According to a report by Premium Times, on Sunday, June 14, 2026, the President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, has claimed that the rising wave of insecurity in Nigeria is being driven by individuals opposed to President Bola Tinubu and allegedly working to undermine the country’s democratic stability.
Akpabio made the statement on Saturday in Abuja during a public event held to present three books in honour of former Head of State, Abdulsalami Abubakar, as part of activities marking his 84th birthday.
One of the books unveiled at the occasion was the autobiography of the former military leader.
Abdulsalami Abubakar assumed leadership of Nigeria in June 1998 following the death of General Sani Abacha, who ruled the country from 1993 until his death in 1998.
Within a short period in office, he initiated and successfully managed a transition programme that brought an end to military rule and ushered in civilian governance under former President Olusegun Obasanjo on May 29, 1999.
The transition marked the beginning of Nigeria’s uninterrupted democratic era, which has now lasted for more than two decades.
After leaving office, Abdulsalami Abubakar became an elder statesman, taking on various diplomatic and peacebuilding responsibilities across Africa, including assignments with the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
He currently leads Nigeria’s National Peace Committee, an organisation that promotes peaceful elections and encourages dialogue among political stakeholders before, during, and after electoral processes.
Speaking at the event, Akpabio commended the former leader for his contributions to Nigeria’s democratic development and assured him that the current administration, alongside security agencies, is actively working to address the country’s security challenges.
He alleged that certain groups are deliberately fueling insecurity in an attempt to tarnish the image of Nigeria’s democratic system.
According to him, despite the challenges facing the country, the government remains committed to confronting those responsible for the unrest.
Akpabio also expressed optimism that Nigeria would overcome both insecurity and economic hardship.
He stressed that the country would eventually defeat terrorism and poverty and regain stability.
He said, “You can imagine a country where a child will stand up to kill his father because of Tramadol.”
He further stated that despite its current difficulties, the nation would overcome terrorism and poverty, expressing confidence in the resilience of the country’s security forces and the enduring legacy of leaders such as Abdulsalami Abubakar.
According to him, Nigeria will ultimately rise above its present challenges and reclaim its respected position in the international community.
The Senate President noted that members of the National Assembly are direct beneficiaries of the democratic foundation laid by Abdulsalami Abubakar and assured that his contributions to Nigeria’s political development would continue to be appreciated and remembered.
His remarks come amid growing concern over Nigeria’s deteriorating security situation, even as President Tinubu’s administration continues to maintain that progress is being made in tackling the crisis.
Since President Tinubu assumed office in May 2023, several parts of the country have continued to experience attacks by armed groups, including terrorists, bandits, kidnappers, and other violent criminal networks.
States such as Benue, Plateau, Zamfara, Katsina, Sokoto, Kebbi, and Borno, as well as parts of the North-Central region, have been particularly affected.
A report released by Amnesty International in May 2025 stated that at least 10,217 people lost their lives to armed violence during the first two years of the Tinubu administration.
The report also highlighted that Benue and Plateau recorded some of the highest casualty figures, with many communities displaced and villages overrun by armed groups.
Meanwhile, kidnapping for ransom continues to escalate across the country. Findings by SBM Intelligence revealed that 4,722 people were abducted between July 2024 and June 2025, with ransom payments estimated at about N2.57 billion.
The report described kidnapping as a rapidly growing criminal enterprise driven by weak security structures and worsening economic conditions.
There have also been several large-scale abductions in recent times, including attacks on schools, highways, and rural communities.
Farmers in many parts of the country continue to abandon their farmlands due to fear of attacks by armed groups, further worsening food insecurity nationwide.
