By Linus Aleke
As Nigeria prepares for the 2027 general elections, President Bola Tinubu’s renewed directive to the military and other security agencies to dismantle terrorist networks, curb banditry and rescue abducted citizens has sparked fresh debate over the government’s ability to deliver lasting security.
The directive, conveyed by the Minister of Defence, General Christopher Musa (retd.), followed a National Security Council meeting at the State House in Abuja. Tinubu also reaffirmed his commitment to ensuring free, fair and credible elections, directing security agencies to remain neutral throughout the electoral process.
Speaking to journalists after the meeting, Musa said the President had made it clear that the safety of Nigerians must be guaranteed ahead of the polls.
“We had an intensive discussion, and Mr President made it very clear that he wants a free, fair and credible election. We must do everything possible to ensure that the country is safe and secure for citizens to go out and vote,” the minister said.
Musa assured political parties, candidates and other stakeholders that security personnel would remain impartial, stressing that Nigerians must be able to vote for candidates of their choice without intimidation or coercion.
However, the latest directive has raised questions about why kidnappings, terrorist attacks and banditry continue despite repeated presidential orders to security agencies over the years.
Repeated Directives, Persistent Insecurity
Since taking office on May 29, 2023, Tinubu has issued several directives aimed at tackling terrorism and banditry and securing the release of abducted Nigerians.
In March 2024, following abductions in Borno and Kaduna states, the President ordered security and intelligence agencies to secure the victims’ release. He subsequently directed them to intensify efforts to rescue pupils and teachers abducted from Kuriga in Kaduna State.
In October 2025, Tinubu charged newly appointed service chiefs to intensify operations against terrorism and banditry. The following month, amid the abduction of schoolgirls in Maga, Kebbi State, and other kidnapping incidents, he ordered security agencies to step up rescue efforts.
Further directives followed incidents involving the abduction of students from St Mary’s Catholic School in Papiri, Niger State, and attacks involving killings and kidnappings in the state in 2026.
On October 15, 2026, Tinubu again directed service chiefs and heads of security agencies to dismantle terrorist and bandit camps, rescue abducted Nigerians and strengthen security ahead of the 2027 elections.
These repeated orders have renewed concerns about the gap between government assurances and the security situation experienced by many communities.
The challenge is not new. Successive administrations have issued similar directives since Boko Haram emerged as a major security threat in 2009.
Under former President Goodluck Jonathan, the abduction of 276 schoolgirls from Chibok, Borno State, in April 2014 attracted national and international condemnation. Former President Muhammadu Buhari also faced widespread criticism following the abduction of 110 schoolgirls from Dapchi, Yobe State, in February 2018.
Although the timing of these incidents does not establish that they were politically motivated, insecurity during election periods can undermine public confidence, discourage voter participation and raise concerns about the safety and credibility of the electoral process.
Security Analyst Questions Implementation
A security analyst, Umar Bologi, argued that repeated presidential directives had not produced lasting security because the country’s challenges extended beyond official pronouncements.
According to him, weaknesses in implementation, intelligence coordination, operational capacity and accountability have continued to undermine security efforts.
Bologi acknowledged that security agencies had recorded successes in counter-terrorism, anti-banditry and anti-kidnapping operations, including the rescue of abducted citizens and the neutralisation of armed groups.
However, he said these achievements were often weakened by criminal networks that continued to access weapons, ransom money, local informants and ungoverned spaces where they could regroup.
“The real test is not the forcefulness of a presidential directive, but whether it is backed by genuine political commitment, sustained operations, reliable intelligence, effective policing, the prosecution of financiers and collaborators, and the protection of communities after military operations end,” Bologi said.
He warned that security operations might disrupt criminal groups without completely dismantling the networks that sustain them if the government failed to address these underlying weaknesses.
The analyst also called attention to the possibility of insecurity being exploited during election periods, citing concerns about political sponsorship of violence, illegal arms proliferation, weak border controls and attempts to intimidate political opponents or influence electoral outcomes.
Bologi advocated a shift from reactive operations ordered in response to individual incidents to a consistent, intelligence-led national security strategy that would remain effective regardless of the electoral calendar.
