On 24 September 2026, a resident of Gboko in Benue State, Stephanie Shaakaa, sent an open letter to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, voicing concerns about security and the president’s frequent overseas trips. The letter, published by Vanguard News, highlights the daily realities of life in Gboko and the urgent need for safety in the region.
Shaakaa describes how people in Gboko experience government “through communiqués or presidential briefings” only when they go to the market, pay school fees or face rising transport fares. She stresses that these everyday interactions are part of the broader picture of life in the state, where “fear is not an abstract word.”
The letter details a series of violent incidents in Benue: on 10 and 11 September an attack on the community of Ayilamo in Logo Local Government Area left four police officers and seven civilians dead. Four days later, two more police officers were killed in an ambush on their return to the same community. Shaakaa underscores that these attacks have forced farmers to question whether it is safe to return to their fields.
Shaakaa also addresses President Tinubu’s recent trip to Paris, where he met French President Emmanuel Macron on 18 September for a private dinner at the Élysée Palace. The president also met with Vincent Bolloré, whose group announced plans to deepen investment in Nigeria’s creative and digital economy, including film, entertainment and fibre‑optic infrastructure. The letter notes that the presidency described the meeting as “reflecting the enduring relationship between Nigeria and France” and a “shared commitment to strengthening bilateral cooperation.”
In questioning the value of these diplomatic engagements, Shaakaa cites that the president has spent more than 270 days abroad since taking office, covering 51 trips to at least 30 countries, with over 50 days in Paris. She asks, “What commitments were made? What does Nigeria stand to gain? What obligations, if any, has Nigeria assumed? What should Nigerians expect to see from these conversations, and when?” The letter calls for clear answers on what the president brings back for the country.
Shaakaa concludes by urging the presidency to balance international diplomacy with domestic security, reminding readers that “a sovereign country should be able to do all of that without the psychology of dependence.” She stresses that while the president negotiates abroad, Nigerians at home are still asking the immediate question: will we be safe tomorrow? The letter calls for the president’s attention to this pressing concern as much as any foreign investment deal.
<small>Source: Vanguard News — read the original story there.</small>
