Nobel Laureate Wole Soyinka has criticised the heavy armed security detail assigned to President Bola Tinubu’s son, Seyi, calling it excessive and a poor reflection of Nigeria’s security priorities.
Speaking at the 20th Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism (WSCIJ) Awards in Lagos on Tuesday, Soyinka recounted his surprise upon seeing what he described as “a film set” at a hotel in Ikoyi, guarded by around 15 heavily armed personnel.
“I saw a SWAT team, heavily armed to the teeth — enough to take over a small neighbouring city like Benin,” he said.
Alarmed by the display, Soyinka contacted the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, to confirm if the deployment was official and justified.
“I was astonished and said, ‘Track him down for me.’
I explained what I had seen, but he was in a meeting with the president,” Soyinka recalled.
He stressed that while it is normal for presidents worldwide to have security for their families, such privileges should not be abused or exaggerated.
“This kind of excessive deployment raises questions about our security architecture and priorities,” he added.
