Editorial
Between January and February 5,2026,Nigerians living in some parts of Niger and Kwara States have suffered deadly attacks and killings in the hands of blood sucking bandits and terrorists.When many thought that the assurances from the United States of America (USA)government of security cooperation with Nigeria would have instilled fear amongst the rampaging bandits and terrorists, the reverse seems to be the case.
All over the world, insecurity is a dreadful phenomenon. This is because of the negativeties associated with it. Insecurity is anti-peace,unity,and progress.
As a country, Nigeria was officially birthed in 1914 through the amalgamation of the Northern and Southern Protractorates by Sir Lord Frederick Lugard – the then head of the British colonial administration in the protractorates With this amalgamation, sociopolitical activities sprang up and culminated into Nigeria’s independence in 1960 with an Igbo man,Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe as President.
She gained her independence without blood shed.Nigerian leaders then, Sir Ahmadu Bello,Dr Obafemi Awolowo, Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe, Sir Okoti Eboh and many others, spoke with one voice.The unity amongst them was profound and confounded the British colonial masters.
With peace amongst them, unity and determination, Nigerian leaders then had their ways through dialogue and intellectual engagements,proving that indeed knowledge is power. And,by 1963,Nigeria became a Sovereign Republican nation with Sir Tafawa Belewa, a northerner,as Prime Minister of Nigeria.
This was the peaceful scenario in Nigeria until the coup and counter coup of January and July,1966, respectively, balkanized the serenity and peace in Nigeria. Fast forward to 2014, insecurity was then introduced on a large scale into the Nigerian polity.
This cancerous ailment that now ravages the once very peaceful Nigeria must be resisted at all costs. It began like a minor issue, but today, it has blossomed into a national crisis such that the international community is now wading in while accusing Nigerian leaders of incompetence and lacking the willpower to tame bandits and other terrorist groups harassing innocent Nigerians.
From being termed as instruments of political machinations and power acquisition, the malaise has snowballed into alleged religious genocide against a particular religious faith in the country. It has further escalated to a flourishing business enterprise where people and school children at randomly packed up and demands for millions of naira made afterwards as ransome to be paid before they are released.
To date, many school children kidnapped from Chibok Girls Secondary in Borno State, and other schools in the northern part of Nigeria are still in captivity; some might have even died. The country is really sitting on a keg of gun powder – insecurity is threatening Nigeria’s peace and unity.
It is worth recalling that on the midnight of December 25,2025, the United States of America made good her threat to attack terrorism and banditry in Nigeria when she struck Sokoto State with about a dozen tomahawk cruise missiles. That strike reportedly eliminated many terrorists, with the US promising more strikes if the bandits and terrorists do not stop their unwanton destruction of lives and properties of innocent Nigerians, particularly Christians..
Unfortunately, after this publicly applauded military action against terrorism in Nigeria took place, it does appear that insecurity has resurfaced with greater venom. The January and February massacre in Niger and Kwara States reinforces this assumption.Perhaps this is why a contingent of the U.S military recently arrived in Nigeria to offer assistance in areas of intelligence gathering and logistics.
Nigerian Horn commends the US – working in collaboration with the Nigerian authorities – for their cooperation. Such action is a positive signal that all hopes are not yet lost. The situation can still be salvaged if Nigerian leaders can do away with religious proclivities, ethnocentrism, and be truthful to themselves.
The perpetrators of these acts of terrorism and banditry are not from the moon. They are Nigerians,and most of our leaders know them, but for either ethnic or political considerations,they have continued to play a hanky panky game with assisting the security agencies to flush them out.
As the U.S military contingent settles down to work with their Nigerian counterparts, we call on the military hierarchy in Nigeria to guide against the debilitating activities of fifth columnists within the Nigerian military. Internal sabotage and leaking of intel have been a reoccurring decimal within the Nigerian military. We can not pretend not to be aware of this ugly issue.
Nigerian Horn appeals to Nigerians to keep hope alive. There is optimism that recent reforms in Nigeria’s security architecture by President Bola Tinubu’s administration acting in concert with the USA might produce the desired results. We should remain united as a people to fight this common monster called insecurity – which leaves only pain,anguish,and sorrow on its trail.
