Tinubu Urges Support, Prayers for Brave Soldiers Defending Nigeria

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June 7, 2025
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* Calls for unity, sacrifice as Muslims celebrate Eid-el-Kabir

*Governors preach peace*Army, NAF chiefs boost troops’ morale

Our Correspondents

President Bola Tinubu yesterday called for more prayers for the military and security agencies currently making sacrifices to keep the nation safe, particularly those confronting terrorists and bandits.

The President, who observed the Eid-al-Adha prayers at the Eid Ground in Dodan Barracks, Lagos, told newsmen that the security agencies and vulnerable citizens should top the prayer list.

Also, as Muslims around the world marked the 2025 Eid-el-Kabir celebration yesterday, prominent political leaders and State Governors extended warm greetings to the Muslim Ummah, calling for reflection, unity, and fervent prayers in the nation.

Likewise, the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Olufemi Oluyede, and the Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Hasan Abubakar, extended their heartfelt felicitations to the officers, soldiers, airmen, airwomen, and families of the Nigerian military, applauding their steadfast commitment, gallantry, and selfless service to the nation.

Oluyede, also hosted an Eid-el-Kabir luncheon for frontline troops of Operation Fansan Yamma Sokoto, in appreciation of their sacrifices and dedication to national security.

According to President Tinubu: “We should remember to pray and give to those who are very vulnerable in the spirit of the season, which is sacrifice. We must unite, remain our brothers’ keeper, and give to our neighbours. We should show love to everyone.

“We must also pray hard for our troops to keep us safe. They are making sacrifices in the challenges that we face from terrorism and banditry today. We must pray for them specifically, remember their sacrifices, and continue to behave well as citizens”.

Earlier at the prayer ground, Chief Imam of Lagos State, Suleiman Oluwatoyin Abu-Nola, urged the Muslim faithful to remember and reflect on Abraham’s sacrificial life.

“The whole essence of today is sacrifice. We must learn to make sacrifices for our family, nation, and community. We must render our service to Allah, not men,” he said.

The Chief Imam called on worshipers to live in peace and consider the needs of their neighbours, the poor and vulnerable.

“If we are to see the Nigeria of our dreams, we must be ready to make sacrifices. We must unite as Nigerians to make progress. We must rise above tribal sentiments. Whether you are Igbo, Yoruba, or Hausa, we must live above ethnic sentiments,” he said.

Apart from President Tinubu, the Minister of Defence, Mohammed Badaru Abubakar; his Marine and Blue Economy counterpart, Adegboyega Oyetola; Minister of State, Defence, Bello Muhammed Matawalle; Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Femi Hamzat; and the former governor of Lagos State, Babatunde Fashola, were at the prayer ground.

Also at the Eid ground were the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu; Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon Mudashiru Obasa; President of Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote; Chairman of the BUA Group, Abdul Samad Rabiu; Group Chief Executive of Oando, Wale Tinubu; and President Tinubu’s friend and longtime ally, Prof. Shaffideen Amuwo.

Meanwhile, Oluyede and Abubakar, extended their heartfelt felicitations to the officers, soldiers, airmen, airwomen, and families of the Nigerian military, applauding their steadfast commitment, gallantry, and selfless service to the nation.

A statement by the Acting Director of Army Public Relations, Lieutenant Colonel Apollonia Anele, stated that the COAS hailed the Nigerian Army’s resilience in the face of security challenges, describing the troops as a beacon of courage and sacrifice whose efforts continue to inspire national pride and unity.

According to him, “Your unwavering commitment, selfless devotion, and unflinching resilience in defence of our fatherland are deeply appreciated.”
Eid-El-Kabir, he noted, symbolises the essence of sacrifice, a virtue that mirrors the daily lives of soldiers across theatres of operation.
He urged troops to remain resolute and draw renewed strength from the spiritual significance of the season.

Reflecting on the Nigerian Army’s collective achievements over the past year, the COAS acknowledged the gradual restoration of peace in many parts of the country, attributing the gains to the unmatched bravery, loyalty, and professionalism of the troops.

“Many of our gallant warriors bear the marks of battle; some carry visible scars, others live with the memories, and some have paid the ultimate price in service to our great nation. We honour their legacies and stand with their families during this festive period. Their heroism remains etched in our national memory,” he stressed.

Oluyede, also hosted an Eid-el-Kabir luncheon for frontline troops of Operation Fansan Yamma Sokoto, in appreciation of their sacrifices and dedication to national security.

The event aimed to provide troops with a sense of home during the festive season, while fostering camaraderie and esprit de corps.
Lt.-Gen. Oluyede commended the troops for their significant role in combating terror networks and maintaining national unity, peace, and security. He urged them to remain resolute in their mission to defeat adversaries.

The COAS represented by Commander Nigeria Army Cyber Warfare, Major General Adeleke Ayannuga, Oluyode reaffirmed his commitment to enhancing welfare initiatives to boost troop morale and assured the troops of his support
He charged them operational progress to tamed the activities of insurgency.

The COAS conveyed President Bola Tinubu’s commendation and Nigerians’ appreciation for the troops’ efforts in defending the country.

Also, the CAS, Abubakar, in a Sallah message he personally signed, wrote: “As we celebrate this blessed occasion of Eid-el-Kabir, I extend my warmest greetings to all Muslim faithfuls across the Nigerian Air Force and the nation at large. May this season of sacrifice, reflection, and gratitude bring peace to our hearts, unity to our ranks, and renewed strength in our service to the nation.”

