Edo Governor Insists Nigeria Remains Safe Despite Security Challenges

The Governor of Edo State, Monday Okpebholo, has said that Nigeria remains safe for residents and visitors despite the security challenges confronting parts of the country, according to Realnews Magazine.

Speaking in remarks reported by the publication, Okpebholo pushed back against what he characterised as an overly negative perception of the country’s security situation, arguing that everyday life and commerce continue largely uninterrupted in many areas. Nigeria has for years faced a complex array of security threats that vary by region. In the northeast, the long-running insurgency involving Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province has displaced large populations and strained military resources. The northwest has been hit by widespread banditry, including mass kidnappings for ransom and attacks on rural communities, while the southeast has seen recurring tensions linked to the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra movement and a crackdown by security forces.

Okpebholo became governor of Edo State in late 2024 after a closely watched election that returned the All Progressives Congress to power in the South-South state. Edo, which borders the Benin Republic, has itself experienced episodes of cult-related violence and communal clashes in the past, though authorities have repeatedly described the current situation as calm.

Federal authorities in Abuja have in recent years reorganised the security architecture, including the creation of additional forest guards and the deployment of theatre commands in the hardest-hit zones. International partners, including the United States, the United Kingdom and several European governments, continue to publish travel advisories urging caution in specific regions. Okpebholo’s remarks, as Realnews Magazine reported, are likely to add to the wider debate over how the government communicates the scale of the country’s security challenges to both citizens and the outside world.

Sources

This report was written from coverage published by the following news organisations. Follow the links for the original reporting.

• Realnews Magazine — Nigeria still safe in spite security challenges — Okpebholo