The closed-door meeting, which lasted for more than two hours, brought together the nation's security leadership for what officials described as a strategic assessment of the country's security challenges and ongoing military operations in various conflict zones.
President Bola Tinubu on Thursday held a security meeting with Nigeria's top military commanders, intelligence chiefs and senior security officials at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, as persistent terrorist attacks, banditry and kidnappings continue to mount across the country.
The closed-door meeting, which lasted for more than two hours, brought together the nation's security leadership for what officials described as a strategic assessment of the country's security challenges and ongoing military operations in various conflict zones.
Although the Presidency has not issued an official statement after the meeting, photographs released by the State House confirmed the attendance of key security officials.
Among those present were the National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu; Minister of Defence, Mohammed Badaru Abubakar; Chief of Defence Staff, General Olufemi Oluyede; Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Waidi Isa; Chief of Defence Intelligence, Lieutenant General Emmanuel Undiandeye; Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS), Adeola Ajayi; Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), Mohammed Mohammed; Inspector-General of Police, Olatunde Disu; and the President's Special Adviser on Homeland Security, Major General Adeyinka Famadewa (retd.).
The meeting comes against the backdrop of renewed security concerns across several parts of the country, with military operations intensifying in the North-West and North-East to counter armed groups, PUNCH reports.
Earlier this week, troops under Operation FANSAN YAMMA, supported by the Nigerian Air Force, launched coordinated operations that disrupted what the military described as a large-scale terrorist offensive in Zamfara and Katsina states.
According to the military, air assets tracked a convoy of about 300 armed terrorists travelling on motorcycles from the Sunke-Kumbo axis towards Gummi before carrying out precision strikes on the formation.
Security forces also announced the killing of Alhaji Tukur, identified as a notorious bandit commander and younger brother of wanted kingpin Alhaji Shehu Bagiwaye, during an operation in Dogon Kade.
In the North-East, troops of Operation Hadin Kai recently repelled an attack on the Mairari military base after suspected fighters of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) launched fresh assaults on military formations.
Security analysts have warned that the repeated attacks suggest an intensified campaign by insurgents to weaken military positions in the region.
Reports indicate that at least 13 military bases have come under attack in 2026, most of them in Borno State.
The latest security meeting also followed renewed concerns over the worsening kidnapping crisis.
Speaking earlier on Thursday through the National Coordinator of the National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC), Major General Adamu Garba Laka (retd.), Ribadu described kidnapping as one of Nigeria's gravest security challenges.
According to the NSA, criminal groups are increasingly deploying sophisticated tactics, leveraging technology and operating across state boundaries, making coordinated responses by security agencies more critical
He stressed that defeating the evolving threats would require stronger inter-agency collaboration, improved intelligence sharing, and sustained joint operations.
As of the time of filing this report, the Presidency had yet to disclose the resolutions reached during Thursday's meeting or whether fresh directives had been issued to the country's security agencies.
Tinubu Summons Military Chiefs, Others To Emergency Security Meeting Amid Rising Kidnapping, Banditry
by marshall:
8:48pm On Jul 11, 2026