Shettima Calls for National Unity

Vice President Kashim Shettima called on Nigerians to embrace national unity, collective sacrifice, and continued support for President Bola Tinubu’s administration in order to achieve lasting peace and prosperity in the country.

He urged Nigerians to look beyond their differences and work together for national progress.

The Vice President, who made the plea yesterday, during the Eid al-Adha prayers at the National Eid Ground along Airport Road, Abuja, described Eid al-Adha as a solemn occasion rooted in the legacy of Prophet Abraham’s obedience and sacrifice—values he said were essential to building a strong and united Nigeria.
According to him: “This is a period of sober reflection, a season of reaching out to the indigent among us, of building bridges of brotherhood and sisterhood. Life is a marathon, and as individuals, we can run faster, but we can wear out easily. But as a family, as a collective, as a nation, we can gain greater traction and reach our desired destination.”

Kwara Governor Tasks Muslim Faithful on Peace, Unity

Kwara State Governor, Alhaji AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, yesterday called on the Muslim faithful to continue to promote peaceful coexistence, support sustainable development efforts, and reject anything that undermines the growth and unity of the country.
Also, the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Yakubu Danladi-Salihu, enjoined the Muslim faithful to glorify Allah’s names, seek for His blessings and protection and show love to their neighbours.
A statement issued in Ilorin by Governor AbdulRazaq and signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Rafiu Ajakaye to mark the celebration of Eid Kabir, the governor also urged them to remain steadfast in their faith in God and in the shared commitment to the Nigerian project.

Governor Soludo Felicitates Muslim Faithful

The Governor of Anambra State, Professor Chukwuma Charles Soludo, congratulated the Muslim community in Anambra State and across Nigeria on the celebration of this year’s Eid Kabir (Eid al-Adha).

Expressing his goodwill, Governor Soludo in a statement by his Press Secretary, Mr. Christian Aburime, recognised the profound significance of this holy festival for Muslims, which commemorates Prophet Ibrahim’s devout faith and obedience to Allah’s command.

The Governor said: “The celebration reminds us of the virtues of sacrifice, devotion, and submission to divine will that transcend religious boundaries and speak to our common humanity.

“I acknowledge the valuable contributions of our Muslim brothers and sisters to the socio-economic development of Anambra State, noting that the peaceful co-existence of people of different faiths in our state remains a source of pride and a tribute to our shared values of tolerance, respect, and unity.”

Oborevwori Seeks Prayers for the Nation

Delta State Governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, yesterday, extended warm felicitations to Muslims in Delta State and across the country as they celebrate Eid-el-Kabir.

He urged the Islamic faithful to emulate the virtues of Prophet Mohammed by embracing the spirit of sacrifice, which the Holy Prophet exemplified.

In a Sallah message issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Sir Festus Ahon, in Asaba, the Governor described Eid-el-Kabir as a season of love, peace, unity, and sacrifice.

Gov. Yahaya, Emir of Gombe, UN Envoy, Others Observe Eid Prayers in Gombe

Gombe State Governor, Alhaji Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya joined thousands of Muslim faithful, including the Emir of Gombe, Alhaji Abubakar Shehu Abubakar III, United Nations Assistant Secretary General and Resident Coordinator in Nigeria, Mohammed Fall, as well as other dignitaries to observe the Eid-el-Kabir prayers at the Central Eid Ground in Gombe yesterday.

The two raka’at congregational prayer, which marked the beginning of the Eid festivities, was led by the Deputy Chief Imam of Gombe Central Mosque, Ustaz Aliyu Hammari.

The Governor participated in the prayers alongside key government functionaries, traditional leaders, and special guests.

This year’s Eid celebration was marked by a heightened sense of safety and crowd control.

Ododo Urges Muslims to Reflect on Virtues Obedience, Sacrifice

Kogi State Governor, Usman Ododo, yesterday, described celebration of Eid el Kabir as a time to reflect on the virtues of obedience, sacrifice, unity, and submission to the will of Allah.

“On this sacred occasion of Eid el-Kabir, I extend warm greetings to all Muslim faithful in Kogi State, across Nigeria, and around the world. This is a time to reflect on the virtues of obedience, sacrifice, unity, and submission to the will of Allah, as demonstrated by Prophet Ibrahim (AS).

“This year’s celebration comes at a crucial time for our state and nation, as we continue on the path toward lasting peace, security, and economic progress,” he said in a broadcast message.

Adeleke, Oyetola, Basiru Urge Prayers, Sacrifice

Osun State Governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke, Minister of Marine and Blue Economy Adegboyega Oyetola, and APC governorship aspirant Dr. Ajibola Basiru, extended warm greetings to the Muslim Ummah, calling for reflection, unity, and fervent prayers for the state and the nation.

Governor Adeleke praised the enduring faith and resilience of Osun people, assuring them that the sacrifices they’ve made will be rewarded through continued delivery of good governance.

In a related development, the former Governor of Osun State and current Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, in his Eid message, emphasised the need for unity, sacrifice, and service.

Also in a similar vein, the National Secretary of the APC and leading governorship aspirant in Osun State, Dr. Ajibola Basiru, also extended warm Eid greetings, thanking Allah for the gift of life and opportunity to witness another celebration.

We’ll Work Tirelessly to Ensure Safer Edo, Says Okpebholo

Edo State Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo, yesterday, reiterated his administration’s unwavering commitment to the safety and security of lives and property across the state.

