society
Bandits Roam Free While Citizens Face Trial: A Scathing Rebuke of Nigerian Governance and Judicial Hypocrisy
Bandits Roam Free While Citizens Face Trial: A Scathing Rebuke of Nigerian Governance and Judicial Hypocrisy.
By George Omagbemi Sylvester | For SaharaWeeklyNG.com
“How the Persecution of Omoyele Sowore Exposes the Failure of the State to Protect Its People and Safeguard Freedoms.”
Nigeria today stands at a grim crossroads. On one path lies STATE REPRESSION where DISSIDENTS, JOURNALISTS and CRITICS are hauled before courts on dubious charges. On the other lies RAMPANT BANDITRY, ABDUCTIONS and VIOLENCE, terrorizing thousands of innocent citizens with apparent impunity. The recent pronouncements by the lawyer of human-rights activist Omoyele Sowore (that “bandits roam free while citizens face trial”) are not mere rhetoric. They are a sobering indictment of a government that seems more intent on silencing dissent than protecting lives.
This essay delves into the details of this accusation, unpacks the broader political and security context and argues forcefully why this moment demands not just outrage, but a national reckoning.
The Sowore Case: A Microcosm of State Misplaced Priorities. On 3 December 2025, Sowore’s lead counsel, Abubakar Marshal, delivered a blistering critique of the government’s latest prosecution of his client. According to Marshal, the government under Bola Ahmed Tinubu has embarked on a deliberate campaign to “shrink Nigeria’s civic space” by targeting ordinary citizens who demand accountability.
Marshal argued that while armed bandits (those who ABDUCT, KILL, RAPE, LOOT and DESTABILIZE WHOLE COMMUNITIES) roam freely, innocent Nigerians who only demand good governance are arrested, tried and harassed.
Consider the facts:
Sowore was arraigned on five-count charges by the Department of State Services (DSS), based on his social-media posts criticizing President Tinubu.
His lawyer challenged the competence of the suit and questioned the jurisdiction of the court.
Despite the protestations and even though the prosecution had only just received the defence’s objection, the court proceeded to grant bail on self-recognition.
The court noted that there was no evidence that Sowore posed a flight risk, that his passport had been deposited with the court registry and that he had attended previous hearings and yet he was still being prosecuted for exercising his right to expression.
Marshal’s conclusion was stark and unambiguous: a government that “NEGOTIATES WITH BANDITS AND PAYS RANSOM TO CRIMINALS” yet goes after citizens who only ask for accountability has perverted justice.
He called on Nigerians to “RISE and RESIST” such suppression, insisting that “until we are all free, we are not free.”
In short: the treatment of Sowore is not an isolated case, it is emblematic of a much deeper malaise, one that strikes at the heart of constitutional freedoms, the rule of law and state legitimacy.
The Reality of Banditry: Why the Complaint Is Not Hyperbole. To understand why the “BANDITS ROAM FREE” charge resonates (even beyond political circles) one must confront the stark truth about Nigeria’s security collapse. The state’s failure to stem banditry is well documented. A 2023 report by Human Rights Watch (HRW) laid bare how violent groups in the northwest and other regions carried out widespread killings, kidnappings for ransom, rape, looting, mass displacement and even in areas near the seat of government.
Academic research confirms what many analysts and victims already know: banditry in Nigeria has evolved into a form of modern slavery and one in which vulnerable populations are terrorized, traumatized, exploited and stripped of basic human dignity.
More than that, analysts have tied this security collapse to deeper failures of governance. A recent study published by the International Institute of Academic Research and Development shows how institutional breakdowns, weak law enforcement, chronic corruption, youth unemployment, poverty, neglect of rural infrastructure and social services have all combined to create fertile ground for bandits to thrive.
In the words of one security analyst recently quoted by a major African media outlet: Nigeria’s insecurity is “rooted in governance failure.”
Thus, when Sowore’s lawyer condemns the government for focusing on silencing critics instead of combating criminal terror, he is not exaggerating. He is calling attention to a tragic inversion of priorities: JUSTICE for DISSENTERS, IMPUNITY for KILLERS.
