The National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu, on Tuesday visited Benue State to commiserate with the government and people following a renewed wave of violence that has claimed over 70 lives.
Speaking in Makurdi during a stakeholders’ meeting, Ribadu assured Governor Hyacinth Alia and the people of Benue that the federal government would not abandon them in this trying time.
The visit, directed by President Bola Tinubu, came in response to the “Black Friday” massacre in Katsina-Ala, Ukum, and Logo Local Government Areas.
“What happened is a tragedy — an act of evil. But when evil comes, good people must unite to confront it. We will solve this problem together. Do not feel alone — this challenge affects us all,” Ribadu said.
The NSA emphasised that Benue remains a critical part of the country and pledged that the state would not be left to face the security crisis alone.
“The entire country is with you. I commiserate with the people of Benue and assure you that this is a trying period for all of us. We are 100 per cent with you. We will confront this together,” he added.
Ribadu noted that the current administration inherited a severely weakened security architecture, stressing that progress is already being made under President Tinubu’s leadership.
“We inherited an extremely bad situation, and although the challenge is not over, we’ve significantly reduced violent incidents since we assumed office. It is a process, and we are tackling it head-on,” the NSA said.
The National Security Adviser called for unity, urging all sides to avoid politicising the killings.
“Give us the chance and stop politicising the killings. It is impossible to post security agents in every hamlet, but our armed forces are doing their best. We must work together to restore peace,” Ribadu stated.
The NSA also highlighted that insecurity in Nigeria predates the current administration, tracing the crisis back to 2011.
“This is not about politics, religion, or ethnicity — it is pure criminality. Many nations around the world, including Sudan, Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso, face similar or even worse challenges,” he said.
Ribadu cited his past work in Afghanistan to underline the global nature of security threats and commended the federal government’s approach under President Tinubu, which he described as “listening and proactive.”
“The way the government is responding to insecurity today is different. We are identifying root causes and confronting them directly. We’ve made significant progress, and we will continue to improve,” he noted.