Speaking during a visit by Muslim faithful to the New Festival Hall, Government House, in celebration of Eid al-Adha, Governor Okpebholo, who was represented by his deputy, Dennis Idahosa, emphasised that the present administration remains focused on building a secure and prosperous Edo.

“Our administration is fully committed to the welfare and well-being of all citizens. Security remains the bedrock of any thriving society, and we are working tirelessly to ensure that lives and property are protected across Edo State,” he stated.

Reach Out to the Needy, Sani Urges Wealthy Individuals

Kaduna State Governor, Senator Uba Sani, urged wealthy individuals to share their blessings with the needy and less privileged.

Speaking in an interview after offering prayers marking Eid-el-Kabir with other Muslim faithful at the Sultan Bello prayer ground yesterday, in Kaduna, Sani called on Muslims to embrace the spirit of giving exhibited by Prophet Ibrahim during the Eid-el-Kabir celebrations.

He said, “Eid-el-Kabir commemorates the profound act of obedience and unwavering faith demonstrated by Prophet Ibrahim, who was prepared to sacrifice his beloved son Ismail in submission to the command of Almighty Allah”.

He added that the true essence of Eid-el-Kabir, was obedience, sacrifice, compassion, and unity.

The governor called on citizens to reflect deeply on the sacred meaning of the festival and strive to inculcate these values in their daily activities.

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Bandits Have Turned Kanji National Park to Operational Base, House of Reps Member Reveals

Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja

A member representing Borgu/Agwara Federal Constituency of Niger State in the House of Representatives has revealed that bandits terrorising Niger State have turned Kanji National Park to their operational base where they launch attacks.

The lawmaker, Hon. Jafaru Ali made this known during the plenary Wednesday while moving a motion pursuant to Order 8, Rule 5, Standing Orders on the urgent need to address frequent banditry attacks, rampant killings and kidnapping in Niger State.

Moving the motion, the lawmaker recalled that on 21st of November, 2025, gunmen attacked St. Mary’s Primary and Secondary School in Papiri, Agwara Local Government Area of Niger State and kidnapped 303 students, 12 teachers and a notable figure, Sarkin Samarin Agwara.

He added that 50 out of the 303 students escaped and are reunited with their parents.

Ali noted that on 4th November, 2025, during his routine condolence visit in his constituency, he was attacked by armed gunmen in their hundreds which resulted in loss of lives and injuries to many innocent personnel at Agwara to Babanna in Borgu Local Government, Niger State.

The lawmaker said notable public figures, such as former SUBEB Chairman, Niger State; Niger State Electoral Commissioner and dozens of travellers who were kidnapped along Mokwa to New-Bussa road and are still in captivity.

Ali further recalled that on 2nd November, 2025 at Gidan Guga bordering Agwara and Borgu, three people were killed in a family compound, while their father was injured and currently in Usman DanFodio University Teaching Hospital, Sokoto.

He added that many villages and towns that were displaced include Boyiya, Bakin Bara to mention but a few; Aika, Kuka, Dekara, Kerenji, Saminaka and Audu Fari were fully dominated by bandits.

Ali stated: Worrisome situation: the bandits are currently using the National Park as their harbour and base from where they attack Agwara, Borgu in Niger State, Bagudo and Shanga in Kebbi State, Kaiama/Baruten in Kwara State and some neighbouring communities in Benin Republic.

“Most of the bandits are foreigners who cannot even speak Nigerian languages. Some of them migrated from Zamfara and Katsina using Ibbi National Park as their link to enter Kaiama National Park and Kainji National Park as their destination.”

Ali revealed that about a month ago, the bandits had laid ambush and bombed four personnel between Babanna and Lumma, while the last two months witnessed recurring killings, kidnappings and displacement in the entire Federal Constituency, including the public one in the police station at Lumma where a leader of the Fulani clan was assassinated in broad daylight because of his failure to compromise.

He lamented that the situation in the entire Federal Constituency is horrible and would continue to worsen if urgent action is not taken to save the constituency from being taken over by bandits in the next few months.

The House resolved: “ Direct the Chief of Defense Staff to mobilize military personnel with modern weapons to mop up the National Park near Kainji Dam which is currently in the control of bandits as their meeting point and in particular establish Forward Operative Base (FOB) at Lumma, Audu Fari, Agwara and Mago.”

It also directed the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons to provide food and non-food items to the surviving victims and families of the deceased scattered across the Federal Constituency;

It further directed the National Agricultural Land Development Authority (NALDA) in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Agriculture to convert the Kainji Park into a viable agricultural facility.

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Holding Government Accountable for Unlawful Killings

By FEMI FALANA

 
Nigeria today stands at a crossroads of tragedy and impunity. While the world watches with horror at mass shootings in the United States, which claimed no fewer than 250,000 lives between 2020 and 2025, we must pause and consider our own reality. In America, these killings are driven by a libertarian gun culture, fiercely defended by the National Rifle Association under the Second Amendment. Yet, even there, the rule of law operates: suspects are arrested, prosecuted, and the machinery of justice is set in motion.
 
Contrast this with Nigeria, where the slaughter of ordinary citizens is not only persistent but often enabled by state inaction and negligence. Farmers are murdered on their farms, worshippers are killed in places of prayer, students are kidnapped or killed with impunity, and rural communities live in constant fear. These killings occur not because the government lacks knowledge, but because systemic failures, corruption, and class bias allow the perpetrators to act without fear of consequence.
 