Governance Failure: The Bigger Crime. What we see today is not merely a spike in crime; it is the gradual unraveling of social contract and the implicit agreement between government and governed that promises safety, justice and dignity. Political scientists often define “good governance” as the ability of a government to uphold the rule of law, ensure transparency, deliver public goods (security, infrastructure, social services) and respect civil liberties.
When these pillars crumble, governance failure follows and the consequences are catastrophic. Banditry, insurgency, fear, social dislocation these become the norm rather than the exception.
Scholars studying Nigeria’s bandit crisis increasingly argue that military strikes alone cannot resolve the problem. These strategies (which often target hideouts deep in forests) do little to deal with root causes: poverty, despair, exclusion, neglect.
Without systemic reform (strengthening local governance, boosting rural development, creating economic opportunities, restoring trust between communities and security agencies) the cycle of violence and impunity will only deepen.
Moreover, when the same state that fails to protect its citizens turns around to suppress dissent, it forfeits moral and legal legitimacy. That is precisely what has happened in the Sowore case: a government that cannot guarantee safety still seeks to wield the courts like weapons.
The Cost — to Democracy, to Citizens, to Nigeria’s Soul. The suppression of dissent is not simply a violation of individual rights; it corrodes democracy itself. As veteran Nigerian human-rights lawyer and activist Richard Akinnola once argued, a free press, a robust civil society and respect for speech and assembly are not optional extras but they are indispensable to a functioning democracy.
When governments imprison critics instead of bandits, they send a chilling message to every journalist, activist or ordinary citizen: your voice is a liability.
The consequences are not hypothetical. They are real: in countless communities, people live in fear and are afraid to demand accountability, report abuses, or protest injustice. Meanwhile, bandits kill, rape, abduct, extort but with impunity. That is the opposite of security: it is a reign of terror.
In a broader moral sense, such selective justice erodes the very foundations of citizenship. A state that punishes the powerless and legitimizes the powerful becomes no longer a protector, but a predator.
What Must Be Done: A Call to Action. The moment demands more than outrage. It demands clarity of purpose and collective resolve.
Reprioritise Security — The government must shift focus: from criminalising dissent to dismantling criminal networks. It must strengthen local policing, intelligence gathering, community-based defence and socio-economic support for vulnerable regions. Scholars warn that banditry cannot be tackled only by guns; root causes must be addressed.
Protect Civic Space — The courts should not be used as tools of repression. The charges against dissenters like Sowore must be carefully reviewed; merit and constitutional rights must guide judicial actions, not political expedience.
Institutional Reform — Governance deficits (corruption, neglect of rural infrastructure, unequal development, lack of accountability) must be confronted. Good governance demands transparency, fairness, responsiveness and respect for human dignity.
Empower Communities — Local leaders, civil-society organisations, ordinary citizens must be involved in restoring security and governance. Community policing, rural development, and empowerment of youth are part of the solution — not just militarisation.
Defend Democracy — Citizens must rise to resist any attempt to silence dissent, even more so when the state fails to secure basic rights. As Sowore’s lawyer said: “until we are all free, we are not free.”
Final Take – No More Excuses, No More Silence.
The Nigerian state today faces two concurrent crises: the collapse of security, and the erosion of civil liberties. Though these crises are not separate; they are intimately linked. A state that forfeits its responsibility to protect its citizens while punishing those who call for accountability is a state that has lost its soul.
The words of Abubakar Marshal are not hyperbole, they are a sober diagnosis: “bandits roam free while citizens face trial.” The tragedy is not only in the violence inflicted by criminals, though that devastation is real, daily and heartbreaking. The greater tragedy is in the state’s betrayal of its core mandate: to secure lives, uphold justice and preserve freedom.
If Nigeria is to heal, rebuild and redeem itself, it must start by re-committing to the dignity of every citizen and by defending freedom, delivering security and honoring the rule of law. Anything less is not governance; it is TYRANNY hidden behind the ROBES of LEGITIMACY.
society
OWUTU FM 2026 Ramadan Lecture: Sheikh Jamiu Asanbe Urges Muslims to Avoid Showboating in Worship
OWUTU FM 2026 Ramadan Lecture: Sheikh Jamiu Asanbe Urges Muslims to Avoid Showboating in Worship.
