The Ijaw National Congress (INC) has strongly criticized the Federal Government for its failure to effectively address worsening insecurity across the country. Speaking in Yenagoa, INC President, Prof. Benjamin Okaba, lamented the government’s inability to stop persistent killings in states such as Plateau, Benue, Zamfara, Katsina, and parts of the South. He stressed that Nigerians expect decisive action when the President issues orders, but the continuous violence shows a disturbing failure in the country’s security response.
Okaba highlighted deep-rooted flaws in Nigeria’s security system, including poor intelligence gathering, weak inter-agency collaboration, slow responses, and the infiltration of criminal elements. He argued that perpetrators are emboldened when the state’s security presence is seen as reactive rather than preventive. Beyond law enforcement, he pointed out that insecurity is also a governance and justice problem, as many communities feel abandoned while victims are denied timely justice, fueling cycles of violence and reprisals.
The INC further emphasized that the crisis is tied to structural issues such as competition over land and resources, ethnic and religious intolerance, climate change-induced migration, and the proliferation of small arms. Prof. Okaba called for a holistic approach that blends security operations with conflict resolution, justice, and economic development. He urged President Tinubu to move beyond public pronouncements and demand measurable results from security agencies.
Warning of dire consequences if insecurity persists, the INC President cautioned that Nigeria risks becoming a failed state. He suggested that if the federal government cannot protect lives, regions should be allowed to govern themselves. According to him, the normalization of mass killings undermines the federation and could push the country toward fragmentation if urgent action is not taken.
