OBADOFIN ADEMOLA
The recent kidnapping of students and teachers in Oyo State is yet another painful reminder that Nigeria is facing a grave security crisis that demands urgent attention.
The victims must be rescued without delay, and every available security resource should be deployed to secure their freedom and reunite them with their families.
Their abduction has once again exposed the frightening reality that insecurity has reached a worrisome level across the country. Nigerians are increasingly living in fear, while many are asking a simple but important question: what exactly is the government doing to protect lives and property?
From the North to the South, criminal elements have continued to unleash terror on innocent citizens. The killings attributed to Fulani herdsmen, bandits, kidnappers, and other armed groups are on the high side and have become a major threat to national stability.
Their activities appear not only aimed at taking lives but also at crippling the economy of the country by disrupting agriculture, commerce, education, and transportation.
Farmers can no longer freely access their farmlands because of fear. Across many parts of Nigeria, those who should be cultivating crops and feeding the nation are abandoning their farms to avoid being kidnapped or killed. The consequences are visible everywhere. Food production is declining, food prices are increasing, and millions of Nigerians are struggling to cope with the rising cost of living.
A nation that cannot guarantee the safety of its farmers is a nation endangering its food security.
The education sector is also suffering greatly from the growing insecurity. Students are becoming increasingly reluctant to go to school because of the fear of kidnapping. Parents now send their children to school with anxiety and uncertainty. Schools that should be centers of learning and development are becoming targets for criminal gangs seeking ransom and publicity.
Religious institutions have not been spared. Churches and other places of worship now conduct services under fear and heightened security measures. Worshippers who gather to seek spiritual comfort are increasingly concerned about their safety.
The fact that citizens are afraid to worship freely should be a source of national concern.
Traveling across Nigeria has become another major challenge. Many roads that should connect communities and facilitate economic activities have become dangerous routes plagued by kidnappers and armed criminals. Traveling is no longer a luxury or a simple necessity; it has become a risky undertaking that many Nigerians approach with fear and apprehension.
At a time when insecurity is threatening every aspect of national life, government attention appears increasingly focused on political calculations and future elections. This raises serious concerns among citizens who believe that security should take precedence over every reelection ambition, whether at the presidential or gubernatorial level.
The President, governors, and political leaders must understand that no political victory is meaningful if citizens continue to lose their lives daily. The enormous resources, funds, and energy being devoted to campaign organizations and political mobilization should instead be channeled toward strengthening security across the country.
The reported distribution of luxurious buses for political activities in Nigeria’s 774 local government areas has generated debate among many Nigerians. At a time when communities are under attack and citizens are demanding greater security, one cannot help but imagine the impact if those same 774 vehicles were donated to security agencies.
Such vehicles could be deployed for patrol operations, intelligence gathering, rapid response missions, and rural surveillance. The result would be increased operational capacity and renewed confidence among the people.
The government must act fast and be sincere with Nigerians. Citizens are tired of reassurances that are not matched by visible results. They want to see concrete action. They want to see farmers return safely to their farms. They want students to attend school without fear. They want churches and other places of worship to conduct services peacefully. They want to travel freely on Nigerian roads without worrying about kidnappers and bandits.
Most importantly, Nigerians want the safe and immediate rescue of the students and teachers kidnapped in Oyo State. Every moment spent in captivity is a painful experience for the victims and their loved ones. The authorities must treat their rescue as a matter of urgent national importance.
Nigeria can still work. Nigeria can still be peaceful. Nigeria can still become the prosperous nation that its citizens dream of. But that future depends on the actions taken today.
The time is now.
The President must immediately give a clear marching order to all security chiefs to intensify operations against bandits, kidnappers, terrorists, and every criminal group threatening the peace and stability of the country.
Security agencies must be equipped, empowered, and held accountable for results.
History will remember those who acted when the nation needed them most. Nigerians are looking to their leaders for courage, commitment, and decisive action.
The nation is calling. The people are waiting. The government must act now before more lives are lost and before insecurity further damages the soul and future of Nigeria.
