A moment of tension unfolded in Kaduna on Wednesday as an unidentified man attempted to breach President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s security perimeter during his official visit to the state.
The incident occurred at approximately 11:25 a.m. near the entrance of the Sir Kashim Ibrahim Government House, where President Tinubu was scheduled to hold a high-level meeting with Governor Uba Sani and traditional leaders as part of a peace and development tour in Northern Nigeria.
Eyewitnesses say the man, dressed in casual clothing and appearing disoriented, attempted to approach the presidential convoy just moments before the President alighted from his vehicle.
“He came out of nowhere and started moving quickly toward the motorcade,” one onlooker told reporters. “Before he could get close, DSS agents and soldiers rushed him and brought him down.”
The man was immediately restrained by a team of operatives from the Department of State Services (DSS) and Presidential Guards Brigade, who whisked him away for questioning. A quick sweep of the area was conducted, and no weapons or dangerous materials were found in his possession.
A brief statement from the Presidency confirmed the security incident but assured the public that President Tinubu was never in danger.
“A lone individual attempted to breach the outer ring of the President’s security detail this morning in Kaduna. He was swiftly apprehended. There is no cause for alarm. The President’s itinerary continued without interruption,” the statement read.
Security agencies have since launched an investigation to determine the man’s identity, motive, and whether he acted alone or was part of a coordinated effort.
An intelligence source close to the DSS told reporters that the suspect is believed to be mentally unstable, though no official diagnosis has been released.
“We are conducting a thorough background check. It’s too early to rule out any motive, whether political, personal, or psychological,” the source said.
Following the scare, security was visibly tightened across Kaduna, with aerial surveillance, roadblocks, and increased patrols observed in key locations. Access to Government House and nearby routes was briefly restricted.
Despite the incident, President Tinubu proceeded with his engagements, including a security briefing and a stakeholders’ dialogue on peacebuilding in the North-West region.
While many Nigerians praised the rapid response of the presidential security team, others expressed concern over the persistent vulnerabilities in high-profile movements.
“We need to ask hard questions: How did someone get that close in the first place?” said Dr. Hassan Lawal, a security analyst. “This is a reminder that even the smallest breaches can have dangerous consequences.”
As the nation awaits more details on the intruder’s motive, officials urge citizens to remain calm and vigilant.
