Nigeria records 98 terrorism cases in seven days

The Federal Government spent N57.78 billion on security-related projects and operations between January and April 2026, even as insecurity persisted across the country, with at least 98 criminal incidents, including 51 attacks and abductions, recorded nationwide within one week.

Data obtained from the Open Treasury Portal showed that the expenditure represented a 127.97 per cent increase from the N25.35 billion spent during the same period in 2025.

The spending covered defence equipment procurement, security infrastructure, military barracks, police facilities and other security-related projects.

Analysis of the data indicated that only 1.24 per cent of the N4.66 trillion allocated to security in the 2026 budget had been utilised by April.

Defence equipment procurement accounted for the largest share of the spending, with N21.39 billion disbursed, representing about 37 per cent of total security expenditure. Another N14.16 billion was spent on security equipment, while N5.84 billion went into the construction of military barracks.

The government also spent N5.17 billion on police stations and barracks, N3.26 billion on rehabilitation of defence equipment, N2.39 billion on defence facilities and N2.16 billion on repairs of military barracks.

For routine operations, N3 billion was spent on security services, while N320.94 million was released as security votes.

However, no funds had been released for military operations under the budget line for “Operation Lafiya Dole and Other Operations of the Armed Forces,” despite a N500 million allocation. Similarly, no money had been disbursed for the kitting of Armed Forces personnel, although N2.53 billion was earmarked for the programme.

The expenditure figures emerged as a police security report obtained by The PUNCH revealed that Nigeria recorded 98 criminal incidents within the last seven days.

The incidents comprised 37 homicide cases, 27 banditry attacks, 24 kidnappings, eight armed robbery cases and two terrorism-related attacks.

The crimes were reported across several states, including Kaduna, Katsina, Zamfara and Kebbi, involving attacks on rural communities, mass abductions and kidnappings along major highways.

One of the most disturbing incidents occurred in Zamfara State, where 39 residents were reportedly abducted after travelling into the Fadama Forest to negotiate peace with a notorious bandit leader, Jimo Smally.

In Katsina State, bandits blocked the Katsina-Kankara highway and intercepted a commercial vehicle carrying 11 passengers. Police later rescued nine victims, while the driver and another passenger remained missing.

Security experts expressed concern over the worsening situation, despite increased government spending.

Security analyst Lekan Jackson-Ojo described the situation as the worst insecurity crisis in Nigeria’s history, saying the country had become increasingly unsafe and that insecurity was crippling economic activities.

Another security analyst, Chidi Omeje, argued that the military remained overstretched despite increased funding and insisted that military operations alone could not resolve the crisis.

According to him, insecurity is being fuelled by poor governance, corruption, poverty, porous borders and instability across the Sahel region.

The latest figures suggest that while government spending on security has increased significantly, violent attacks and criminal activities continue to spread across the country, with a substantial portion of budgeted security funds yet to be utilised.