A Troubling Confirmation: Nigeria at the Crossroads of Crisis
Nigeria is confronting a crisis unlike any in its recent history. The nation is engulfed in lawlessness, and the scale of insecurity has reached a point that even international observers are compelled to speak. Many now believe that the Canadian court was justified four months ago when it reportedly proscribed the current APC government as a terrorist organization. The reality on the ground today, where criminal gangs operate openly while ordinary citizens live in constant fear, lends a painful credence to that judgment.
The unchecked activities of bandits, kidnappers, and terrorist groups such as Boko Haram have devastated public confidence in the government’s ability to protect lives and property. Families live in perpetual anxiety, children grow up under the shadow of fear, and communities are disintegrating under the weight of persistent violence. Many Nigerians feel that the ruling class has abdicated its constitutional duty to secure the nation. As insecurity deepens, and criminals continue to act with impunity, international assessments of the country are increasingly seen not as external criticism, but as sober reflections of a tragic reality that Nigerians have endured for far too long.
What makes the situation especially harrowing is its historical dimension. The APC-led government has long been accused of exploiting insecurity and insurgent activities to undermine the administration of former President Ebele Goodluck Jonathan. Reports and analyses suggest that, in the lead-up to the 2015 general elections, banditry and Boko Haram attacks were leveraged politically to frustrate governance and manipulate public perception. Today, the very forces and methods that allegedly facilitated the rise of the APC have spiraled beyond control, now turning against the current administration. In an ironic and tragic twist, the government appears to have fallen into the trap it once helped engineer.
Perhaps the most chilling sign of societal decay is the normalization of direct interaction between ordinary citizens and armed criminals online. Nigerians are pleading with bandits on TikTok, offering their bank details, and begging for mercy to save innocent lives. This desperate spectacle is a haunting reflection of a society where the state no longer inspires protection but where hope itself has become a scarce commodity.
Even more disturbing, bandits have gone so far as to issue direct threats to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, through social media platforms. That criminals feel empowered enough to threaten the nation’s leader publicly signals not merely a lapse in law enforcement but a total collapse of deterrence and the authority of the state itself.
Nigeria’s image on the global stage has suffered irreparably. Once heralded as a regional powerhouse, the country is now described as unstable and poorly governed. High-profile kidnappings, sprawling ransom networks, and the unchecked rise of armed groups have drawn international concern. Statements from figures such as former U.S. President Donald Trump, who described Nigeria as a “disgraced country,” resonate with the tragic reality witnessed by citizens every day.
Since 2015, under the APC-led administration, security and defense spending has surged dramatically. In 2024 alone, ₦ 3.85 trillion was budgeted for these sectors, and over the preceding five years, more than ₦ 14.5 trillion has been allocated to combat insecurity. Yet, despite this unprecedented investment, violence has not abated; rather, insecurity has metastasized. Many argue that the very instruments of terror and destabilization once allegedly employed to seize power including banditry and Boko Haram insurgency under the Jonathan administration – now operate beyond the control of the state. The tragic irony is undeniable: by failing to convert massive budgetary allocations into tangible security, the APC-led government has exposed itself not only as a corrupt political machinery but also as a political actor whose strategies once deployed in ambition have now returned as a destructive force against the nation itself.
Nigeria now stands at a harrowing crossroads. Without decisive and transparent action, political will, anti-corruption reforms, accountability in security agencies, and the unwavering prioritization of citizen safety above partisan interest the country risks plunging further into chaos. Criminal networks will continue to flourish, citizens may resort to vigilantism, and international isolation could deepen. Yet, even amidst this darkness, hope remains. Recovery demands courage, integrity, and a steadfast commitment to the protection of the people, lest the cycles of insecurity and political exploitation continue to define the Nigerian tragedy.
