“The real issue is that insecurity should never become a political football, left in the realm of politics. Every Nigerian life has equal value, irrespective of ethnicity, religion, political affiliation, or geographical location.”
Governance is too important to be left to the government alone. Every citizen has a role to play in building the kind of society we desire and dream of. Security, in particular, is a shared responsibility that demands collective commitment, rather than political point-scoring.
Following the recent rescue of the abducted principal, teachers, and pupils of the Oriire school in Oyo State from the den of bandits, one would have expected public discourse to focus on how government, security agencies, communities, and citizens could collectively wage a more effective war against banditry.
Unfortunately, the conversation quickly shifted from solutions to sentiments.
Overcoming Insecurity Without Politics
A senator from the northern part of the country, while reacting to the development during a media interview, repeatedly questioned why the Federal Government had acted swiftly in securing the release of the Oriire victims while people abducted from his own local government on the same day were still languishing in captivity.
His remarks suggested that decisive action was taken only because the incident occurred in the South-West. His viewpoints were later corroborated by the Arewa consultative (ACF) and the Northern Elders Forum ( NEF) while recently speaking through the media on a high pitch, urging the president to repeat the strategy he used to rescue Oriire kidnapping victims also for the North.
Whether or not that perception is justified is beside the point. The real issue is that insecurity should never become a political football. Every Nigerian life has equal value, irrespective of ethnicity, religion, political affiliation, or geographical location.
Likewise, some commentators hastily alleged that the kidnapping itself was orchestrated by politicians seeking political advantage. A former governor even went so low as pointing finger at the Oyo state governor, Oluseyi Makinde, for orchestrating the kidnapping for political ends.
Such speculations, without credible evidence, only distract from the urgent task of defeating criminality.
Sadly, only hours after the Oriire victims regained their freedom, another tragedy struck. Mr. Owoade Matthew Olawale, the headmaster of Nomadic Basic School, Igbojaye, in Itesiwaju Local Government Area, was reportedly abducted by suspected bandits who allegedly demanded a ransom of ₦50 million.
Though the Oyo State Police Command has reportedly rescued the 60-year-old headmaster, the abduction is a reminder of the fact that there is still fire on the mountain.
As our elders wisely say, “A ni ki a jẹ ẹ̀kùrù kó tán, ẹni kan tún gbón ọwọ́ rẹ̀ sí àwò”—before one problem is resolved another more serious one surfaces.
Just recently, four students and one principal were abducted when writing an examination being conducted by the National Examination Council (NECO) in Kogi State.
In a statement by the spokesperson of the Kogis State Police Command, ASP Salisu Oyiza, the law enforcement agency stated: “During the incident, four students, the school principal and one NECO ad hoc staff member were abducted by the attackers.
“A combined team of the police and other security agencies immediately launched a search-and-rescue operation and is currently on the trail of the assailants. So far, one of the abducted students has been rescued, while efforts are ongoing to secure the safe rescue of the remaining victims and apprehend the perpetrators.”
The Kogi State PPRO further stated that the state Commissioner of Police, Naziru Kankarofi, the Brigade Commander and the State Security Adviser to the Governor of Kogi State, were on their way to the scene for an on-the-spot assessment.
Another heart-wrenching story of the recent abduction of siblings traveling from Abuja to Ohini Local Government Area of Benue gave an indication that it is not yet uhuru as far overcoming the bandits and kidnappers is concerned. This has even fuelled further speculation that maybe informants of the bandits are even planted as agents and spies in the Armed Force and para-military agencies.
All these mind-boggling scenarios should provoke serious reflection about our determination to end banditry, rather than deepen political divisions.
Contemporary philosophers generally regard banditry as a profound moral evil and a symptom of ethical decay.
Many argue that poor governance, structural inequality, the collapse of communal values, inadequate ethical education, and weak civic responsibility have created fertile ground for violent crimes, especially in poorly governed rural communities.
Several others see it as a desperate survival strategy born out of crushing poverty and the unequal distribution of opportunities.
Insecurity should never be a daily reality that has been the situation in the country for some time now. Whatever explanation one adopts, one fact remains indisputable: insecurity cannot be solved through political rhetoric. As the saying goes, we cannot claim to protect a precious gem while our hands are stained with germs.
Lasting solutions require a comprehensive approach that combines effective security operations, intelligence gathering, economic empowerment, quality education, community policing, and active citizen participation.
The protection of lives and property is the foremost obligation of every government. It is a sacred social contract between the state and its citizens.
However, citizens also have corresponding responsibilities—to provide timely information, support lawful security efforts, reject the glorification of criminals, and refuse to politicise national tragedies. Governor Makinde recently bemoaned a precarious situation where governors are hamstrung on given directives and orders in tackling insecurity. This is simply because security is exclusive to the Federal Government exclusive.
If you saddle a man with responsibility, it must go with authority to act, the Oyo State governor had charged.
He had also wondered why kidnapping took place less than 24 hours after he made a declaration of his intention to contest for the 2027 presidential election, on the platform of the Allied People’s Movement (APM).
Indeed, there are some of the emergent questions waiting for answers…
Insecurity does not distinguish between political parties, ethnic groups, or regions. Its victims are Nigerians. Therefore, our response must be guided, not by partisan interests, but by patriotism and a shared determination to restore peace. Playing politics with insecurity only allows it to fester like an untreated wound.
Meanwhile, the call by Governor Makinde on the United Nations (UN) and other relevant international human rights bodies to investigate and clear the air on the Oriire abduction has continued to generate divided opinions.
Justifying his call for a probe of the Oriire abduction saga, Makinde had stated, among others: “This is not about politics. It is about justice for the victims, reassurance for our people, and restoring public confidence that every Nigerian child can go to school without fear.”
Seriously speaking, defeating insurgency requires unity of purpose, sincerity of leadership, and collective action – a seamless synergy between all arms of government and the citizens. No one can clap with one hand.
The rising spate of insecurity in the land has weakened public confidence in government. Resultantly, the faith the people repose in those who are supposed to secure them has drastically thinned out.
