By Huldah Shado
The latest wave of violence and insecurity has once again plunged Nigeria into mourning. With at least 101 confirmed deaths and countless families torn apart by abductions and bloodshed, the nation is reeling.
Yet, the response from the government, particularly President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has been grossly inadequate, marked by silence and excuses.
As Commander in Chief, President Tinubu holds the ultimate responsibility for national security. But rather than take bold and decisive action, Nigerians are left with vague statements and a troubling absence of leadership.
The excuses being offered are nothing short of insulting. When questioned about the President’s failure to visit the massacre sites in Benue, officials blamed bad roads. Are we to believe the Nigerian government no longer has access to helicopters?
This is not just a logistical oversight. It is a clear sign of how disconnected leadership has become from the suffering of the people.
While the President remains absent, Nigerians are paying the price. Parents are burying their children. Entire communities are gripped by fear. Life in many parts of the country has become a daily struggle between survival and death.
What we see from the federal government are press releases and symbolic troop deployments, not a coherent or sustained security strategy.
There is no clear plan to address the root causes of this violence. Only reactive statements and shallow gestures.
How many more must die before the government takes its responsibility seriously? How many funerals will it take before silence gives way to action?
The silence and inaction are not just failures. They are indictments. They reflect a dangerous disregard for human life. Each death is a reminder that the government has not done enough. Each mass burial is a stain on the conscience of those in power.
Nigerians are not asking for miracles. They are demanding leadership. Real, visible and accountable leadership.
Security is not a privilege or a luxury. It is a fundamental right. And until every Nigerian can walk freely in their own country without fear of abduction or death, no one in power deserves to rest easy. Not even the Commander in Chief.
