Northern Nigeria is no doubt presently under siege not by foreign invaders or external forces, but by a homegrown plague of violence, insecurity, and systemic neglect.
While the political elite bicker over appointments in President Bola Tinubu’s administration, the common man in the North is caught in a storm of bloodshed, displacement, and despair.
Across the Northern geopolitical zones, the story is the same: terror, fear, and uncertainty. From the deserts of Borno to the plains of Niger, the region is bleeding furiously. Yet, the cry that echoes most loudly in political circles isn’t for security, food, or education but for positions in Abuja.
Many young Northerners, swept up in the rhetoric of political marginalization, do not realize they are pawns in a far more sinister game. For decades, Northern elites have wielded power at the center, but rather than uplift the talakawa (the common people), they mortgaged their future for political advantage. Today, the consequences of that betrayal are terrifyingly clear.
These elites, for political convenience, allowed and sometimes abetted the rise of illiteracy and extremism. They created monsters they can no longer control. And if the country were to split today, those monsters would turn their wrath inward, haunting the North for generations to come.
In Borno and Yobe, the horror of Boko Haram persists with renewed force. In just three months, over 300 attacks were recorded, leaving more than 500 people dead.
Entire communities live under the shadow of fear, with homes, schools, and markets reduced to ashes. The insurgency that once seemed to be waning is again flexing its deadly muscles.
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In the states of Katsina, Kaduna, Kebbi, and Zamfara, bandits roam freely, raiding villages, abducting schoolchildren, and demanding ransoms that cripple families and communities.
In just one week, 11 people were killed and over 50 abducted. Schools remain shut, healthcare services are disrupted, and livelihoods destroyed all under the watch of a seemingly overwhelmed system.
In Plateau, Taraba, and Niger, unknown gunmen and kidnappers continue their reign of terror. In one horrifying incident, 46 people were slaughtered in Plateau State in just one day. These attacks, swift and brutal, leave families in mourning and communities in chaos.
There is a loud and urgent call to both the government and the people. The federal government must prioritize equipping the military and police with better weapons, increased manpower, and improved welfare. It is no longer enough to issue statements of condemnation; action is required, now.
Likewise, citizens must reject the manipulation of self-serving politicians and take ownership of the region’s future. Communities must support security agencies with intelligence and build networks of vigilance.
The North is not just a political bargaining chip. It is home to millions of hardworking Nigerians whose lives matter as much as anyone else’s. They deserve peace, safety, and dignity—not just during elections, but every single day.
