In a bid to combat escalating insecurity, 35 Nigerian states have earmarked N214 billion in their 2025 budgets for the establishment of local security outfits, defense initiatives, and the purchase of arms and security equipment. This substantial funding aims to enhance internal security measures across the country. However, despite these efforts, violent incidents during festive periods, such as Yuletide and Sallah celebrations, continue to claim lives, with 367 people killed between 2019 and 2025.

Data from Open States, a platform backed by BudgIT that tracks government spending, reveals that while the bulk of these funds are directed towards strengthening security apparatuses, the country remains plagued by a rising tide of violence. The funds allocated to security have failed to curb the widespread kidnappings, robberies, and other forms of violence that terrorize citizens across various states.

In Ondo, Benue, and Nasarawa states alone, 30 people were killed last month in a series of attacks. These killings were followed by the abduction of nine surveyors in Ondo and the murder of three members of the state’s Civil Protection Guards in Benue. The violence continues unabated, despite the growing security budgets.

One of the worst incidents occurred in Plateau State during the 2023 Christmas Eve attacks, where more than 150 people lost their lives in a coordinated assault. Similar violent attacks on both Christian and Muslim communities have left citizens living in fear, especially during festive periods. In Benue, 47 people were killed on Christmas Day in 2024, and another 14 lives were claimed in Rivers State during a New Year attack.

In response to the growing violence, many governors have taken steps to establish their own state-level security outfits. For example, Rivers State has made the largest allocation for security in 2025, setting aside N39.82 billion, followed by Kogi with N11.06 billion, and Ogun State, which dedicated N4.81 billion for security operations.

Yet, despite these investments, the situation remains dire. Between January and March 2025, over 2,800 incidents of abduction were recorded, alongside 3,190 fatalities and 1,123 injuries across 428 local government areas. The violence has sparked calls for urgent intervention from both state and federal governments, with some experts urging for community policing and more localized efforts to address security challenges at the grassroots level.

At a recent security conference, President Bola Tinubu emphasized the importance of well-governed states in addressing internal security, stressing that local governments, being closest to the people, are better positioned to prevent and mitigate security threats.

Despite the government’s efforts and the large sums dedicated to security, the nation remains caught in a paradox where violence continues to surge, raising questions about the effectiveness of the current strategies and the ongoing safety of citizens.