Datti Baba Ahmed Says Tinubu’s Security Emergency Misses The Point, Blames Corruption Not Manpower

Yusuf Datti Baba Ahmed, the Labour Party’s 2023 vice presidential candidate, says President Bola Tinubu’s newly declared nationwide security emergency does not address the root of Nigeria’s insecurity. He believes that the administration has focused on the wrong solution by prioritising mass recruitment instead of confronting corruption within the security system.

Speaking on Arise News on Thursday, Baba Ahmed argued that Nigeria’s security agencies do not suffer from a lack of manpower but from entrenched interests that divert funds and weaken operations. He questioned how much of Nigeria’s current security budget is genuinely used for combating crime and how much goes into private pockets or election preparation. He maintained that until corruption is removed, insecurity will persist regardless of how many new personnel are hired.

He insisted that the Nigeria Police, free from political interference and corruption, has the capacity to end terrorism and banditry in a short period. According to him, with genuine support and accountability, the police could stabilise the country within two months without relying heavily on the armed forces.

His remarks came shortly after President Tinubu ordered a rapid recruitment drive for both the military and police, including an additional 20,000 police officers. The directive followed rising cases of mass abductions and violent attacks across Niger, Kebbi and other states.

Baba Ahmed also criticised the President’s advice to state governments to avoid establishing boarding schools in remote areas, describing it as a dangerous concession to bandits. He warned that restricting school locations because of insecurity means allowing criminals to dictate national education policy.

He stressed that Nigeria should be expanding access to education, especially in rural communities, not retreating from them. Teachers and school leaders, he said, already face enormous risks in their work and deserve stronger government support rather than policies that shrink educational access.

His comments come as Nigeria grapples with escalating kidnappings and rural attacks, raising urgent questions about the effectiveness of the country’s broader security strategy and the balance between safety and national development.