By Saminu Sodiq Bayonle
Nigeria – Friday, November 21, 2025
In recent weeks, the only stories dominating Nigeria’s news space have been terrorism, banditry, and violent attacks. The normal conversations about business, technology, lifestyle, and human-interest stories have been replaced with fear, tragedy, and uncertainty. It is heartbreaking to watch a nation once full of energy slowly drown in insecurity.
Across the country, the signs are clear: Nigeria is bleeding, and every region is feeling the heat. From the East with unknown gunmen, to the North with relentless terrorist operations, to the South battling kidnappers and armed robbery, nowhere seems safe anymore.
The situation in Niger State remains alarming. The decision of the government to shut down schools simply to prevent bandit raids highlights how dangerously normal these attacks have become. But shutting schools cannot be a long-term strategy. A country cannot protect its future by locking its children indoors. These attacks, ambushes on security forces, and the killing of senior military officers continue unchecked.
The painful reality is that our actions and inactions as citizens, leaders, and institutions have all contributed to the mess we are witnessing today. Too many people have chosen silence, indifference, or political loyalty over national interest. Humanity has taken a back seat while violence takes center stage.
What worries me deeply is the level of silence from those who should speak. The cries of the masses now sound like background noise to those in power. When a rumour of a coup surfaced, the government responded within 24 hours with a cabinet reshuffle. Yet months of killings, raids, and abductions have not inspired equal urgency. This imbalance raises serious questions about our priorities as a nation.
Foreign involvement has also sparked debate. The United States recently moved to assist Nigeria, but reactions vary some fear foreign interest, others welcome any help available. Regardless of opinion, what Nigerians want most is a government that values their lives and acts swiftly.
The situation in Kwara State illustrates how insecurity is spreading into regions once considered safe. From Patigi to Gbugbu, Kwara North is currently under siege. Communities that once lived in peace are now battling fear every day. The attack on Eruku village further confirms that the wave of terrorism is not slowing down but expanding.
Just days ago, a video surfaced online showing residents fleeing Oke-Ode in panic. Another video emerged of a church being raided people running for their lives in a place meant to symbolize peace and refuge. This is not normal. These are signs of a nation under pressure, a country struggling to keep its people safe.
The right to life should be the highest priority of any government. If insecurity continues at this pace, future generations including those of our leaders will inherit a country filled with fear, displacement, and instability.
Nigeria must wake up. We must put humanity above politics, above religion, above tribe. We must raise our voices because silence is a luxury we can no longer afford.
No part of Nigeria is safe anymore, and it is time more than ever for us to come together and rebuild the Nigeria we all dream of.
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