Plateau Massacre: Despite Tinubu’s campaign promises, killings continue

Approximately seven months into President Bola Tinubu’s administration, the brutal killing of over a hundred people in Plateau State has raised concerns about the president’s security assurances. The attackers targeted around 20 communities in Plateau, leaving a trail of bodies and blood. This incident occurred shortly after the Tundun Biri episode, where the Nigerian Army’s actions resulted in over 126 civilian fatalities.

DAILY POST has assessed President Tinubu’s promises during his campaign and as outlined in his manifesto, the Renewed Hope Agenda. Despite early actions such as the demilitarization of military sector oversight, including the appointment of civilians Abubakar Badaru and Bello Matawalle as Ministers of Defence, and Nuhu Ribadu as National Security Adviser, killings have persisted. According to data from the Council on Foreign Relations’ Nigeria Security Tracker (NST), non-state actors claimed the lives of 587 people within the first 45 days of Tinubu’s presidency.

Following the Plateau massacre, a tweet from 2014 resurfaced, in which Tinubu criticized the Goodluck Jonathan administration’s handling of security issues. Despite these challenges, President Tinubu’s promises on security, including the establishment of state police, utilization of intelligence in warfare, creation of anti-terror battalions, and the removal of police from VIP duties, remain largely unfulfilled.

For instance, there has been no executive bill forwarded to the National Assembly on State or Community Police as promised. The deployment of intelligence in security operations, a key pledge, has been questioned in the aftermath of incidents like the Tudun Biri bombing. The establishment of “Anti-terror battalions” with special forces units, another promise, has not materialized. Additionally, the commitment to remove police from VIP duties and transfer such responsibilities to the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has not been realized, as police are still observed around VIPs.

In summary, a comprehensive review of President Tinubu’s administration reveals that many of the security promises outlined in his campaign and manifesto remain unfulfilled seven months into his presidency.