Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
Presidential aide Daniel Bwala has declared that state governors should be held accountable for every kidnapping and abduction that occurs within their jurisdictions, arguing that persistent insecurity at the grassroots reflects governance failures and the mismanagement of public funds intended for local development and security. Speaking during an interview on The Morayo Afolabi-Brown Show on Wednesday, 8 July 2026, the Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Policy Communication insisted that governors can no longer be absolved of responsibility whenever abductions occur in their states.
"Every kidnapping and abduction that takes place in any state of Nigeria, hold that governor responsible," Bwala declared, emphasising his position. He further stressed: "And I will say, and I want it to be the catching word. Every local government, all the kidnappings have taken place in local government".
Bwala, who also serves as an official spokesperson for President Bola Tinubu, argued that although security agencies are under the control of the Federal Government, governors play critical roles in coordinating intelligence, supporting security operations, and ensuring the protection of lives and property within their states. He maintained that citizens should demand greater accountability from state governments whenever incidents of kidnapping or abduction occur. According to him, placing responsibility on governors would encourage stronger collaboration with security agencies and lead to more proactive measures aimed at preventing criminal attacks.
The presidential aide also questioned the utilisation of funds allocated under the Safe School Initiative, a federal programme designed to improve security around schools through perimeter fencing and early warning systems. "There was this thing called Safe School Initiative that was started since in which moneys were given to states to create perimeter fencing, early science warning, and all of those checks to the schools. Ask your governor where that money went to," he charged.
Bwala further argued that local governments would be better equipped to address kidnappings if they received direct access to their statutory allocations. Citing discussions with officials in Oyo State, he claimed that some local governments receive hundreds of millions of naira every month. "I was in Oyo and I engaged with the Oyo State government. In fact, in the local government in Oyo, three local government. I say this local government every month, 600 million is coming here. And that's how it goes across Nigeria," he said.
"If these people had allowed the money to go to the chairman, and that money is used in that locality, women will not struggle to be dying while giving birth. The pupils at the primary school will have good education. Local vigilante will be equipped and empowered to resist. Local policing will be strong there, and the welfare of the old people in the local government would have been taken care of," Bwala added.
Bwala's comments come amid mounting public frustration over the rising wave of kidnappings across Nigeria, including the abduction of schoolchildren and teachers in Oyo State's Oriire Local Government Area on 15 May 2026. The attack, which saw armed gunmen invade three schools in the Ahoro-Esinle and Yawota communities, resulted in the abduction of 39 pupils and seven teachers who remain in captivity nearly two months later. The incident has sparked widespread outrage and renewed calls for decisive action to end the recurring cycle of school abductions.
Bwala's assertion that governors should be held responsible for kidnappings aligns with the broader debate over Nigeria's security architecture. While the Federal Government retains control over the Nigeria Police Force and the military, state governments have increasingly been called upon to play more active roles in intelligence gathering, community policing, and the provision of logistics to security agencies. The presidential aide's remarks, however, have also drawn criticism from some quarters, with opponents arguing that the Federal Government cannot abdicate its constitutional responsibility for national security while shifting blame to state governors.
The debate over the responsibility for security failures has intensified in recent months as kidnappings, banditry, and terrorism continue to claim lives across the country. While Bwala's call for greater accountability from governors may resonate with citizens frustrated by the persistent insecurity, it also raises questions about the division of responsibilities between the federal and state governments under Nigeria's constitutional framework. For now, the presidential aide's message is clear: Nigerians should look beyond Abuja and hold their governors accountable for the safety of their communities.
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