It is particularly striking  and tragically ironic, that former U.S. President Donald Trump has threatened military intervention in Nigeria, citing the alleged “Christian genocide,” while in his own country, mass killings remain unchecked. The message is clear: even the most powerful countries cannot fully protect their citizens when societal and political systems are weak. Yet, unlike the U.S., where perpetrators are pursued and prosecuted, in Nigeria, killers roam freely, uninvestigated and unpunished, leaving victims’ families to shoulder unimaginable burdens, sometimes paying ransom to criminals simply to reclaim their loved ones.
 
This essay seeks to interrogate the underlying causes of this persistent failure — to understand why unlawful killing continues unabated in a country whose Constitution explicitly guarantees the right to life. Nigeria’s Sections 14(2)(b) and 33(1) of the 1999 Constitution are not abstract promises; they impose a binding duty on the government to ensure the security, welfare, and protection of every citizen, regardless of social status, religion, or location.
But laws alone are insufficient when state machinery turns a blind eye. Therefore, this address is also a call to action: a clarion call for Nigerians to mobilize, demand accountability, and compel the government to fulfill its constitutional mandate. Today, we confront the paradox of a nation that can defend the wealthy, protect elites, and negotiate for high-profile kidnappings, yet consistently fails to protect its poorest citizens — the farmers, students, and worshippers who are the backbone of our society.
 
The time to speak, to act, and to demand justice is now. For the sake of every life lost, every community terrorized, and every family left in despair, Nigeria must no longer tolerate impunity.
 
At the heart of Nigeria’s Constitution lies a solemn promise: the protection of life and security of every citizen. This is enshrined in Section 14(2)(b), which declares that “the security and welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose of government.” The wording is deliberate — it is not a suggestion, a policy goal, or a rhetorical flourish. It is a binding constitutional mandate. Security and welfare are not privileges reserved for the affluent, the politically connected, or the socially powerful; they are inalienable rights of every Nigerian, regardless of class, religion, or region.
 
Similarly, Section 33(1) guarantees every individual the right to life, stating that no one shall be deprived of life except in execution of a court sentence after due process of law. Once again, this is more than a protection from direct state action. Embedded in this provision is a positive duty: the government is obliged not merely to abstain from killing but also to actively safeguard lives against foreseeable threats, whether these threats arise from criminals, terrorists, bandits, herders, or other non-state actors.
 
In practical terms, these constitutional provisions demand that the state:
 
*Investigate and respond to threats against citizens before they escalate into killings.
 
*Deploy security forces effectively to protect vulnerable communities.
 
*Ensure accountability by prosecuting those who commit crimes against life.
 
*Prevent the emergence of systemic impunity, which emboldens criminal gangs and terrorists.
 
Yet, the reality in Nigeria paints a starkly different picture. Despite repeated warnings, reports of attacks, and widespread public knowledge of bandit and terrorist activities, government agencies routinely fail to act. Farmers are slaughtered on their lands; children are abducted or killed; communities live under siege and the perpetrators continue their mayhem with near impunity.
 
This failure represents a profound breach of the social contract. The Constitution establishes government as the protector of its citizens; when it abdicates this duty, it betrays the very foundation of legitimacy. Every life lost is a reflection not just of criminality but of state negligence, an institutional failure that allows violence to flourish unchecked.
 
Moreover, the moral dimension of this duty cannot be overstated. Protection of life is the most fundamental obligation of any government. Beyond legal statutes and constitutional provisions, it is a moral imperative: a government that cannot secure the lives of its people has lost its raison d’être. Citizens cannot be expected to thrive, contribute to the nation, or feel safe when their right to life is treated as optional or secondary.
 
Sections 14(2)(b) and 33(1) are not aspirational; they are binding commands. The Nigerian state is constitutionally and morally obliged to guarantee that no citizen is left vulnerable to killing, kidnapping, or terror. Failure to meet this obligation is a direct violation of both law and conscience, and it is a call to urgent action and accountability.
 
The persistence of unlawful killings in Nigeria is not accidental; it is the outcome of structural, political, and economic failures that have systematically weakened the state’s ability and, at times, its willingness to protect its citizens. These failures manifest across multiple dimensions:
 
 
At the heart of the problem lies the government’s approach to economic governance. The Bola Tinubu administration, following in the footsteps of neoliberal policies of previous administrations, has implemented economic measures that have alienated ordinary Nigerians and widened the gap between the state and its citizens.
 
Economic alienation undermines national unity and erodes the social fabric necessary for collective defence. When citizens feel excluded from governance, marginalized in economic opportunity, and neglected in security, the state loses the moral authority to demand loyalty or collective action.
 
The legitimacy of any government depends not only on its constitutional mandate but also on its capacity to guarantee the life and livelihood of its people. In Nigeria, the failure to address unemployment, economic disparity, and insecurity has created fertile ground for insurgency, banditry, and terrorism. Citizens are left to fend for themselves, and in many cases, their only recourse is to negotiate with criminals or pay ransoms — a scenario that would be unimaginable in a functioning state.
 
The ongoing herder-farmer violence is one of the clearest illustrations of state neglect. Although the federal and some state governments have repeatedly resolved to ban open grazing and establish ranches, these measures remain largely unenforced. Herds of cattle continue to roam farmland, and innocent farmers are slaughtered or driven from their lands.
 