He further stressed that security agencies must be held accountable for measurable results and that anyone found sponsoring or protecting armed groups should face prosecution, irrespective of their status.
Defence Expert Calls for Accountability
Chief Chidi Omeje, a veteran defence editor and publisher of Security Digest Online, also argued that the effectiveness of presidential directives should be measured by their impact on public safety rather than the strength of the announcements.
He maintained that Nigeria did not lack security directives but continued to struggle with translating them into practical results.
“Dismantling terrorist networks and rescuing citizens in captivity require more than renewed commands to service chiefs. They demand actionable intelligence, effective inter-agency coordination, adequate equipment, accountability for results and the political will to pursue not only terrorists but also their financiers, informants and collaborators,” Omeje said.
He emphasised the need to address governance failures, poverty and criminal economies that create conditions in which insecurity can thrive.
According to him, the government must demonstrate that protecting citizens is a continuous national responsibility rather than a promise repeatedly made during periods of heightened public concern.
Omeje said the success of Tinubu’s latest directive would depend on whether communities became safer, kidnappings declined, terrorist networks lost their operational capacity and more abducted citizens returned home alive.
He also warned that preparations for the 2027 elections must not distract security agencies from their constitutional responsibility to protect all Nigerians.
For him, lasting security requires consistent implementation, measurable outcomes and a comprehensive strategy that makes it increasingly difficult for terrorists and other criminal groups to operate.
Public Affairs Analyst Describes Directives as Symbolic
A public affairs analyst, Festus Fifen, offered a more critical assessment, describing repeated presidential directives to security agencies as increasingly ritualistic.
Fifen acknowledged that the President, as Commander-in-Chief, was expected to issue orders in response to security threats and that such announcements could reassure Nigerians that the government was taking action.
However, he argued that the persistent gap between official assurances and tangible results remained a major concern.
He identified the absence of a reliable national database for identifying, tracking and prosecuting criminals as one of Nigeria’s significant security weaknesses.
According to him, multiple identities, inconsistent addresses and inadequate systems for tracing suspects make it difficult for law enforcement agencies to identify offenders and ensure accountability.
Fifen also pointed to vast ungoverned spaces and limited operational capacity, arguing that these weaknesses often leave security agencies responding to attacks rather than preventing them.
He said the continuation of criminal activities without meaningful consequences had contributed to the perception that some presidential directives were largely symbolic.
The analyst expressed particular concern about the possible consequences of insecurity during the 2027 elections, warning that violence could frighten voters, reduce turnout and create opportunities for electoral manipulation.
“When communities feel unsafe, eligible voters may stay away from polling stations, while those who vote may be too frightened to challenge irregularities,” Fifen said.
He urged the media to report security threats accurately and responsibly, cautioning against sensational reporting that could unnecessarily heighten public fear or undermine confidence in the possibility of conducting safe elections.
Fifen maintained that presidential directives would only deliver lasting results if supported by effective intelligence, reliable identification systems, stronger security operations and accountability.
The Challenge Ahead of 2027
The arguments presented by Bologi, Omeje and Fifen point to a common concern: Nigeria’s security crisis is not simply a consequence of insufficient presidential orders but also of the difficulty of translating those orders into sustainable outcomes.
Their assessments highlight the need for improved intelligence gathering, better coordination among security agencies, adequate equipment, reliable criminal identification systems and the prosecution of individuals who finance or facilitate armed violence.
They also stress the importance of protecting vulnerable communities after military operations and addressing the conditions that allow criminal networks to survive and regroup.
Equally important is the need to ensure that security agencies remain politically neutral throughout the 2027 electoral process, protecting voters and political stakeholders without favouritism or intimidation.
Ultimately, the success of Tinubu’s latest directive will be determined by what happens beyond official announcements. Fewer kidnappings, safer communities, weakened terrorist networks, successful rescue operations and accountability for perpetrators would provide tangible evidence of progress.
As Nigeria moves towards another general election, the central question remains whether the government can turn repeated security promises into sustained action.
Presidential directives may demonstrate political resolve, but lasting peace will depend on effective implementation, capable institutions and a security strategy that protects Nigerians consistently, both during elections and beyond them.
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