society
NIGERIA: A NATION OF PARTICULAR CONCERN. By George Omagbemi Sylvester
NIGERIA: A NATION OF PARTICULAR CONCERN.
By George Omagbemi Sylvester | Published by Saharaweeklyng.com
“How Insecurity, Economic Misrule, and Institutional Decay Are Dragging Africa’s Largest Democracy to the Brink.”
Nigeria is no longer a nation at a CROSSROADS; it is a nation at a CLIFF’S EDGE, dragged dangerously close to collapse by insecurity, corruption, economic mismanagement and institutional failure. To describe Nigeria as “A COUNTRY OF PARTICULAR CONCERN” is not an exaggeration. It is an urgent diagnosis grounded in data, daily experiences and the wailing voices of communities mourning their dead, burying their children and losing faith in a government that has repeatedly failed to secure life, dignity, and hope.
Today, more than 46% of Nigerians live below the poverty line, inflation continues to ravage every home and millions of young people are out of school, unemployed, or fleeing the country in desperation. The economy is battered, insecurity is rampant and governance is largely rudderless. But nothing captures Nigeria’s descent into chaos more painfully than the horrifying attacks on schools, a brutal reminder that even children, the most innocent among us, are not safe.
THE KEBBI SCHOOL ABDUCTION: A NATIONAL WOUND THAT REFUSES TO HEAL. On November 17, 2025, Nigeria was jolted again by a chilling act of terror. Armed men stormed the Government Girls’ Comprehensive Secondary School in Maga, Danko/Wasagu LGA of Kebbi State, abducting at least 25 schoolgirls in a coordinated predawn attack. The attackers scaled the school fence at about 4:00 a.m., opened fire indiscriminately, and dragged the girls into the forest.
In an act of courage and sacrifice, the school’s vice-principal, Hassan Yakubu Makuku, tried to shield the students. He was shot dead on the spot, executed for standing between young girls and the barrels of bandits’ guns. A security guard, Ali Shehu, was also shot and wounded while attempting to resist the attackers. This was not an isolated attack, it was a continuation of a horrifying pattern. The attacks in Chibok (2014), Dapchi (2018), Kagara (2021), Tegina (2021), Kuriga (2024), and now Kebbi all form a bloody chain of state failure. The haunting question remains: How many Nigerian children must be abducted before the government takes decisive action?
President Bola Tinubu condemned the attack as “REPREHENSIBLE,” ordering security agencies to rescue the girls. Though Nigerians have heard these promises before, promises that too often end in mass graves, unmarked graves, or traumatized survivors returning from months of captivity.
INSECURITY: NIGERIA IS BLEEDING FROM EVERY CORNER. Nigeria is now a battlefield.
Bandits control forests.
Terrorists dominate territories.
Kidnappers roam highways.
Cultists terrorize communities.
Unknown gunmen spill blood freely.
And criminals now view schools as marketplaces where children can be BOUGHT, SOLD and TRADED.
Between 2011 and 2024, more than 22,000 Nigerians were abducted, according to SBM Intelligence. Schoolchildren account for thousands. Today, the fear of abduction has become a cloud over education in the North-West and North-East. Parents are withdrawing their daughters from school. Teachers are resigning. Students attend classes under the shadow of death.
The African Centre for Strategic Studies warns: “Insecurity in Nigeria is no longer episodic; it is SYSTEMIC, SUSTAINED and INCREASINGLY NORMALIZED.”
AN ECONOMY IN FREE FALL. As insecurity expands, the economy collapses further.
• Food inflation soared above 30%, turning basic staples like rice, garri, and beans into luxuries.
• Fuel subsidy removal in 2023 unleashed nationwide hardship without adequate safety nets.
• The naira’s devaluation pushed millions into despair, weakening purchasing power.
• Power shortages cripple manufacturing and small businesses.
• Youth unemployment remains among the highest in the world.
The World Bank notes sharply: “Nigeria’s economic crisis is affecting the foundations of social stability.”
Businesses are shutting down. Investors are fleeing. The middle class (once the hope of national growth) is thinning daily. Nigeria is becoming a land of the extremely rich and the extremely poor.
THE ROT IN GOVERNANCE: CORRUPTION AND A CULTURE OF IMPUNITY. Nigeria’s governance crisis is not accidental, but engineered by decades of CORRUPTION, INCOMPETENCE and POLITICAL ARROGANCE.
Transparency International continues to rank Nigeria near the bottom of the global corruption index. Funds meant for security are siphoned. Allocations for education vanish. Social welfare programs become political compensation schemes. In many states, salaries and pensions are delayed while leaders parade luxury convoys and foreign trips.