The urgent solution is straightforward: ban open grazing nationwide and, in the interim, transport cattle in trailers to minimize contact with farmlands until ranches are fully operational. The government must recognize that protecting farmers is not merely an economic necessity; it is a constitutional and moral duty under Section 14(2)(b) and Section 33(1). Every day that this violence continues without effective state intervention, the social contract with citizens is further eroded.
 
 
Another driver of insecurity is the state’s failure to combat high-level criminality. The federal government has acknowledged that gold worth billions of dollars is smuggled out of Nigeria in private jets by politically connected individuals. Yet, prosecutions are rare, and many of the perpetrators continue to operate with impunity.
 
This structural complicity fuels organized crime, terrorism, and banditry. Criminal gangs exploit the vacuum left by weak enforcement, knowing that powerful actors shield them from arrest or prosecution. To curb the killings and restore public confidence, the government must urgently arrest and prosecute these high-profile sponsors of smuggling and criminal networks. This is not only a legal obligation but a prerequisite for restoring national security and deterring further violence.
 
 
Perhaps the most glaring manifestation of inequality in the state’s protection of life is the double standard in handling kidnappings and security threats. When judges, former public officers, or elites are kidnapped, the government acts swiftly, deploying military resources, intelligence operatives, and sometimes paying ransom to secure their release.
 
Conversely, when ordinary citizens — farmers, students, worshippers — are abducted, their families are left to negotiate with criminals or pay ransom themselves, often at the whim of armed gangs. This is not only a moral failure but also a constitutional violation. Justice demands that the state assume responsibility wherever citizens are compelled to pay ransom. The government must refund ransoms paid by victims’ families as recognition of its dereliction of duty and as a deterrent to future kidnappings.
 
The double standard in state response undermines public trust and fosters a perception that some lives are more valuable than others, further entrenching social inequality and exposing ordinary citizens to continual violence.
 
 
The recurring massacres, kidnappings, and extrajudicial killings in Nigeria are not only national tragedies — they are international law violations. The ECOWAS Court of Justice has, over the years, firmly established that when a state fails to protect its citizens from known or foreseeable threats to life, it incurs international responsibility under Article 4 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, which guarantees that “Human beings are inviolable. Every human being shall be entitled to respect for his life and the integrity of his person.”
 
This jurisprudence is not abstract; it has been tested in cases where the Court found governments across West Africa liable for preventable deaths arising from negligence, inaction, or institutional failure. Nigeria, in particular, has been a subject of such judicial censure. The principles from these cases reveal a pattern of accountability that can, and should, be invoked against the Nigerian State for the continuing wave of unlawful killings.
 
In this landmark case, the ECOWAS Court examined Nigeria’s liability for the death of Mr. Afolalu, a naval officer who was abducted and killed by BokoHaram insurgents after his family had repeatedly warned the authorities of credible threats to his life.
 
Despite being aware of the imminent danger, the government failed to act — a failure that proved fatal. The Court held that Nigeria had violated Article 4 of the African Charter, finding that the right to life imposes a positive duty on the State to take preventive operational measures once it becomes aware of a real and immediate risk to an individual’s life.
 
The Court’s reasoning was clear and instructive: it is not enough for a government to refrain from killing its citizens; it must actively protect them from foreseeable threats, whether from state agents or non-state actors.
 
The state’s responsibility under international law is engaged whenever it knew or ought to have known of a risk to life and failed to take reasonable steps to prevent it.
 
By this same reasoning, Nigeria’s continued failure to secure rural communities under repeated attacks by terrorists and bandits — despite years of public warnings, official reports, and security briefings — amounts to a continuing international wrong. The government cannot plead ignorance or helplessness where the facts of danger are notorious and recurring.
 
 
In another Nigerian case, the Court considered the tragic death of Officer-Cadet El-Shaddai Kwasu, who drowned during swimming training at the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) in Kaduna. The evidence showed that the institution failed to provide adequate safety measures, supervision, and medical readiness — acts of negligence that led directly to the cadet’s death.
 
The ECOWAS Court held that Nigeria had violated the right to life under Article 4 of the African Charter and awarded the family USD 75,000 in compensation. The Court’s language was decisive: the duty to protect life extends beyond acts of direct violence; it encompasses the obligation to ensure safety within all institutions under state control, whether military or civilian.
 
Where a state institution’s negligence, omission, or lack of precaution results in death, the state bears international responsibility for failure to fulfill its duty of care.
 
 
If the Nigerian State can be held liable for the preventable death of a cadet within a controlled environment, how much more culpable is it for the widespread killings of thousands of citizens in uncontrolled rural and urban areas, where the government has failed to deploy adequate security despite clear warnings? The Court’s jurisprudence makes clear that negligence, omission, or failure to act are as culpable as active violations.
 
 
This case arose from the death of a 15-year-old Nigerian student, Augustine Chukwuebuka Ogukwe, who drowned during a school excursion to the beach in Tema, Ghana. The Ghanaian authorities failed to ensure safety measures and later failed to investigate the circumstances of his death.
 
 
The ECOWAS Court found the Republic of Ghana liable for negligence and failure to protect life, awarding the victim’s family USD 250,000 as compensation. The Court emphasized that the right to life imposes both preventive and investigative obligations on states. It is not sufficient for a government to express sympathy after a death; it must take steps to prevent foreseeable harm and, where death occurs, conduct a thorough and impartial investigation to ensure accountability.
 
