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Former Kano State Governor and Vice Presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Dr. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, has raised alarm over the worsening security situation in the country, declaring that Nigeria is “bleeding profusely” under the weight of escalating banditry, terrorism, kidnapping and other violent crimes.

In a statement posted on his X handle, Kwankwaso expressed grave concern over the rising wave of insecurity across several states, including Zamfara, Borno, Sokoto, Katsina, Kwara and Oyo, lamenting that many Nigerians can no longer sleep peacefully due to fear of attacks.

The former Defence Minister described the growing boldness of criminal groups as particularly disturbing, noting that some now openly use social media platforms to taunt security agencies and spread fear among citizens.

“What is most alarming is the audacity of these criminals, who now brazenly hold live sessions on social media to taunt the authorities and terrorise the public. This is totally unacceptable and not befitting of a sovereign nation like ours,” he said.

Kwankwaso argued that Nigeria’s security crisis was not insurmountable, recalling his experience as Governor of Kano State and Minister of Defence, where he said security challenges were significantly reduced through decisive leadership and active community engagement.

According to him, the country’s major challenge is not a lack of resources but the absence of political will and sincerity needed to confront insecurity effectively.

He criticised the current security strategy, saying it has failed to produce the desired results despite huge government spending on the sector.

“The current approach has clearly failed. Despite massive budgetary allocations to the security sector, the situation continues to deteriorate rapidly,” he stated.

The former senator warned that the continued loss of lives, mass displacement of citizens and growing economic hardship caused by insecurity pose a serious threat to national stability.

Calling for urgent action, Kwankwaso urged the Federal Government to undertake a comprehensive overhaul of Nigeria’s security architecture, improve intelligence gathering, strengthen community policing and prioritise the welfare and motivation of security personnel.

He also advocated massive investment in education, skills acquisition and job creation, arguing that poverty, unemployment and poor governance remain major drivers of insecurity.

Beyond security reforms, Kwankwaso called on government at all levels to focus on improving education, healthcare, infrastructure, electricity supply and agricultural support programmes to boost food production and strengthen economic growth.

He maintained that addressing both the immediate security threats and their underlying socioeconomic causes remains the surest path to restoring peace and stability across the country.