Outrage is mounting after coordinated Easter attacks across northern Nigeria left at least 26 people dead, with retired Air Commodore Abayomi Balogun delivering a scathing verdict on the nation’s security system: it reacts too late—and costs lives.
Gunmen struck communities in Benue, Kaduna, and Nasarawa during the holiday, targeting worshippers and residents. In Benue alone, 17 people were reportedly killed in Mbalom, Gwar West, with additional casualties recorded in neighbouring states.
Speaking on Arise Prime Time, Balogun did not mince words.
“Sadly, that’s what the storyline says—because it’s killing everywhere,” he said. “The military is succeeding in some places, but what you want is total security for all citizens.”
His central criticism was blunt: Nigeria’s security forces are consistently one step behind.
“For a while, we have been reactive. We allow them to plan, we allow them to group until they attack us, then we respond,” Balogun said. “We must become more proactive. Our operations must be intelligence-driven so we can act before the enemy strikes.”
He warned that the current pattern—attack, then response—has emboldened perpetrators, who often escape before troops arrive.
“You hear that they attacked a place and disappeared into thin air. That should not happen,” he said. “If we have air mobile quick response teams on standby, like we did in our time, response would be immediate.”
Balogun called for sweeping reforms, starting with a centralized Multi-Agency Coordination and Control Centre to unify intelligence and operations across security bodies.
“When something happens, it should go straight to a central command where intelligence is analysed and passed instantly,” he explained. “With drones and real-time data, you can monitor and neutralise threats quickly.”
He also emphasized grassroots intelligence as a missing link.
“The people at the grassroots must become your first line of defense without guns,” he said. “When they see something, there must be a clear structure on who they report to.”
Beyond structural fixes, Balogun urged authorities to tap into what he called “retired assets”—experienced former military and security personnel who remain underutilized.
On kidnappings, he suggested that better coordination and tracking technology could turn criminals’ own tools against them.
“Once kidnappers demand ransoms and bikes, those bikes can become their death certificate,” he said, noting they could be tracked to pinpoint locations.
He further criticized the burden on senior military officers, saying administrative overload is undermining strategic thinking, and called for dedicated think tanks to develop new security approaches.
While acknowledging deeper issues like unemployment and governance gaps, Balogun insisted the moment demands decisive action.
“We know the root causes, but where we are now, we must take bold steps. We must be audacious,” he said. “There are few bad people—we must become a terror to them so that the good people can live in peace.”
The Easter bloodshed has once again exposed Nigeria’s persistent security vulnerabilities—renewing urgent calls for reforms before more lives are lost.
