While terrorists and bandits grow more audacious with abductions and killings, Nigeria's political class trades blame instead of fulfilling its constitutional duty to secure lives and property. The government has failed to dominate and protect the country's territorial integrity.
Ogbomoso Kidnappings
Twenty-seven days after the Ogbomoso schools kidnap, Governor Seyi Makinde revealed that the abductees and their captors were still lodged at the Old Oyo National Park. Terrorists have effectively partitioned the country without provoking an urgent response from the authorities.
Elected politicians now claim that their offices are the reason for insecurity, alleging that terrorists target innocent citizens because of them. While political elements have indeed fueled insecurity since 1999, this does not equate to the terrorism and foreign invasion from the Sahel. The refusal to call terrorism by its name has facilitated its spread.
Edo Governor's Remarks
Governor Monday Okpebholo of Edo State demonstrated insensitivity when he stated that insecurity is the handiwork of opposition politicians. Speaking at the APC campaign for local government elections in Edo South, he said: “There is no vacancy in Aso Rock. They can even kidnap all of us, yes, there is no vacancy in Aso Rock. What is happening today is the handiwork of the opposition... So, let them give us peace so that we can govern well.”
This mindset suggests that Okpebholo's bias will prevent him from effectively addressing insecurity in Edo State. The state recently recruited 5,400 security corps and 500 forest guards, adding to 1,500 vigilantes and hunters. With 7,500 fighters at his disposal, citizens worry about the training doctrine given his intense bias.
On February 24, 2026, leaders of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), including former Governor John Odigie Oyegun and Peter Obi, were attacked by armed militias in Benin City. Okpebholo had earlier warned Obi not to come to Edo without clearance. Despite police promises to investigate, details remain unavailable.
Politicisation of Insecurity
After the Ogbomoso abductions on May 15, 2026, politicians spun theories to serve narrow interests. Former Governor Ayodele Fayose suggested that Governor Makinde orchestrated the kidnap and beheading of a mathematics teacher to embarrass President Tinubu. Such claims reduce threat to life to a political chess game.
Fayose and Makinde have been at odds since their contest for South-West PDP leadership. But insisting that terrorism is solely the opposition's handiwork is callous. Seeking political gain from terrorism only harms the people.
In 2015, the opposition APC used propaganda to distance itself from the national calamity under President Goodluck Jonathan, forming the #BringBackOurGirls campaign to portray him as clueless. Tinubu, then opposition leader, called for Jonathan's resignation, saying a president who allowed parts of the country to remain under occupation showed lack of capacity.
On May 15, 2023, Tinubu stated: “No governor of a state in Nigeria is the Chief Security Officer. Putting the blame on the governor for the abysmal performance of the government at the centre... smacks of ignorance and mischief.”
Non-State Actors
Partisan Yoruba Nation activist Sunday Igboho claims to know politicians who sponsored the Ogbomoso abductions, alleging they aimed to sabotage Tinubu's government. He says his local security outfit, Iru Ekun, was blocked by Oyo State from dislodging bandits. He should share intelligence with the DSS and DMI rather than acting alone.
President Tinubu's Response
In his June 12 Democracy Day address, Tinubu restated the state of emergency on insecurity declared on November 26, 2025, when he approved recruitment of over 50,000 police officers and thousands of military recruits. Since then, more soldiers and civilians have been killed. He claimed terror-related deaths are down by 81% since 2015 and that over 13,000 terrorists have been neutralised in the past year. However, terror-related deaths have actually climbed in the last three years.
Tinubu said: “To bandits, kidnappers, and sponsors of terror: Surrender or face the full force of the Nigerian State. These windows of surrender will not remain open forever. No mercy will be shown to those who trade in the blood of Nigerians.” Yet the surrender window has remained open long enough. President Yar'Adua's amnesty for Niger Delta militants was justified and not open-ended. Tinubu should close the door and deal precisely with terrorists.
He also stated: “Let us not assign blame or point fingers. Crime has no ethnicity.” This contradicts his earlier blame of the opposition. Those who terrorise Nigeria have been identified, and they flaunt their ethnicity. Sheikh Gumi knows them and has demanded amnesty. Tinubu's political calculations for 2027 may determine whether there will still be a country.
