Nigeria at a crossroads: Insecurity threatens nation’s future
By Austine Agbo Emmanuel, Kaduna
Insecurity has become Nigeria’s most critical national crisis, affecting every region and shaking the very foundations of the country’s social and economic stability.
From the forests of Zamfara to the valleys of Plateau, from the suburbs of Kaduna to the farmlands of Benue and across Borno State, the cycle of violence remains relentless. Communities are in mourning, families are displaced and searching for refuge and the country is growing increasingly fatigued under the weight of constant tragedy.
At the core of this crisis lies a troubling collapse in the authority of the state. The frequency of abductions, armed assaults, and mass killings has reached a point where shock has faded into resignation. Violence has become so commonplace that it is now perceived as part of everyday life. This dangerous normalisation is perhaps the most damning sign of a system that appears either overwhelmed, ill-equipped, or unwilling to respond with the urgency the situation demands.
Calls for immediate government action rang out during the 2025 Easter celebrations, echoing from both religious and civil society platforms. Among the most powerful voices was that of Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah, whose Easter homily painted a stark portrait of national anguish.
In deeply moving remarks, the Bishop described Nigeria as a nation “dangling and bleeding on a cross of pain and mindless suffering.” He appealed directly to President Bola Tinubu to bring Nigerians “down from this cross of evil,” giving voice to the despair and longing felt by millions.
The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), representing the 19 Northern states and the Federal Capital Territory, also issued a poignant Easter message. Led by its chairman, Rev. John Joseph Hayab, the association described the security situation in Northern Nigeria — especially in Plateau and Benue States — as not only a grave threat to peace but an unfolding humanitarian disaster.
It pointed out that women, children, and other vulnerable populations continue to bear the brunt of the violence, with many communities now overflowing with widows, orphans, and internally displaced persons in urgent need of relief.
The Arewa Consultative Forum joined the chorus of concern, linking the spiralling insecurity directly to a failure of leadership. In its statement, the forum decried the senseless killings, the destruction of livelihoods, and the mass displacement of Nigerian citizens. It blamed the worsening crisis on political negligence, self-serving governance, and rampant corruption among the elite.
What compounds this tragedy is not only the ferocity of the violent actors but also the unsettling silence — and in some cases, perceived complicity — of those in power. Every fresh attack raises urgent questions: Where is the intelligence infrastructure? What coordination exists between security agencies? And most importantly, is there genuine political resolve to tackle this crisis head-on?
What started over a decade ago as an isolated insurgency in the North-East has since morphed into a full-blown national emergency. Today, Nigeria is wrestling with multiple layers of insecurity, ranging from terrorism and banditry to communal clashes and urban crime. In the North-West, kidnapping for ransom has become a thriving criminal enterprise. In the North-Central, entire villages have been wiped out, farmland lies fallow, and food production has come to a halt.
The ripple effects are devastating. Beyond the irreparable loss of lives and property, the nation is on the brink of a food crisis. Poverty levels are rising, and public trust in the government’s ability to provide basic protection is plummeting. Rural schools are shuttered, businesses are collapsing, and travelling by road has become a perilous venture.
Though the federal government has announced the acquisition of new military hardware and an intensification of counter-terrorism operations, the disconnect between official declarations and lived reality remains glaring. What Nigerians seek are not words of condemnation, but tangible, measurable outcomes. The moment for rhetoric is long gone. What is needed now is a comprehensive, intelligence-led, and community-based approach to national security.
President Tinubu, now nearly a year into his tenure, must understand that his presidency will ultimately be defined not by infrastructure or economic reform, but by his ability to restore peace and security. As Bishop Kukah noted, the president did not create this crisis — but the responsibility to resolve it now rests squarely on his shoulders.
Security is the cornerstone of all national progress. Without peace, development cannot take root. Without safety, prosperity is a mirage. The questions echoing across the country are no longer rhetorical. They are desperate. They are urgent. They are deeply personal. When will the bloodshed stop? Who will rescue Nigeria from this cross of sorrow? And above all, will the government act — truly act — before the nation bleeds beyond repair?