The Chief Imam of Agelete Central Mosque, Ikoyi Lagos, Alhaji Jamiu Asanbe, has urged Muslims to remain sincere in their acts of worship and avoid the temptation of seeking public praise for good deeds.
The respected Islamic scholar gave this admonition while delivering a lecture at the OWUTU FM 2026 Ramadan Lecture, held on Saturday, February 28, 2026, in Lagos.
Speaking on the importance of sincerity in Islam, Sheikh Asanbe cautioned Muslim faithful against what he described as “showboating” — the practice of performing charitable acts or religious duties merely to gain recognition or admiration from others.
According to him, every act of worship in Islam must be done purely for the sake of Almighty Allah.
He explained that while acts such as prayer, fasting, and charity are fundamental pillars of faith, their true value lies in the intention behind them.
The cleric therefore encouraged Muslims to remain genuine in their devotion and avoid mixing their faith with the desire for worldly praise or attention.
Sheikh Asanbe also reminded the faithful that the holy month of Ramadan presents a unique opportunity for spiritual renewal. He urged believers to increase acts of generosity, particularly by supporting the needy, vulnerable members of society, and orphans.
Earlier in her remarks, the Convener of the Ramadan Lecture and CEO of OWUTU FM, Hajia Adejoke Muyibat Balogun, encouraged attendees to use the sacred month as a time for reflection, self-improvement, and community development.
She described the lecture theme as carefully selected to promote spirituality, strengthen faith, and encourage peaceful coexistence within the community.
Balogun expressed appreciation to the numerous guests and supporters who attended the event, noting that their presence reflected the strong bond within the community.
She further reaffirmed OWUTU FM’s commitment to sustaining the annual Ramadan Lecture, praying for Allah’s continued guidance and mercy in the years ahead.
The 2026 edition of the Ramadan Lecture attracted dignitaries and representatives from various organisations including Uzamot Communications, Okutex Fabrics, and the Yeye Asiwaju of Ojota Kingdom.
The event also featured engaging activities such as a quiz competition, where winners were presented with gifts. In the spirit of Ramadan, iftar meals were shared with guests, reinforcing the values of unity, generosity, and compassion that define the holy month.
Through initiatives like this, OWUTU FM continues to play a vital role in promoting faith-based dialogue, community engagement, and social harmony.
Tinubu Abroad, Nigeria in Chaos: The Spectacle of Elite Excess
By George Omagbemi Sylvester
“Government officials queue to bid him farewell as he departs, only to rush ahead and line up again to welcome him at his destination; a stark display of misaligned priorities in Nigerian leadership.”
Wednesday, March18, 2026
In a spectacle that has plunged Nigeria’s political class into fresh ignominy, a long line of federal ministers, governors, senators and political hangers‑on queued outside a London hotel this week to welcome President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR upon his arrival in the United Kingdom for a two‑day state visit.
Not only did these government officials send off Mr. Tinubu as he departed Nigeria (a ritual in itself excessive given the scale of pressing national crises) they rushed ahead to London to line the halls of his hotel, applauding and greeting him like conquering heroes arriving on foreign shores. This is how Nigeria’s elites now comport themselves while millions of citizens endure ever‑deepening hardship.
A Travesty of Priorities
Tinubu’s visit to the UK, hosted by King Charles III and Queen Camilla, is officially billed as an effort to deepen trade relations, attract investment and strengthen bilateral cooperation between Britain and Africa’s most populous nation. While those diplomatic objectives in theory could benefit Nigeria, the optics of an entire political class fawning over a president abroad are unbearably grim against the backdrop of domestic suffering.
According to recent economic analysis, despite macroeconomic adjustments such as ending fuel subsidies and floating the naira, more than 60% of Nigerians still live in poverty and daily hardships are rampant. Security remains a grave concern with violence and banditry destabilising large swathes of the country. Instead of addressing these crises with urgency, Nigeria’s leadership appears fascinated with photo‑ops overseas.
“A System of Self‑Centred Elites”
Critics within Nigeria have not minced words. Political observers describe the spectacle as a display of self‑centred politics divorced from the realities facing ordinary citizens. One observer on social platforms summed up the broader sentiment: “Tinubu represents a system of self‑centred elites (elite consensus over popular will) and this is exactly the performative politics that lines like these embody.”
