President Bola Tinubu has reaffirmed Nigeria’s opposition to the use of private military and security companies in African conflicts, warning that such non-state actors threaten national sovereignty and hinder coordinated security efforts.

Speaking during the first plenary session on Peace, Security, Governance, and Multilateralism at the 7th African Union–European Union Summit in Luanda, Angola, Tinubu, represented by Vice President Kashim Shettima, emphasized that Africa’s security challenges—including terrorism and organized crime—require state-led solutions rather than reliance on private forces with unclear mandates.

“Private military actors often complicate conflict resolution and undermine state authority,” Tinubu said. He stressed Nigeria’s commitment to supporting continental stability and working with the EU to build a “stable, just, and prosperous world.”

His remarks come amid growing insecurity in Nigeria, including school abductions:

• St. Mary’s Private Catholic Schools, Niger State: 50 pupils who were abducted have escaped and reunited with their families, but 253 children and 12 staff members remain in captivity.
• Government Girls Comprehensive Secondary School, Kebbi State: At least 25 students were kidnapped, with one staff member killed and another injured.

The President’s position underscores Nigeria’s insistence that peace and security must remain under government control, especially as mass kidnappings and terrorist attacks continue to threaten communities and educational institutions across the country.