Another day, another damning report. This time, it’s the latest Global Terrorism Index (GTI), and the figures for Nigeria are not just alarming; they are a deafening alarm bell signaling a profound national crisis.
The grim details are these: Nigeria has recorded the highest global increase in terrorism-related deaths in a single year. Fatalities surged by a staggering 46%, from 513 in 2024 to 750 in 2025. This tragic statistic catapults our nation to the unwelcome position of the fourth most terrorized country in the world, trailing only Pakistan, Burkina Faso, and the Republic of Niger.
While this data is numbing, it is not surprising to the average Nigerian who lives with the daily reality of insecurity. What makes it truly galling is the context: as the report notes, many nations worldwide are successfully seeing a decline in terrorism. Nigeria, it seems, is sprinting in the opposite direction.
More Than a Statistic: A Reflection of Failed Priorities
This isn’t just a number on a chart. It is a direct reflection of human suffering, shattered families, and paralyzed communities. As pointed out by Peter Obi, the 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party, this trend is a “troubling reflection of poor leadership.”
His analysis, shared in a poignant statement, cuts to the core of the issue. He identifies the root causes not as some mysterious, unsolvable force, but as a cascade of man-made failures:
- Misplaced priorities: When the fundamental duty of security is not treated as the number one agenda, everything else crumbles.
- Weak governance: A lack of coherent strategy and effective coordination among security agencies.
- Corruption: The siphoning of funds meant for arms, ammunition, and welfare of our brave security personnel.
- Lack of rule of law: A system where perpetrators operate with impunity, confident there will be no consequences.
From the relentless insurgency of Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) to the epidemic of kidnapping and the unchecked rampage of heavily armed bandits in our rural heartlands, the threats are multifaceted and overwhelming. Nigerians are dying daily, while, as Obi starkly noted, “those in power continue to feast.”
The Fundamental Question: What is the Purpose of Government?
This crisis forces us to ask the most basic question of political philosophy: What is the primary purpose of government? Philosophers from John Locke to our own founding fathers would answer unequivocally: the protection of life and property. It is the social contract’s most fundamental clause.
When a government fails in this most basic duty, it calls its very legitimacy into question. Why are we normalizing these tragedies? Why have we become desensitized to headlines that would cause upheaval in other nations?
This is Not the Nigeria We Must Accept
The path we are on is unsustainable. A nation cannot thrive, its economy cannot grow, and its citizens cannot dream when the air is thick with fear and the ground is stained with blood.
Peter Obi’s call to action is one we must all echo: “It is time to move from excuses to action and from failure to measurable progress.”
This is not a partisan issue; it is a Nigerian issue. It demands:
- A Unified National Security Strategy: Beyond rhetoric, a clear, non-partisan, and measurable plan involving all levels of government.
- Real Investment in Security: Ensuring every naira allocated for security is accounted for and reaches its intended destination.
- Community Policing and Intelligence: Empowering local communities and integrating their knowledge into a national framework.
- Addressing the Root Causes: Tackling the poverty, unemployment, and hopelessness that terrorist groups exploit for recruitment.
A safe and secure Nigeria is not a luxury; it is the bare minimum. It is the right of every single citizen—from Sokoto to Bayelsa, from Lagos to Maiduguri. We must stop accepting failure. We must demand that our leaders deliver on this most basic promise. Our collective future depends on it.
What are your thoughts on the way forward? How can we, as citizens, push for the change we desperately need? Share your ideas in the comments below.