Dr. Godfrey Mwakikagile, a respected African scholar on post‑colonial governance, has long warned that bad leadership and lack of accountability are Africa’s greatest challenges. “Power in many African states is too centralised and concentrated in the hands of elites who use it to perpetuate themselves at the expense of the public good,” Mwakikagile recently argued; a critique that resonates all the more when ministers fly abroad not to pursue tangible policy but to line up like admirers.
The Cost of Foreign Pageantry
This isn’t the first time Tinubu’s foreign engagements have attracted scrutiny. His administration’s frequent travels (often with large entourages) have drawn criticism for prioritising optics over outcomes, especially when Nigeria’s economy contracts and its people struggle with food inflation and insecurity.
Former presidential candidate Peter Obi has been among the most vocal domestic critics of these priorities, noting that Tinubu’s extensive foreign travel (including to the UK) distracts from urgent national needs and has become a “matter of grave concern.” Obi insists that such actions reveal a leadership more interested in global visibility than domestic wellbeing.
Nigeria Jagajaga!
The phrase “Nigeria jagajaga” (loosely translated as Nigeria being in disarray) has never felt more apt. A nation where ministers greet presidents in plush foreign suites while citizens queue for food and services is a country deeply out of balance.
Instead of being welcomed like dignitaries abroad, ministers and governors should be at home addressing the root causes of Nigeria’s struggles: insecurity that displaces communities and kills livelihoods, an economy that leaves the majority impoverished despite reforms, and the persistent failings of governance that erode public trust.
What Nigerians Deserve
President Tinubu and his entourage should be judged not by the number of ministers who lined up to greet him in London, but by the lives changed back in Nigeria.
As scholars like Mwakikagile and critics like Obi remind us, political leadership must be accountable and grounded in service, not spectacle. Nigeria’s leaders owe the people more than applause at international hotels; they owe them safety, economic opportunity, and genuine progress.
If this nation is ever to break free from the cycle of “jagajaga,” then those in power must demonstrate sincerity, not pageantry; action, not admiration. The lines outside a London hotel are not a testament to leadership; they are a testament to where Nigeria’s priorities have tragically come to rest.
GENERAL BULAMA BIU MOURNS VICTIMS OF BORNO ATTACKS, CALLS FOR UNITY AND VIGILANCE**
In a solemn and heartfelt message, Major General Abdulmalik Bulama Biu (Rtd), mni, the Sarkin Yakin Biu, has expressed profound grief over the recent tragic incidents of bomb explosions in Maiduguri and renewed violent attacks in several communities across Borno State.
This was contained in a statement he personally signed and made available to the press.
The retired senior military officer described the assaults which affected areas including Ngoshe, Mandiragirau, Ajiri, and Buratai as “cruel and most barbaric,” particularly as they occurred during a period of deep religious observance for many residents. General Biu extended his condolences to His Excellency, Professor Babagana Umara Zulum, the Executive Governor of Borno State, the people of the state, and especially the immediate families of the victims.
“These unfortunate attacks have painfully led to the loss of innocent lives and destruction of properties, a painful reminder of the challenges we continue to face as a people,” he stated.
General Biu prayed that Almighty Allah grants the deceased eternal rest (Jannatul Firdaus) and grants the injured a speedy recovery. He also commended the bravery and swift response of security agencies and emergency responders, acknowledging their tireless efforts to protect lives and restore peace in the state.
Addressing the resilient people of Borno, including elders, community leaders, associations, and the vibrant youth, General Biu urged steadfastness, unity, and increased vigilance. “Let us once again rejig our commitment and ensure we overcome this development. We have done it in time past, we can still do it now together,” he emphasized.
He further called on citizens not to allow “these cowardly acts to break our spirit or weaken our collective resolve to achieve lasting peace and stability.”
In strong terms, General Biu declared his solidarity with Governor Zulum, the state government, stakeholders, and all well-meaning citizens in condemning the attacks. He concluded his message with a prayer: “May Allah (SWT) bring lasting peace to Borno State and the entire nation.”
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