Too Many Killings, Too Little Accountability: Nigeria’s Security Tragedy
Si nce 2009, Nigeria has seen a steady descent into violence — from Boko Haram’s insurgency to the herdsmen crisis, banditry, kidnappings, and regional unrest. This long-form essay draws from personal experience, historical events, and current realities to examine what has gone wrong with Nigeria’s security architecture and why. It’s not just about bad policy; it’s about leadership, ideology, silence, and systemic failure. The Genesis Nigeria’s security situation took a nosedive beginning in 2009. It was the period Boko Haram began to rear its ugly head. I remember that year vividly — I was a youth corps member serving in one of the northern states. There was slight tension in our area on one of those days. Information would later trickle in that some people were propagating a variant form of Islam, contrary to what was the norm. We would later see some soldiers at night around our lodges. To be honest, I was totally ignorant of what all of that meant or the possible future impact. E...