April 13, 2026 | SUNTV Global Channel | National Security
Nigeria’s President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, is currently presiding over a high-level emergency security meeting at the State House in Abuja, amid rising concerns over the country’s security situation.
The closed-door meeting, which began around 2:00 pm on Monday, is being attended by top military and intelligence officials, including the Chief of Defence Staff, service chiefs of the Army, Navy, and Air Force, as well as the Inspector-General of Police, Tunji Disu.
Also present is the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, alongside heads of key intelligence agencies such as the Department of State Services (DSS) and the National Intelligence Agency (NIA).
The urgent meeting comes in response to a recent advisory by the United States Department of State, which authorised the voluntary departure of non-essential embassy staff and their families from Abuja, citing a “deteriorating security situation.”
In a further escalation, the U.S. placed 23 out of Nigeria’s 36 states under its highest travel warning — Level 4: “Do Not Travel” — including Plateau, Niger, Taraba, Jigawa, and Kwara states.
However, the Nigerian government has downplayed the advisory. Minister of Information, Mohammed Idris, insisted that while there are localized security challenges, there is no nationwide breakdown of law and order.
The security meeting is also taking place in the aftermath of a controversial airstrike by the Nigerian Air Force targeting insurgents near the Borno-Yobe border.
The operation reportedly struck Jilli Market on April 11, leading to the deaths of over 100 civilians, including women and children — an incident that has drawn widespread condemnation.
While the Air Force maintained that it carried out precision strikes on terrorist locations, a presidential aide, Temitope Ajayi, defended the action, stating that the market had been used as a logistics hub by Boko Haram and ISWAP fighters.
Meanwhile, Amnesty International has called for an independent investigation into the incident, accusing the military of showing disregard for civilian lives.
As deliberations continue behind closed doors, analysts say the outcome of the meeting could shape Nigeria’s immediate security strategy, especially in the face of growing international concern and internal challenges.
SUNTV Global Channel will provide updates as more details emerge from the Presidential Villa.
