31 states spend N252bn on security in first half of 2026 as killings and kidnappings persist
No fewer than 31 state governments spent an estimated N252.26 billion fighting criminality and insecurity in the first six months of 2026, with Kogi, Plateau and Bauchi accounting for the largest shares, even as killings, kidnappings and banditry continued across the country.
Analysis of fiscal performance data from Open Nigerian States for January to June 2026 shows Kogi topped the list with N34.67 billion (13.74 per cent of the total), followed by Plateau with N23.69 billion (9.39 per cent) and Bauchi with N22.35 billion (8.86 per cent). Combined, the three states spent about N80.70 billion, or 32 per cent of the captured total. Bayelsa, Ekiti, Anambra, Sokoto, Ondo and Kaduna also recorded substantial allocations.
The figures cover spending on security equipment, homeland security personnel, security votes and operations, ministries of security or special advisers, and security trust funds. Combined expenditure across the states covered rose sharply from N75.84 billion in the comparable 2025 period. Security votes and related homeland security spending climbed from N47.67 billion to N135.61 billion. Equipment spending reached N37.08 billion and personnel N26.89 billion.
The National Human Rights Commission documented 651 kidnapping incidents and 492 killings between January and March 2026. A separate report recorded 792 people killed in 882 security incidents in June alone. Official mid-year figures indicated that military and other agencies conducted about 14,000 operations, killing 1,597 terrorists and insurgents and rescuing 1,516 kidnapped victims.
The gap between rising expenditure and persistent violence has prompted calls for clearer accountability. Retired Brigadier-General Bashir Adewinbi described dedicated funding as a step in the right direction but said implementation would determine its value. Former Assistant Inspector-General of Police Wilson Inalegwu argued for result-based budgeting, with Commissioners of Police submitting annual plans against which governors could measure outcomes. Civil society groups questioned whether the funds reach operational needs and called for detailed disclosure of procurements and results.
Spending is heavily concentrated: the top five states accounted for roughly 45 per cent of the total. Some states facing severe threats recorded relatively modest outlays, while others with lower reported violence spent more. The structural question is whether higher allocations produce fewer attacks, better intelligence and faster response, or whether the money is absorbed without measurable improvement in public safety.
