By Hon. Comrade James Onifade 
In recent days, the Governor of Kebbi State, Nasir Idris, met with President Bola Tinubu at the Presidential Villa to discuss the persistent insecurity troubling the state. The governor reportedly briefed the President on the situation, detailed security strategies already in place, and expressed appreciation for the swift rescue of the 24 schoolgirls abducted from Government Girls Comprehensive Secondary School, Maga.
The meeting touched on intelligence sharing, rapid response mechanisms, and federal–state collaboration everything that sounds like the right step on paper. But beyond the press statements and the photo-ops, one question remains: Does another meeting in Abuja really signal the end of insecurity in Nigeria?
For over a decade, insecurity has moved from being a regional crisis to a national nightmare. Kidnappings, banditry, terrorism, and communal conflicts now cut across all geopolitical zones.
And yet, despite countless security meetings, committees, and policy promises, the results often seem like drops in an ocean of chaos. Why? Because too often, the fight against insecurity is tangled in politics.
This is where the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, struck a vital chord. His call for unity and his condemnation of the politicisation of Nigeria’s security challenges reflect the sentiments of millions across the country. He noted that the South-West stands behind President Tinubu not because everything is perfect, but because national survival should never become a political chess game.
Nigeria is at a point where insecurity should be treated as a common enemy. But instead, political actors often approach it from party lines, blame games, accusations, media warfare, and propaganda. In some cases, even genuine efforts are coloured by the need to score political points rather than achieve lasting solutions. This weakens collaboration, sabotages policy continuity, and confuses the public.
When security is politicised, victims become statistics. Communities become battlefields of rhetoric. Leaders respond only when an issue becomes a trending topic. And states appear more interested in protecting their political image than the lives of their citizens.
The Kebbi case is a reminder: 24 girls were abducted, traumatised, and nearly lost to bandits. Their rescue should not be celebrated for political glory; it should be a wake-up call that no region is safe.
The Uncomfortable Truth About Ransom and Government Denials
As they were earlier claiming that no ransom was paid to the bandits, that is hard to believe because Recent reports such as the widely circulated news of a Katsina lawmaker and a local government chairman seen negotiating with terrorists as 37 abducted victims regained freedom speak loudly.
If negotiations are happening while officials publicly deny ransom payments, then Nigerians deserve honest answers. Why would the government lie? What’s the gain?
This is exactly what happens when insecurity becomes politicised. Paying bandits whether directly or indirectly is as good as funding them, empowering them, and giving them the ego to continue their deadly operations. When leaders prioritize political narratives over truth, the country pays the price.
What Nigeria Truly Needs
Let us not deceive ourselves: Nigeria needs sincerity, consistency, and collaboration without rivalry. Traditional rulers, as the Ooni emphasised, must work with political leaders not for politics, but for peace. Security agencies must be strengthened, depoliticised, and held accountable. And most importantly, every level of government must realise that insecurity is not a campaign slogan it is a life and death matter.
Meetings between governors and the President are important. Announcements of new security strategies are good. But unless Nigeria drops politics and prioritises human life, these steps will remain motions without movement.
If insecurity continues to be viewed through a political lens, then no meeting whether in the Villa or anywhere else will bring the peace Nigerians desperately deserve.
As Nigeria continues to struggle with worsening insecurity and weakened institutions, it may be time to seek meaningful support from the international community.
There is no shame in calling for assistance when national stability is at stake. What is most evident and most troubling is how leadership shortcomings have allowed the situation to deteriorate to this point. Without transparency, accountability, and decisive action, the country risks sliding further into crisis.
Joshua Tosin Ogunsakin