Security expert Dr. Kabiru Adamu has shared his thoughts on the recent killings in Benue State, where over 200 people were reportedly murdered by suspected herdsmen. He said that President Tinubu’s planned visit to the state is more political than a real security effort.

According to him, the visit might reduce some of the political tension in the state, especially among different groups within the ruling party, but it won’t solve the violence unless it’s followed by proper security actions.

Dr. Adamu explained what a proper security approach should look like. He said it must include detecting threats early, stopping attackers from getting to communities, delaying any attacks that do happen, responding quickly when attacks are ongoing, reviewing each case after it happens, and helping affected areas recover.

He hopes that the President and Benue’s governor can work together to apply this plan. Without such action, the visit would be meaningless in terms of improving security.

He also criticized the government’s response so far, saying it has missed key opportunities. For instance, the President should have called for a National Security Council meeting, just like leaders in other countries do during such serious incidents.

Instead, the only thing people have seen are visits and political talks, not real steps to find and punish those responsible. He said that Nigeria’s Constitution makes it clear that the National Security Council is the top body in situations like this, and it should have been used.

On the topic of reconciliation, President Tinubu and Governor Hyacinth Alia have encouraged the people of Benue to forgive their attackers.

Dr. Adamu agreed with them, but added that the issue is more complicated than people think. He said the violence in Benue is not just caused by Fulani herdsmen. There are also local militias, criminal gangs, and political thugs involved.

He recalled a personal experience from 2016 when three of his team members were kidnapped and forced into a militia group. He believes the President is aware of these many layers and is calling for peace because he understands the true situation.

Dr. Adamu further explained that Benue’s problems are not just about violence. The state is rich in agriculture but poor in industries and job opportunities. Many young people are jobless and can’t go to their farms due to insecurity.

This makes them vulnerable to being used by criminal groups. He also mentioned that environmental and gender issues are making things worse. These problems need to be solved alongside the security challenges.

When asked if states like Enugu and Abia facing similar attacks should also follow the path of reconciliation, he said each state’s crisis is different. For example, a report from Anambra showed that what people thought was an IPOB-related crisis was actually caused by other reasons.

He stressed that Nigeria must look at the real causes of violence in each state and not assume every conflict is the same. That way, the government can respond better to each situation.

He also raised concerns about why Benue seems to be getting special attention. Data shows Benue is fourth in the number of killings, behind Borno, Zamfara, and Katsina.

People in those states are wondering why the President hasn’t visited them. Dr. Adamu warned that if the President’s visits appear to be based on religion or politics, it could create more division in the country.

To fix the problems, he said government agencies must be held accountable. With 6 trillion naira spent on security, people should feel safer. If security agencies fail to do their jobs, they should face punishment. He also said insecurity is getting worse.

About 17,000 people have died since Tinubu became president, not much lower than the 18,000 deaths under Buhari’s last two years. Kidnapping has also increased by 49%. He said the country is spending money on security but not seeing real results.

On state policing, Dr. Adamu supports the idea but believes the current security system must first be cleaned up. There are reports of military officers helping criminals and stolen weapons ending up in the wrong hands.

He said before thinking of creating state police, the government should fix these internal problems and deal with the different causes of the violence, such as political issues, poverty, climate change, and bad governance.

He also spoke about the anti-grazing law in Benue, saying it is too difficult for ordinary herders to follow. According to him, most Fulani groups are willing to move into ranching if they are supported. But the current law makes it nearly impossible for any local rancher to succeed, which could lead to more conflict.

In his final words, Dr. Adamu urged political leaders to stop focusing on the 2027 elections and face the current security crisis. His company is running a campaign called “Public Safety Over Politics,” asking politicians to prioritize saving lives over politics. He believes that until the killings stop and people feel safe, no one should be talking about elections or campaigns.