Kidnappings: Hold Governors Responsible, Tinubu’s Aide Bwala Tells Nigerians

Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Policy Communication, Daniel Bwala, has urged Nigerians to hold state governors accountable for the rising wave of kidnappings and insecurity across the country, insisting that they have a crucial role to play in protecting lives and property.

Bwala argued that while the Federal Government continues to strengthen the nation’s security architecture through the armed forces and other federal agencies, governors, as chief security officers of their states, must take greater responsibility for local security challenges.

According to him, state governments are expected to provide intelligence, logistics, and operational support to security agencies while coordinating community-based initiatives that can help prevent criminal activities. He stressed that security is a shared responsibility that requires effective collaboration between federal and state authorities.

The presidential aide noted that many kidnapping incidents occur in remote communities where local intelligence and rapid response mechanisms are essential. He maintained that governors are better positioned to mobilize traditional rulers, community leaders, and local stakeholders to identify threats before they escalate.

Bwala’s remarks come amid renewed public concern over the increasing number of abductions reported in several parts of the country, with citizens demanding stronger measures to curb the activities of criminal gangs.

He called on Nigerians to scrutinize the performance of their state governments on security matters rather than placing the entire burden on the Federal Government. According to him, meaningful progress against kidnapping will depend on stronger cooperation between all levels of government and active public participation in intelligence gathering and crime prevention…....