The Governor of Bauchi State, Bala Mohammed, has blamed Nigeria’s worsening insecurity on poor governance, poverty, and prevailing socio-economic challenges, describing the situation as a reflection of deeper systemic failures.
Mohammed made the remarks on Sunday during a sympathy visit to Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, at his residence in Ibadan over the abduction of pupils and teachers from Yawota and Ahoro-Esinle communities in Oriire Local Government Area of the state.
He was accompanied by leaders of the Allied People’s Movement (APM), including the party’s National Chairman, Yusuf Dantalle, and its Bauchi State governorship candidate, Yakubu Adamu.
The abducted schoolchildren and their teachers were reportedly kidnapped in the Ahoro-Esinle community on May 15, 2026, and have remained in captivity for a month.
Speaking during the visit, Mohammed said, “The security situation is a manifestation of a lack of good governance, poverty and the challenges of life.
“Beyond that, I think the citizenry should sit up and make sure they take their destinies into their own hands.
“People need to take their destinies into their own hands to ensure that they do not become informants or play along with criminal tendencies. And, of course, they must make sure that they elect good people to lead them.
“Leadership is another factor, and they must ensure that they bring about change because they know where the shoe pinches.
“I don’t have to talk too much. We don’t have to exonerate ourselves at any level of leadership, whether at the sub-national, national or local government level, but I think during the next election cycle, people should take their destinies into their own hands.”
Mohammed also expressed solidarity with Makinde and called for stronger collaboration among security agencies to tackle the country’s growing security concerns.
Addressing journalists after the visit, the Bauchi governor said he had come to share in the grief of the Oyo State Government and its people over the prolonged captivity of the abducted pupils and teachers.
“I am here with our leaders from the Allied People’s Movement to commiserate with our presidential candidate and the Governor of Oyo State, Seyi Makinde, over the travails that the people and government of Oyo are going through as a result of the abduction of our schoolchildren and their teachers.
“It has been a lingering issue for some time, and we are really sharing the grief with him. We are here to encourage him that what he is doing to ensure their release is being noticed by the whole nation. And we join, on behalf of myself and the government and people of Bauchi State, to commiserate with and encourage him to ensure that these Nigerians are released,” he said.
Mohammed expressed confidence that the efforts being made by the Oyo State Government would soon secure the freedom of the abducted teachers and pupils. He also pledged his support in any capacity necessary to facilitate their release.
The Bauchi governor further disclosed that the visit provided an opportunity to congratulate Makinde on his emergence as the APM’s presidential candidate.
“He is my jolly good friend, a young man with energy, determination and drive, who can do a lot to change the trajectory of leadership and good governance in Nigeria,” Mohammed said.
He added that Nigeria’s security architecture required critical examination to promote greater commitment and improved synergy among security operatives, as well as between security agencies and citizens.
Among those who joined Makinde in receiving the delegation were the Secretary to the Oyo State Government, Musibau Babatunde; the Commissioner for Public Works and Transport, Abdulmojeed Mogbonjubola; and the Senior Executive Assistant on General Duties, Bayo Lawal.