As Nobel Laureate Wole Soyinka once warned: “The greatest threat to Nigeria is not corruption itself, but the culture of impunity that protects it.” This impunity has now metastasized into a national cancer.
A BROKEN SOCIAL CONTRACT. The social contract between Nigerian citizens and their government rests on a simple principle: The people obey the law and the state protects life and welfare. That contract has been shredded.
When schoolchildren are kidnapped, when teachers are murdered, when farmers are slaughtered, when the state cannot secure food, jobs or electricity, then governance loses its moral legitimacy.
As renowned political economist Amartya Sen argues: “Development must begin with freedom; freedom from fear, hunger and insecurity.” Nigeria today offers none of these.
WHAT MUST BE DONE AND URGENTLY. If Nigeria is to avoid total collapse, five urgent actions are non-negotiable:
1. Secure the Nation — Not with Speeches, But with Strategy.
Nigeria needs technology-driven intelligence, forest surveillance, community policing and decisive operations that dismantle bandit networks permanently.
2. Protect Schools with a Real Safe Schools Initiative.
Deploy armed marshals, install perimeter security and establish rapid-response teams in high-risk regions.
3. Rebuild the Economy from the Bottom Up
Job creation, agricultural revival, MSME funding and power sector fixes must take precedence over cosmetic reforms.
4. Fight Corruption with Institutional Teeth
Special anti-corruption courts, open contracting and digitized government payments are essential.
5. Put Citizens First
Social protection must be transparent, targeted and shielded from political interference.
A CRITICAL SUMMATION: THE HOUR OF TRUTH FOR NIGERIA. Nigeria stands at a historic turning point. The abduction of 25 schoolgirls in Kebbi, the killing of their vice-principal and the rising waves of insecurity, poverty and corruption are not isolated problems; they are symptoms of a nation clinically ill and dangerously untreated. The world is watching. Nigerians are waiting. History is recording. If Nigeria fails to act decisively now, the consequences will echo for generations.
As long as we still breathe, hope is not dead.
In the words of my own reflection: “We must refuse to normalize decline. Nigeria must rise; not by chance, but by courage, sacrifice and the unyielding demand for a nation worthy of its people.” — George Omagbemi Sylvester
Alleged Manipulation of Defilement Case Sparks Call for Review of Legal Advice in Lagos
By Ifeoma Ikem
A legal controversy has emerged in Lagos following a petition seeking a review of a legal advice issued in a case involving two female teachers accused of negligence in a child injury incident at a nursery school in Ikorodu.
The petition, submitted by Crown Cannan Attorneys, urges the Lagos State Ministry of Justice to reconsider the legal advice issued on September 16, 2022, in the case titled Commissioner of Police vs. Ambassador Rukayat Tobiloba and Rukayat Lawal.
Addressed to the former Lagos State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Moyosore Onigbanjo, the application argues that the legal advice may have been influenced by what the petition describes as a “deliberate manipulation of facts.”
According to counsel representing the defendants, the allegations stem from an incident that allegedly occurred on October 26, 2021, at Great Kezino Nursery and Primary School located in the Adamo area of Ikorodu, Lagos.
The defendants, Ambassador Rukayat Tobiloba, 26, and Rukayat Lawal, 24, were reportedly the class teacher and assistant class teacher respectively in charge of a Nursery One class where the incident occurred.
Court documents indicate that a three-year-old pupil, identified as Victim A, was reportedly injured after another pupil allegedly pierced a pencil into her private part during school hours.
The prosecution claims the incident occurred due to the failure of the teachers to exercise adequate care and supervision over the children under their custody.
Based on this allegation, the two educators were charged with negligence under Section 252 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015, which addresses acts that may cause harm through lack of proper care.
The defendants were subsequently arraigned before Magistrate Court No. 2 in Ikeja on April 19, 2022, where they faced a one-count charge relating to the incident.
During the investigation conducted at the Gender Unit of the Lagos State Police Command in Ikeja, several civil society groups reportedly monitored the proceedings.
Among them were representatives of the African Women Lawyers Association (AWLA) and other non-governmental organizations.
These groups reportedly raised concerns about what they described as a growing tendency to weaponise allegations of child abuse in ways that could unfairly damage reputations and careers.
In its petition, the defence team argued that the case deserves a fresh review to ensure that justice is served based on verified facts rather than assumptions or public pressure.
They urged the Ministry of Justice to carefully reassess the legal advice and the circumstances surrounding the investigation to determine whether the prosecution should proceed as currently framed.
Legal observers say the outcome of the requested review could determine the next stage of the case and may also highlight broader concerns about investigative procedures and child protection cases within the justice system.
