The South should be very vigilant and probe the activities of our northern brothers in our forests. Most of their activities are perilous. To be fair to ourselves and communities in the South, we should ensure our northern brothers have no space in our forests. Their activities in our forests cannot be adjudged fair to the South, but rather, dangerous, destructive, and damaging to the resources and lives of the people in the southern part of Nigeria.
   
Having done a brief overview of the unfortunate insecurity climate of the Nigerian state, the next we would attempt to look into is why the upsurge happened after the short reprieve we had before the election, during the election, and immediately after the swearing-in of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

There are many schools of thought with different and varied contemplations. One basic and incontestable reason for the upsurge is the very high rate of youth unemployment and underemployment. The problem of unemployment has plagued Nigeria for decades. It worsened during the uncharitable government of Mohammed Buhari. This singular reason, coupled with the harsh economic environment of high double-digit inflation, made life difficult for the teeming youths and forced some of them to see acts of criminality that would drop some money into their purses—even at the high risk of their lives—as a way out of unending suffering.

Although the unfortunate activities of the youths engaging in these dastardly criminalities are very bad, the old adage that devil finds work for idle hands and brains remains true.
   
Another very probable reason is the unfortunate incidence of poor leadership and governance in some particular regions in Nigeria, where the political class is aristocratic and not genuinely interested in exposing majority of the population to quality education that would give equal opportunities to all.

This aristocratic political class prefers to perpetually render them uneducated and poor so as to exploit their ignorance for political aspirations and benefits without question. This large population of uneducated, downtrodden northern youths is readily available for the aristocratic political class of the North for manipulation and criminality.

We have witnessed and experienced severally when these ignorant criminal tools are caught or apprehended by security personnel with dangerous weapons, their utterances and body language connoted persons of no knowledge of their mission and destination. These sets of rabble and simpletons are easily susceptible to criminal push.

The ease with which the political class and the rich in Nigeria access firearms, legally and illegally, is not without severe adverse impacts on the high rate of insecurity in the country.

Most of the guns found on thugs during political campaigns and elections were not returned by them to their masters. Some of the thugs eloped with the firearms and are using them for various kinds of criminality.
 
Again, the arrogance and impunity the Fulani herdsmen demonstrate in the destruction of the farmlands of innocent farmers because of the weapons like AK-47s that they brandish and use on harmless farmers, tormenting farmlands and communities as witnessed in Benue, Plateau and the southern states.

Lastly, a school of thought is of the opinion that the insecurity upsurge has a political undercurrent. The school opined that some politicians who masterminded the worsening of insecurity during the Jonathan era are again building coalitions and may be deploying the same strategy of creating insecurity narratives in the country. A winning strategy will always be adopted in the same environment. Therefore, the need for Mr. President to change the environmental variables for these criminally minded politicians becomes imperative.
   
Another laudable initiative from Mr. President is the bill for the establishment of state police. While widely embraced by Nigerians, the top brass of the Nigeria Police has shown tacit resistance. Their lack of support is disappointing. The IGP should have formed a task team to midwife the transition to state policing—a missed opportunity to cement his legacy.

We urge Mr. President to ensure the establishment of state police before the end of 2025. Just as he achieved the swift removal of fuel subsidy, he must now fast-track this critical reform. A well-equipped and accountable state police system could transform our security environment.
   
The creation of the National Security Coordination Task Force in February 2025 is another significant step. Its mandate to harmonise intelligence across DSS, the military, police, and NSCDC is essential. Yet, operational lapses—such as the Ofosu interception of arms bound for Lagos—reveal that much improvement is needed. Surveillance must be tightened across all checkpoints, from Kano to Lagos.

This calls for the integration of advanced technology into our security architecture, notable among these are
Installation of AI-powered CCTV and monitoring systems in major cities and the FCT, which has now become unavoidable necessity, not a choice!

So aldo is having smart checkpoints with scanners and apps capable of detecting concealed arms.
Tools that predict ambushes and identify threats in real time must become standard part of our security architecture. As Senator Jimoh Ibrahim rightly pointed out, there are apps capable of detecting firearms in a given area—such innovations must be adopted.
   
Finally, our criminal justice system must be revamped. The government should consider establishing dedicated courts or tribunals for speedy prosecution of crimes related to kidnapping,terrorism, and banditry.
   
In conclusion, President Tinubu must now declare a national state of emergency on security. Special funds must be created, bureaucratic bottlenecks dismantled, and modern security technology implanted nationwide. With courage, vision, and action, the tide of insecurity can be turned, and Nigeria can move forward to a safer, more prosperous future.
   
Although President Tinubu has made some strategic moves to address the security challenges in the country, the urgent need for his administration to rejig the security architecture is now, particularly because some of his efforts are being frustrated by politicians and bureaucrats in authority who are unwittingly protecting their personal interests to the detriment of the nation.
Concluded.
Enikanselu formerly of the University of Lagos, is a Professor of Business Administration.