The Federal Government has unveiled a new Five-Year Defence and Security Plan as part of efforts to strengthen the country’s response to insecurity and restore lasting peace across Nigeria.
The Minister of State for Defence, Dr. Bello Matawalle disclosed this on Monday in Kano during a condolence and assessment visit to the Kano State Government House following the August 29, 2026, bandit attack in Chiroma Village, Garun Mallam Local Government Area of the state.
According to an official statement signed by Queeneth Iheoma-Hart, Chief Information Officer, for the Director, Information and Public Relations, Matawalle said the plan would provide a long-term framework for addressing security threats across the country.
“The President has constituted a committee to develop a Five-Year Defence and Security Plan. This will guide our long-term approach to tackling security threats across the country,” the minister said.
Matawalle, who reaffirmed the commitment of the Federal Government under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, to defeating insecurity, said the government would continue to provide the Armed Forces and other security agencies with the resources required to effectively confront security threats.
He disclosed that following the Garun Mallam attack, the Commander, 3 Brigade, Kano, Brigadier General Jimoh, led a joint rescue operation involving personnel of the Joint Task Force from Hawan-Kwano and Kwanar Dangora camps.
The operation resulted in the successful rescue of kidnapped victims around Yan-Kifi Bridge and Marabar Kwari areas of Garun Mallam Local Government Area.
The Minister commended the troops for their swift response and courage, assuring that the Federal Government would strengthen their operational capacity to enable them secure vulnerable communities.
“We will continue doing everything possible to support our security services to ensure our country is safe. I assure you that soon, insecurity will be a thing of the past, and we will all live in peace and prosperity,” Matawalle said.
He stressed that the fight against insecurity required coordinated efforts among the federal, state and local governments, as well as active cooperation from citizens.
“It takes the combined effort of local government, state and federal levels to tackle this issue of insecurity. We also need timely and credible information from citizens to security agencies,” he stated.
Matawalle further assured the Kano State Government of increased Federal Government support, including the deployment of additional fighting vehicles, weapons and other operational enablers to boost security operations in the state.
Before his visit to the Government House, the Minister held a closed-door security meeting with commanders of 3 Brigade and other military formations in Kano, where he directed them to sustain the momentum of ongoing operations and intensify efforts to protect communities.
He reiterated that the Federal Government remained committed to providing the necessary resources and support to safeguard lives and property, as well as protect the territorial integrity of the country.
Responding, the Kano State Governor, Engr. Abba Kabir Yusuf, thanked the Minister for the visit and pledged the state government’s continued cooperation with the Federal Government in tackling insecurity.
“We are confident in your leadership. At the state level, we will continue to do what needs to be done to ensure security and stability in Kano,” the governor said.
He added that the state had taken note of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s commitment to improving security nationwide and would continue working with relevant authorities to ensure that insecurity did not take root in Kano.
