from. Coupled with the rise of social media hate campaigns, these developments pose a grave threat to our national cohesion. The Federal Government must act decisively to halt these trends before they spiral further out of control,” Kwankwaso said.
As Chairman of the Committee on the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons in the past, Kwankwaso described the current proliferation of firearms as “deeply alarming and unacceptable.”
Despite the challenges, he expressed optimism in the leadership of Nigeria’s newly appointed Minister of Defence, General Christopher Gwabin Musa (rtd), urging the federal government to provide the necessary support to stabilize the nation’s security situation.
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“Finally, I congratulate General Christopher Gwabin Musa on his appointment as Minister of Defence. With political will and adequate support, I am confident that he has the expertise and experience to restore security and stability to our nation,” Kwankwaso concluded.