States are obliged not only to prevent unlawful deaths but also to investigate them effectively. Failure to do either constitutes a violation of the right to life.
 
 
In the context of recurring massacres in Plateau, Benue, Kaduna, and ZamfaraStates, the Nigerian government’s habitual failure to investigate or prosecute perpetrators is not a domestic administrative lapse — it is a continuing violation of international human rights law. Under the Ogukwe precedent, Nigeria’s failure to investigate mass killings and prosecute offenders satisfies the threshold of international liability for the loss of life.
 
The Community Court found that the government of Nigeria has failed to protect the rights of the deceased and their communities to life and adequate security thus violating Nigeria’s Constitution and the various international protocols and treaties the Defendant country is a signatory to. The Court mandated the Defendant to take adequate steps in securing the lives and properties of the Applicants, members of the TseAgu, Mbaguene, Ada areas of Guma LGA of Benue State. The Court also ordered the Federal Government of Nigeria to investigate and prosecute perpetrators of the January 2018 mass killings and destruction in the above enumerated communities.
 
The Applicants who hail from and reside in Benue State, Nigeria had instituted the action over the incessant killing, arson and wanton destruction of properties perpetrated by Fulani herdsmen. In a judgement delivered On Tuesday, 26th Day Of February, 2019, the Community Court had held:
 
“The Court finds the Respondent in violation of their obligation to protect the human rights of the Agatu Community and prevent its violation.
 
The Court Orders the Respondent to investigate the mass killings and destruction of properties in the alleged Agatucommunities of Benue State, identify and prosecute the perpetrators and redress the victims thereof.
 
The Court Orders the Respondent to provide adequate security, deploy more security personnel to the area to protect the community to prevent further occurrences of that mayhem.”
 
6.Onwuham & Ors v. Nigeria & Anor — ECW/CCJ/APP/13/14, Judgment delivered 3/07/2018
 
The Applicants filed this action against the Respondents for the violation of their right to dignity, right to property, right to fair hearing and effective investigation. The Applicants aver that the Respondent through its agents arbitrarily demolished its 15 bedroom flats with 2 sitting rooms, 6 bedroom flats with a sitting room and a 7 bedroom flats with a sitting room. That the demolition was carried out without fair trial or in furtherance of a Court order. In a judgment delivered on July 3, 2018, the ECCJ held:
 
The Defendant to pay the sum of One hundred million Eighty nine thousand, one hundred and forty naira (N100,089,140.00) being special damages representing the total cost of the buildings and other household items destroyed by the Defendants.
 
The sum of Fifty Million Naira (N50,000,000.00) jointly paid as general damages for the violation of the rights of the Applicants fundamental rights to fair hearing, human dignity and right to property.
 
The Court cannot grant the rest of the claims of the Plaintiffs.
 
DIRECTS, The Defendant to investigate the circumstances surrounding the disappearance of the 1st Applicant’s son, Obinna Kasarachi Onwuham with a view to determining his whereabouts, and where an offence is found to have been committed, prosecute the culprits in accordance with law.
 
 
These cases collectively affirm that state inaction in the face of preventable harm is itself a form of complicity. Whether through indifference, incompetence, or political calculation, when a state consistently fails to act against known threats, it ceases to be a neutral bystander — it becomes an enabler of violence.
 
The ECOWAS Court’s jurisprudence has expanded the scope of accountability from direct state killings to indirect state failures — failures to regulate, to protect, or to prosecute. This evolving principle reflects a modern understanding of sovereignty: that sovereignty entails responsibility, and where a state fails in that responsibility, regional and international tribunals will intervene.
 
8.Inference: Nigeria’s Liability Under ECOWAS Standards
 
Applying these principles to the current crisis, Nigeria’s liability becomes clear.
 
The government has been repeatedly warned through security reports, media coverage, and public protests — of ongoing massacres by terrorists, bandits, and so-called “unknown gunmen.” Yet, there has been no coordinated or sustained response, no effective investigations, and no consistent prosecutions.
 
By the standards set in Afolalu, Kwasu, and Ogukwe, Nigeria has breached its duty to:
 
Prevent foreseeable threats to life;
 
Protect citizens from violence by state and non-state actors;
 
Investigate and prosecute perpetrators of unlawful killings; and
 
Provide remedies and compensation to victims and their families.
 
Under international law, failure to act is actionable. The ECOWAS Court could, therefore, find Nigeria liable for mass violations of the right to life, just as it has found other West African states liable for single instances of preventable death.
 
In effect, every village sacked, every farmer killed, every child abducted, and every ransom paid under the shadow of government inaction strengthens the case for international accountability. The continuing bloodshed in Nigeria is not merely a domestic tragedy — it is a breach of Nigeria’s international human rights obligations.
 
(a)Domestic Governance Breakdown and Erosion of Sovereignty
 
Nigeria’s failure to protect its own citizens has now assumed the dimension of a constitutional emergency. The Nigerian State, which the 1999 Constitution charges in Section 14(2)(b) to make “the security and welfare of the people the primary purpose of government,” has abdicated that sacred duty. Under Section 33(1), the right to life is not only fundamental but non-derogable; yet, citizens are being slaughtered daily without consequence.
 
The present administration’s neoliberal economic policies including the sudden removal of fuel subsidies, currency devaluation, and the unrestrained marketization of essential goods, have impoverished millions, widened inequality, and alienated the very people on whom the legitimacy of the state depends. A hungry and hopeless populace cannot be mobilized to defend national sovereignty. Thus, the Nigerian state is increasingly perceived not as a protector, but as a predator — enriching a few while abandoning the many to violence.
 
