Nigeria’s growing insecurity: A call to action before life becomes “solitary, poor, nasty, brutish and short”
By Sonny Ogulewe
The renowned English philosopher Thomas Hobbes once observed that where law, order, and effective authority are absent, human life becomes “solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short.” More than three centuries after those words were written, they have acquired an unsettling relevance in contemporary Nigeria, where millions of citizens increasingly live under the shadow of fear, uncertainty, and violence.
From the farmlands of Zamfara to the communities of Benue, from the highways of Kaduna to the forests of Niger State, and from Lagos to Benin expressway, even to the rain forests of Enugu, insecurity has become one of the greatest threats to national stability and development. Banditry, terrorism, kidnapping, communal conflicts, armed robbery, and other violent crimes have combined to create a climate of anxiety unprecedented in recent history.
The human cost of this crisis is staggering. According to security reports, over 12,000 Nigerians lost their lives to various forms of violent conflict in 2025 alone. Between 2006 and 2025, more than 222,000 people were reportedly killed in violent incidents across the country. These are not mere statistics; they represent fathers and mothers, sons and daughters, breadwinners, students, farmers, professionals, and community leaders whose lives were abruptly cut short.
The tragedy becomes even more disturbing when viewed through specific incidents that have shocked the nation. In June 2025, approximately 150 persons were brutally killed in Yelwata Community of Benue State in one of the deadliest attacks in recent memory. Entire families were wiped out, homes destroyed, and communities displaced. The massacre served as a grim reminder of the vulnerability of rural populations in many parts of the country.
Similarly, in June 2026, no fewer than 17 farmers were reportedly murdered by armed bandits in Zamfara State while working on their farms. Their only offence was attempting to earn a legitimate living and contribute to the nation’s food security. Such attacks have discouraged farming activities, worsened food shortages, and increased inflationary pressures on already struggling households.
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Nigeria has also witnessed the disturbing phenomenon of mass abductions. Thousands of schoolchildren have been kidnapped in recent years from educational institutions in Kaduna, Katsina, Niger, Zamfara, and other states. The trauma inflicted on the victims, their families, and their communities is immeasurable. Education, which should be a pathway to opportunity and national development, has in many areas become a source of fear.
The nation has equally mourned prominent citizens whose lives were cut short by violence. The killing of Ahmed Gulak in 2021 shocked many Nigerians and highlighted the dangers faced even by high-profile individuals. Yet, beyond the prominent names are countless ordinary Nigerians whose deaths receive little national attention but whose loss is no less painful.
Recent events have further underscored the frightening reach of insecurity across the country. In May 2026, Nigerians were horrified by the murder of Michael Oyedokun, a mathematics teacher abducted during coordinated attacks on schools in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State. His death, coming after the abduction of students and teachers, symbolized the growing vulnerability of educational institutions and the tragic human cost of insecurity. Another teacher, Joel Adegboye, reportedly lost his life while attempting to protect his students during the attacks. These incidents demonstrate that even schools, which ought to be sanctuaries of learning and hope, are no longer immune from the activities of criminal elements.
Equally disturbing was the recent death of retired Major General Rabe Abubakar, a former Director of Defence Information, who died while being held captive by bandits after his abduction in Katsina State. The tragic loss of a senior military officer who devoted much of his life to the defence of the nation sends a chilling message about the audacity and growing influence of criminal networks. If a retired General could be abducted and die in captivity despite national attention and rescue efforts, ordinary citizens are left to wonder about their own safety and security. His death stands as a painful indictment of the worsening security situation confronting the nation.
The economic consequences of insecurity are equally severe. Farmers are abandoning their farmlands. Investors are becoming increasingly cautious. Businesses are incurring additional security costs. Rural communities are being depopulated as residents flee attacks. Young people who should be contributing productively to the economy are either displaced or recruited into criminal enterprises. The result is a vicious cycle of poverty, unemployment, and further insecurity.
Security remains the primary responsibility of government. Without security, development becomes impossible. Roads, schools, hospitals, and other infrastructure lose their value when citizens cannot safely access them. No country can attract investment, create jobs, or achieve sustainable growth while insecurity persists at such alarming levels.
While the nation’s security agencies continue to make sacrifices under difficult conditions, the magnitude of the challenge demands a more robust and coordinated response. Military operations must be complemented by intelligence-driven policing, community engagement, technological surveillance, judicial reforms, and socio-economic interventions aimed at addressing the root causes of crime and violence.
There is an urgent need to strengthen intelligence gathering and information sharing at all levels. Traditional rulers, community leaders, religious institutions, and local residents must be integrated into a comprehensive security architecture. Criminal elements thrive where communities are disconnected from law enforcement agencies.
Furthermore, government must recognize that unemployment, poverty, and social exclusion can create fertile grounds for criminality. Investments in education, youth empowerment, agriculture, entrepreneurship, and skills acquisition should therefore be viewed not only as economic policies but also as essential components of a national security strategy.
The judiciary must also be strengthened to ensure that perpetrators of violent crimes are swiftly prosecuted and appropriately punished. Justice delayed often emboldens criminal networks and weakens public confidence in the rule of law.
Beyond government, citizens must embrace their collective responsibility for security. Vigilance, lawful cooperation with security agencies, and timely reporting of suspicious activities remain indispensable tools in the fight against crime.
Thomas Hobbes warned of a society where insecurity reduces life to a grim struggle for survival. Nigeria must not allow that warning to become its reality. Every life lost to banditry, terrorism, kidnapping, and communal violence is a painful reminder that much more needs to be done.
The security of lives and property is not merely a constitutional obligation; it is the foundation upon which national progress rests. The time for decisive action is now. Government at all levels, security agencies, community leaders, and citizens must work together to reverse the tide of insecurity before more innocent lives are lost.
Nigeria possesses the capacity, resources, and resilience to overcome these challenges. What is required is unwavering political will, strategic coordination, and sustained commitment. Future generations deserve a nation where people can live, work, farm, travel, and pursue their aspirations without fear. The nation owes them nothing less.
Each of these incidents represents more than a headline. They are stark reminders that behind every statistic lies a human story, a grieving family, a shattered dream, and a community left to cope with an irreplaceable loss. They collectively reinforce the urgent need for decisive and sustained action to restore security and public confidence across the country.
Beyond the tragic loss of Nigerian lives, what is even more disturbing is the tendency to reduce these national tragedies to mere political arguments. It is both unfortunate and disheartening when no less a figure than the President of the Senate, Sen. Godswill Akpabio, appears to attribute these gruesome killings to political opponents rather than confronting the grave security crisis at hand. Such reactions suggest a troubling disconnect from the pain and suffering of ordinary Nigerians, whose lives are being cut short daily by violence and insecurity.
The apparent indifference of those in positions of authority often stems from the fact that they are insulated from the harsh realities faced by the average citizen. Yet, insecurity recognizes no status, political affiliation, or social class. It is instructive that former Chief of Army Staff, General Tukur Buratai, once warned that if urgent and decisive measures were not taken to curb the escalating wave of violence, members of the political class might soon require military battalions merely to leave their homes safely.
This is not a matter for political point-scoring or partisan debate. It is a national emergency demanding sincere leadership, collective resolve, and immediate action. The lives of Nigerians must never be treated as collateral damage in the pursuit of political advantage. Every death is a tragedy, every victim a fellow citizen, and every attack a stark reminder that the security of the nation remains the foremost responsibility of government.
- Dr. Sonny Ogulewe writes from Abuja
