Veteran Nollywood actress Clarion Chukwurah has penned an emotional open letter to President Bola Tinubu, appealing for urgent action against Nigeria's worsening insecurity rather than waiting for the proposed state police structure to become fully operational. In the letter shared on her Instagram page on Wednesday, July 1, 2026, Chukwurah acknowledged the President's efforts toward creating state police but stressed that the security crisis demands immediate intervention.
Chukwurah Praises State Police Initiative but Warns of Delays
Chukwurah began by commending President Tinubu for backing the establishment of state police, describing it as a bold and necessary step. She also praised his democratic credentials, recalling his role during Nigeria's pro-democracy struggle. 'I applaud the fact that you once became a fugitive on behalf of democracy in Nigeria and your recent move to facilitate the creation of state police to combat insecurity in our country,' she wrote.
However, she warned that implementing the new policing structure across the country, especially in rural communities, would take considerable time—potentially one to two years. According to the actress, insecurity is spreading faster than government reforms, and communities battling kidnappers and violent criminals cannot afford to wait that long for relief.
Kidnapping Crisis and Calls for Immediate Action
Chukwurah expressed deep concern over the increasing cases of kidnapping, particularly involving children. She described kidnappers as 'cowards' for abducting innocent victims and keeping them in forests under inhumane conditions. 'We know that only cowards kidnap children for money and keep a two-year-old child in captivity in the forest,' she stated.
She argued that many criminal groups continue to operate because ordinary Nigerians have little means of defending themselves. The actress further alleged that some neighbourhood informants and even compromised security personnel aid the activities of kidnappers.
Proposed Solution: Empower Local Vigilante Groups
Rather than waiting for state police to become fully operational, Clarion urged the Federal Government to immediately empower local vigilante groups. She appealed to President Tinubu to deploy part of the National Security Emergency Intervention Fund to train and arm community security outfits capable of defending vulnerable communities.
She also called on the government to assist schools in employing armed security personnel to protect pupils, teachers, and staff from attacks. According to her, such measures could save countless lives while broader policing reforms continue.
Linking Insecurity to Poverty and Unemployment
The actress also linked Nigeria's worsening insecurity to widespread poverty and unemployment. She argued that many struggling Nigerians no longer trust the government because they are overwhelmed by economic hardship. According to Clarion, insecurity and poverty have become major obstacles preventing meaningful national development despite the administration's intentions.
Chukwurah's open letter comes amid ongoing debates over security reforms in Nigeria. The presidency has previously defended Tinubu's approach, with Special Adviser on Information and Strategy Bayo Onanuga responding to criticism from presidential candidate Peter Obi by highlighting the administration's focus on power generation challenges.