In the vacuum of protection, parallel sovereignties have emerged. Terrorists, bandits, herders, and cult groups now control vast territories where they impose levies, extract rents, and dictate movement. The result is a fractured sovereignty — one where the monopoly of violence has shifted from the state to non-state actors. This is not just a governance crisis; it is the quiet disintegration of the Republic itself.
 
The Nigerian Army’s own admission during the 2021 Anambra governorship election — that troops were deployed to the collation centre to ensure security, reflects how state agencies are forced into reactive measures when governance failures already allow criminal actors to dominate public space. 
 
Similarly, the African Court has emphasized that failure to protect journalists or citizens investigating state or political wrongdoing constitutes complicity in violation of the right to life and freedom of expression (Zongo v. Burkina Faso). This underscores that state negligence itself can constitute human rights violations, not just direct attacks by third parties.
 
(b)Contradictory and Weak Federal–State Security Coordination
 
The architecture of Nigeria’s criminal justice system is collapsing under political indifference and bureaucratic paralysis. In 2016, the Attorney-General of the Federation granted a blanket fiat to all State Attorneys-General to prosecute terrorism cases occurring within their jurisdictions. Yet, nine years later, the vast majority of those Attorneys-General have failed to exercise that power. Killer suspects paraded by the police are released through corruption, while families of victims receive no justice.
 
Instead of prosecution, some state governments negotiate with terrorists, grant them amnesty, and even compensate them, all in the name of peace. This stands in direct contradiction to the federal government’s public policy of refusing to negotiate with criminals. It also sends a dangerous message: that crime pays if it is large enough to threaten the state.
 
The federal government’s ban on ransom payments further exposes its double standards. When a judge, a legislator, or a former governor is kidnapped, the state deploys military resources to ensure their release. But when ordinary citizens are abducted, their families are left to sell land, borrow money, and beg for help, sometimes even taxed by criminal gangs. This discriminatory approach mocks the constitutional promise of equality before the law.
 
Justice demands that when citizens are compelled to pay ransom due to state inaction, the government must not only refund such payments but also prosecute the officers whose negligence made it necessary. Anything short of that perpetuates impunity and reinforces the perception that government values elite lives above common lives.
 
The ECOWAS Court has stressed that states are obliged to take positive preventive and remedial action to safeguard lives, meaning that failure to enforce security consistently violates human rights obligations. 
 
The Nigerian security crisis is inseparable from the state’s economic failures. The federal government itself has admitted that gold worth billions of dollars is being smuggled out of Nigeria in private jets by politically connected individuals. Yet, not a single person has been brought to justice.
 
This criminal impunity finances terrorism, funds arms trafficking, and sustains the very insecurity the government claims to be fighting. It is a vicious circle: economic corruption fuels violence, and violence provides cover for further corruption.
 
A government that cannot enforce its own anti-smuggling laws cannot hope to secure its borders or its people. National defence must therefore include economic defence — by arresting and prosecuting those who profit from the blood economy of banditry and smuggling. Nigeria cannot fight terrorism abroad while enriching its sponsors at home.
 
 
Nigeria’s security failures are compounded by its foreign policy drift. While Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger Republic have formed the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) — a bold regional coalition committed to defending African sovereignty and expelling neo-colonial military influence — Nigeria has chosen to stand aloof, retreating into isolation and indecision.
 
Instead of pursuing an African-centered security partnership, the Tinubuadministration has turned once again to France — a nation whose military presence in the Sahel has been rejected by the very countries it claimed to protect. This misalignment not only alienates Nigeria from its neighbours but also undermines ECOWAS solidarity at a time when terrorism knows no borders.
 
Nigeria’s leadership role in West Africa is fast eroding. It must urgently engage with the AES to revive the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) — the regional mechanism that once successfully pushed back Boko Haram. By refusing to act collectively, Nigeria endangers its own northern frontiers and cedes moral leadership to smaller, poorer, but more resolute nations.
 
The lesson from the Sahel is clear: no African country can fight terrorism alone. Our enemies cooperate; our governments must do the same.
 
(e)The Path Forward
 
To reclaim its moral and constitutional authority, Nigeria must first restore public trust through visible justice. Every case of unlawful killing — whether by terrorists, bandits, or state agents — must be investigated, prosecuted, and punished. Justice delayed is not only justice denied; it is governance betrayed.
 
The country must reorient its foreign policy away from dependency on Western powers and toward a vision of Pan-African solidarity rooted in mutual defence and self-determination. The same courage that inspired African liberation struggles must now animate our fight against terror, corruption, and bad governance.
 
Nigeria must rebuild domestic capacity — both legal and moral — to make the protection of life the cornerstone of government policy. Security is not a privilege for the powerful; it is the birthright of every citizen. A government that cannot protect life cannot claim legitimacy.
 
Only a people-centred, constitutionally faithful, and justice-driven government can restore Nigeria’s security, sovereignty, and dignity in the community of nations. Until that transformation occurs, unlawful killings will remain the tragic mirror of a state at war with its own people.
 
In tandem with security reforms, proper enforcement of property and land rights under Section 11 of the Land Use Act is essential. The Act vests all land in each state in the Governor to hold in trust for the people. This implies a positive obligation: the state must protect citizens’ property rights and cannot arbitrarily dispose of, seize, or allocate land in a manner that undermines life, livelihood, or justice. Arbitrary enforcement of land or housing policies without due process is a direct reflection of governance failure.
 
