The Presidency on Monday identified historical mistrust, land-grabbing, banditry, and illegal mining as major triggers of violence across Nigeria’s North Central region.
This was disclosed after President Bola Tinubu received security and development briefings from his Community Engagement team at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Community Engagement (North Central), Dr. Abiodun Essiet, said the report presented to the President provided a consolidated assessment of insecurity, infrastructure gaps, and citizens’ feedback from all six geopolitical zones.
“Our briefing focused heavily on insecurity, and we identified historical mistrust, land-grabbing, banditry, and illegal mining as major triggers of violence. The President has promised to strengthen peace structures and ensure our communities are safe,” Essiet said.
She revealed that community peace structures have been established in 121 local government areas — 32 in Niger, 21 in Kogi, and 23 in Benue — with deployments scheduled this week across all 17 LGAs in Plateau State. The structures will bring together traditional rulers, farmers, Fulani groups, youth, and women leaders to promote dialogue and prevent conflict.
Essiet also linked rising insecurity to poor road infrastructure, particularly along the Kogi–Kwara corridor, which she said bandits exploit. She noted that President Tinubu had directed relevant ministries to address the issue.
In her update for the South-East, the Special Assistant on Community Engagement, Barrister Chioma Nweze, said the zone had established a Citizens’ Assembly to deepen community involvement and build public trust in government initiatives.
“It’s been long since we saw federal presence in the South-East. But now, we are seeing a lot of road construction courtesy of this administration,” Nweze said. She added that the Monday sit-at-home order was easing and that the President had pledged support for skills and agricultural programmes across the region’s 95 local government areas.
