Fresh outrage has trailed a wave of deadly Easter attacks in northern Nigeria that left at least 26 people dead, with retired Air Commodore Abayomi Balogun warning that the country’s security system is fundamentally flawed and dangerously reactive.
The attacks, which spanned Benue, Kaduna and Nasarawa states, saw gunmen target communities and worshippers during the Easter period. In Benue State alone, residents reported that 17 people were killed in Mbalom community in Gwar West, while additional killings were recorded in Kaduna and Nasarawa.
Speaking on Arise Prime Time, Balogun described the situation as deeply troubling, saying Nigeria is increasingly turning into a “killing field.”
“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.”
The retired fighter pilot lamented that security forces have remained largely reactive, allowing attackers to strike before any meaningful response is mounted.
“For a while, we have been reactive. We allow them to plan, we allow them to group until they attack us, then we respond,” he said. “We must become more proactive. Our operations must be intelligence-driven so we can act before the enemy strikes.”
Balogun also pointed to the absence of rapid-response capabilities, noting that attackers 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.”
He proposed sweeping reforms, including the establishment of a Multi-Agency Coordination and Control Centre to unify intelligence gathering and operational response across all security agencies.
“When something happens, it should go straight to a central command where intelligence is analysed and passed instantly to the appropriate agency,” he explained. “With drones and real-time data, you can monitor and neutralise threats quickly.”
Balogun also stressed the need for a grassroots-driven intelligence system, arguing that communities must be integrated into national security architecture.
“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.”
He further urged authorities to tap into Nigeria’s pool of retired military and security personnel, describing them as “retired assets” who remain valuable but underutilised.
On ransom payments and kidnappings, Balogun argued that better coordination and technology could help track criminals more effectively.
According to him, once the kidnappers call for transoms and bikes, the bikes in his opinion become the kidnappers death certificate as the bikes could be tracked to easily determine the location of the bandits/kidnappers.
He also criticised the overstretched nature of military leadership, noting that senior officers are burdened with administrative duties at the expense of strategic planning.
Balogun further called for the establishment of dedicated think tanks to develop innovative security strategies to support the efforts of the security agencies.
While acknowledging broader drivers of insecurity such as unemployment and governance failures, Balogun said the country must now take 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 attacks have once again highlighted Nigeria’s persistent security challenges, with renewed calls for urgent reforms to prevent further loss of life.
