Speaking at the 20th Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism Awards in Lagos, Soyinka warned that Nigeria is dangerously misallocating its security resources at a time of mounting national insecurity.
Nobel laureate, Prof Wole Soyinka, has reignited national debate after declaring that the security convoy attached to President Bola Tinubu’s son was large enough to “crush” the recently foiled coup attempt in the Republic of Benin.
Speaking at the 20th Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism Awards in Lagos, Soyinka warned that Nigeria is dangerously misallocating its security resources at a time of mounting national insecurity.
Soyinka recounted witnessing what he described as an extravagantly large convoy in Ikoyi, Lagos — one he later learned was attached to Seyi Tinubu.
“I was astonished,” he said in the viral 4-minute-25-second video shared by the X handle #Nigeriastories. “The battalion I saw was sufficient to take over a small country.”
He said, "I was so astonished that I started looking for the national security adviser. I said track him down for me. I think they got him somewhere in Paris. But he was with the president; he was in a meeting.
“Then, I said I’ve just seen something I can’t believe I don’t understand and I described the scene to him I said do you mean that a child of the head of state goes around with an army for his protection or whatever.
“I couldn’t believe it. Later on, I did some investigative journalism, and I found that apparently this is how this young man goes around with his battalion, his heavy armed soldiers,” he said.
He humorously observed that if a major
insurgency were to break out, perhaps the President should ask Seyi to “go and handle it,” given the size of his escort — but added that “beyond the humour lies a serious matter of priority and fairness.”
He warned that concentrating a battalion of operatives around one individual is inconsistent with a nation battling kidnappings, rural attacks, insurgency and criminal violence, insisting that security deployments must reflect national realities, not privilege.
“We cannot concentrate a battalion of operatives around one individual while the nation bleeds,” he warned, calling for security deployment that reflects public need rather than privilege.
Soyinka also addressed Nigeria’s media landscape, praising investigative journalists while warning that misinformation on social platforms could spark future conflict.
“The next great conflict may well be triggered by the misuse of social media,” he said.
The event honoured veteran poet, Odia Ofeimun, alongside several award-winning journalists.
In the same recording, Soyinka criticised Nigeria’s involvement in the halted coup attempt in neighbouring Benin, describing it as “another unnecessary military entanglement.”
He further condemned ongoing demolitions across Lagos State, saying images and testimonies from displaced families highlight the lack of safeguards for vulnerable residents.
“Urban reforms must not strip away people’s humanity,” he said.
SaharaReporters had reported that President Tinubu had in November ordered the withdrawal of police officers from VIP (Very Important Personalities) duty nationwide, directing that they return to core policing roles.
Rights groups have long argued that VIP security drains manpower needed for public safety.
As of Tuesday night, the Presidency has not responded to Soyinka’s remarks.
The video continues to circulate widely on X, intensifying public scrutiny of governance, accountability and the allocation of Nigeria’s security resources.
WATCH: Soyinka Blasts Seyi Tinubu’s ‘Private Battalion’, Mocks President: “Call Your Son Next Time You Need Troops” pic.twitter.com/tDB63t2E2B
— Sahara Reporters (@SaharaReporters) December 10, 2025