Reacting to a viral social media post by Ambassador Rukayat Tobiloba, who claimed she might be jailed for defilement, the head teacher of Great Kezino Nursery and Primary School, Mrs. Edaolaropin Toyin, provided the school’s account of events.
According to her, the pupil identified as Victim A was enrolled in the Nursery One class on September 20, 2021, which had about 15 pupils.
She explained that on October 26, 2021, the pupil was transported home on the school bus after closing hours and handed over to her father around 4:30 p.m.
“Later that night, the pupil’s mother allegedly contacted the head teacher, claiming her daughter cried while bathing and alleged that a male classmate, Victim B, had inserted a pencil into her private part during school hours,” she said.
The school, however, rejected the allegation, maintaining that no such incident occurred while the child was in its custody.
“The following morning, the teacher visited the pupil’s home, where the father reportedly denied the mother’s account of the incident,” Toyin added.
She said the situation escalated later that day when the child’s parents arrived at the school with police officers from Imota Police Station demanding that the alleged male classmate be produced.
The head teacher further stated that the school management had supported Tobiloba throughout the legal process.
“Since the incident happened, the school management has never stopped supporting Tobiloba’s welfare until last year when she sent a WhatsApp message saying she was no longer interested in the court matter, claiming she had relocated to Ibadan,” she said.
She described the claims currently circulating on social media as “defamatory narratives.”
*GEN CG MUSA SUPPORT INITIATIVE MOURNS FALLEN HEROES AND URGES UNITY IN SECURITY SUPPORT
The Gen Christopher Gwabin Musa Support Initiative (GCGMSI) expresses its heartfelt condolences to His Excellency Gen Christopher Gwabin Musa OFR, Minister of Defence of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Grand Patron of the Initiative, and the families of the fallen heroes who courageously lost their lives in a recent attack by ISWAP in Konduga, Marte, Jakana, and Dalori in Borno State, northeast Nigeria. Among the tragic losses were three senior military commanders: Major U.I. Mairiga, Lt-Col Umar Faruq, and Lt-Col S.I. Iliyasu, who dedicated their lives to the service of our nation.
The GCGMSI implores the public to continue supporting our security agencies, emphasizing that the safety and security of our nation is a collective responsibility. Every day, our security forces pay the ultimate price to safeguard our country. We urge the public to remain supportive, pray for their success, and refrain from politicizing the security challenges we face.
This was contained in a statement signed by the Convener, Ibrahim Dahiru Danfulani Sadaukin Garkuwan Keffi/Betara Biu, which has been made available to the press. The statement highlights the initiative’s profound concern for the losses sustained by our security personnel and reflects on the broader security situation in Nigeria.
In his unwavering commitment to addressing the insecurity plaguing our nation, the Minister of Defence, Gen Christopher Gwabin Musa, has consistently engaged in urgent meetings with service chiefs, reinforcing strategic plans to combat threats and enhance national security. His leadership and decisive actions demonstrate a dedication to restoring peace and stability across our regions, ensuring a safer environment for all Nigerians.
society
SECURITY IS A SHARED RESPONSIBILITY: BACKING OUR MINISTER OF DEFENCE GEN. CHRISTOPHER GWABIN MUSA OFR
SECURITY IS A SHARED RESPONSIBILITY: BACKING OUR MINISTER OF DEFENCE GEN. CHRISTOPHER GWABIN MUSA OFR
By Ibrahim Dahiru Danfulani
In these challenging times, it is essential for all Nigerians to rally behind our leaders, particularly His Excellency Gen. Christopher Gwabin Musa OFR, the Minister of Defence. The security of our nation is not a matter to be taken lightly or politicized. Gen. Musa, recognized for his unwavering dedication and sacrifice, has served our country commendably throughout his life.
Following the recent reshuffle of service chiefs by President Asiwaju Bola Ahamed Tinubu GCFR, which resulted in Gen. Musa’s retirement as Chief of Defence Staff, many voiced their concerns. Yet, upon his appointment as Minister of Defence, there was a renewed sense of hope among the populace. Gen. Musa has embraced his role with an unwavering commitment, often sacrificing his rest to ensure the safety and security of our great nation.
While it is undeniable that Nigeria faces security challenges, we must approach these issues with unity rather than division. It is crucial to recognize that those who politicize our national security are often those who have not contributed positively to the success of our security agencies. Instead of spreading negativity, we should support Gen. Musa in his mission to restore peace and stability.
To achieve our collective goal of a secure Nigeria, we must provide Gen. Musa with the trust he deserves. His vision and determination, paired with our support and prayers, can pave the way to overcoming the challenges we face. It’s time for every Nigerian to put aside political differences and work together for the common good. Let us have faith in our leaders and trust in Gen. Musa’s ability to steer our nation towards safety and security.
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