Hobnob News Report
Fourteen northern states have disbursed a combined N56 billion in security votes within the first nine months of 2025, even as the region grapples with escalating killings, mass abductions, and repeated terror attacks.
The development coincides with a surge in violent incidents that has drawn widespread public outrage and prompted President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to declare a nationwide security emergency.
Recent attacks have underscored the deepening crisis:
November 21: 315 students and 13 teachers abducted from St. Mary’s Catholic School, Papiri, Niger State.
November 17: 26 schoolgirls kidnapped at Government Girls Secondary School, Maga, Kebbi State.
Shiroro LGA, Niger State: 24 farmers, including pregnant women, abducted from a rice farm.
Kano & Kwara: About 20 residents kidnapped between Monday night and Tuesday morning.
Eruku, Kwara State: 38 church worshippers abducted earlier in the month and later released after the Federal Government negotiated with their captors.
Isapa community, Kwara: 10 persons, including a pregnant woman and children, seized during a fresh raid.
As insecurity intensifies, analysis of the 2025 third-quarter budget performance reports published by the affected states shows that N56 billion — about 55% of the N101 billion allocated for security votes — has already been spent.
Breakdown of Security Vote Disbursements
The 14 states with disclosed figures include Kebbi, Kwara, Taraba, Kaduna, Adamawa, Kogi, Jigawa, Borno, Gombe, Katsina, Zamfara, Yobe, Nasarawa, and Benue.
Key highlights:
Borno State topped the list, releasing N32bn out of its N41.6bn allocation.
Yobe released N5bn of N5.7bn, while Adamawa disbursed N4.5bn out of N10.7bn.
Nasarawa spent N4.39bn, exceeding its approved N4bn.
Other disbursements include:
Katsina – N3.1bn of N4.4bn
Jigawa – N2.4bn of N2.9bn
Zamfara – N1.5bn of N8bn
Kebbi – N1.49bn of N3bn
Taraba – N55m of N503m
Kaduna – N349m of N1.2bn
Kogi – N191.9m of N1.3bn
Gombe – N937.8m of N1.6bn
Benue – N4m of N15.6bn
Kwara – N337m of N350m
Five states — Bauchi, Plateau, Niger, Sokoto, and Kano — did not disclose their security vote releases in their budget reports.
Concerns Over Mismanagement
Despite the massive spending, insecurity continues to surge, raising questions about how the funds are being used.
The National Coordinator of the Coalition of Northern Groups, Jamilu Charanchi, criticized the situation, alleging that security votes have “become personal accounts for governors” and claiming that banditry has turned into a lucrative enterprise for some officials.
He lamented that despite huge allocations, the region remains under siege.
Governors Defend Their Actions
Responding to the concerns, Ismaila Misilli, Director-General of Press Affairs to the Chairman of the Northern Governors Forum, dismissed the allegations of mismanagement.
He stated that the governors are making significant efforts to support security agencies and address the escalating crisis.
“The governors are meeting tomorrow under the Northern Governors’ Forum, and security will be a key agenda. They are committed to tackling insecurity and deploying resources effectively,” Misilli said.