The combination of security negligence, arbitrary enforcement, and impunity mirrors patterns observed in the Zongo case and the Anambra election deployment: government inaction or selective intervention signals complicity or systemic failure.
 
VI.The International and Moral Imperative
 
Nigeria’s crisis of unlawful killings is not merely a domestic tragedy; it is a violation of binding international obligations and an assault on our collective humanity. As a member of the international community, Nigeria has voluntarily acceded to several treaties that impose clear duties on the State to respect, protect, and fulfil the right to life.
 
Under Article 4 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, “Human beings are inviolable. Every human being shall be entitled to respect for his life and the integrity of his person. No one may be arbitrarily deprived of this right.” Article 5 further reinforces the obligation to protect citizens from inhuman or degrading treatment. The ECOWAS Court has consistently held that Nigeria’s failure to prevent or punish foreseeable killings violates these provisions — as affirmed in Afolalu v. Nigeria (2014) and Kwasu v. Nigeria (2017).
 
Similarly, Article 6 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), to which Nigeria is a party, proclaims that “Every human being has the inherent right to life, and this right shall be protected by law. No one shall be arbitrarily deprived of his life.” This is not a passive duty. It requires the State to take positive, preventive, and remedial action to safeguard life against both state and non-state actors.
 
Furthermore, the 1948 Genocide Convention, to which Nigeria is also bound, obliges States to prevent and punish acts committed with intent to destroy, in whole or in part, any national, ethnic, racial, or religious group. Persistent and targeted killings of Christians, Muslims, farmers, and ethnic minorities under the government’s watch — if unchecked — may rise to the threshold of state complicity under international law.
 
Failure to prevent or punish systematic killings amounts not only to a breach of treaty obligations but to moral bankruptcy. When a government allows its citizens to be massacred without consequence, it ceases to be a government of law; it becomes an accomplice in injustice.
 
Nigeria cannot seek moral authority in Africa or the world while violating the sacred right to life at home. To rebuild legitimacy, the State must act decisively: investigate every mass killing, prosecute perpetrators — whether armed groups or complicit officials — and provide reparation to victims. International law is clear: silence in the face of atrocity is complicity.
 
The African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights in Zongo v. Burkina Faso underscores that government inaction against targeted killings, especially of investigative journalists, constitutes direct complicity in violations of human rights. This provides a clear legal and moral precedent: failing to investigate unlawful killings is itself a human rights violation.
 
The time has come for Nigerians to rise as one people and reclaim the moral and constitutional high ground. Section 14(2)(a) of our Constitution states that “sovereignty belongs to the people of Nigeria, from whom government derives all its powers and authority.” If sovereignty resides in the people, then the people have a sacred duty to demand accountability from those who exercise power in their name.
 
Our call is not for rebellion, but for constitutional resistance — a peaceful, lawful, and organized movement to compel the government to uphold its duty under Sections 14(2)(b) and 33(1). The right to life is not negotiable. It cannot be subordinated to politics, profit, or privilege.
 
We must therefore insist on the following actions:
 
Every life lost to terrorism, herder-farmer conflict, or police brutality must be investigated with equal seriousness. There can be no hierarchy of victims in a just nation.
 
2.Immediate prosecution of arrested terrorists and killer suspects.
 
The era of “catch and release” must end. Governors must instruct their Attorneys-General to prosecute terrorism cases diligently, while the Nigerian Bar Association must discipline those who neglect this constitutional duty.
 
When citizens are compelled to pay ransom due to government failure, justice demands restitution. The State must acknowledge its dereliction and refund such payments while intensifying action against kidnappers.
 
.
 
The recurring violence between farmers and herders will not end until open grazing is prohibited nationwide. The government must enforce existing laws and deploy modern ranching systems to secure both agriculture and national peace.
 
5.Reorientation of national defence policy toward citizen protection.
 
The Nigerian military and security forces must re-prioritize their mission — from guarding the privileged few to defending every Nigerian life, regardless of class, faith, or region. National security must mean human security.
 
This is the hour for national mobilization. Citizens must speak with one voice, across faiths and ethnicities, to say Enough is Enough. No government will act unless compelled by a united and vigilant people. As history teaches, “a people united cannot be defeated.”
 
 
The persistence of unlawful killings in Nigeria is not inevitable; it is a choice — a choice made by leaders who have betrayed their oath of office and abandoned their people to despair. But it can be reversed. The Constitution remains our covenant, and within its words lies the promise of renewal.
 
We must remind those in power that Section 14(2)(b) of the 1999 Constitution is not a slogan — it is a binding command: “The security and welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose of government.” Any government that fails in that duty loses its moral and constitutional legitimacy.
 
Let us, therefore, resolve to defend life as sacred, equal, and inviolable — whether it belongs to the rich or the poor, the farmer or the judge, the Christian, the Muslim, or the traditional worshipper. No Nigerian should die simply because the State failed to act.
 
Our demand is simple but profound: Protect every life, prosecute every killer, and compensate every victim. That is the meaning of justice. That is the measure of a civilized nation.
 
And as the struggles of history remind us — from Vietnam to South Africa — a people united in conscience and conviction cannot be defeated by the most powerful army. Let this be our creed, our cause, and our covenant as we reclaim Nigeria from fear and restore it to freedom, dignity, and peace.
17
 

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