NATIONAL INSECURITY: Sleeping With Two Eyes Closed Now Impossible in Nigeria, How Did We Get Here?

Nigeria’s security crisis grows worse by the day, and the latest developments have left millions of citizens frightened, exhausted, and angry. Recently, a man claiming to be a terrorist commander released a chilling video, boldly announcing that his group will soon begin kidnapping top government officials military officers, state governors, and even the President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

In the video I watched, the man wore what looked like an official Nigerian military jacket. It was as if he was openly mocking the entire security architecture of the country. Holding a rifle, he boasted about past kidnappings of schoolchildren in Niger and Kebbi States, speaking with a level of confidence that can only come from knowing you operate without fear of consequences.

He said:
“We kidnapped school students in Kebbi and Niger. Next time, we will kidnap Nigerian military officers.”
Then, pointing to the uniform he had on, he added:
“These are soldier’s clothes. Soon we will kidnap a governor, the President, and others.”

For Nigerians, these words are not mere threats — this is our reality. Kidnappings now happen almost weekly: schoolchildren, travelers on highways, villagers in their homes, clerics, workers, farmers as nobody is spared.

Even lying down to sleep with both eyes closed feels like luxury. Every day brings new horror stories: buses hijacked, families dragged from their homes in the dead of night, entire communities forced to pay ransoms they cannot afford. Nigeria has turned into a place where danger has no pattern , it simply shows up.

The militant in the video claimed that the government has failed and that Nigerians should rely solely on God for protection. As painful as that sounds, it reflects the growing sense of abandonment citizens feel.

He declared:
“The government cannot secure you. Return to God to protect you.”

And the question that haunts everyone is this:
Why are ordinary citizens always the easiest targets? Why do terrorists move so freely while communities remain helpless?

To make matters even worse, earlier this month, US Congressman Scott Perry alleged during a hearing that USAID funds were indirectly reaching terrorist groups like Boko Haram , a claim that, if true, raises even more disturbing questions about how these groups continue to grow stronger while Nigerians continue to suffer.

Today, Nigeria feels like a nation where nowhere is safe , North-West, North-Central, South-West, highways, villages, farmlands, schools. Parents are afraid to send their children to class. Travelers pray intensely before entering the road. Villagers take turns staying awake at night to watch for attackers.

And just when you think things can’t get worse, new reports emerge. I received a voice note recently claiming that bandits are currently in Isapa, in the same local government area — not far from Eruku, where worshippers were attacked last Monday. The fear is spreading, and the silence from those in power is deafening.

A government that cannot secure its people has failed fundamentally. No wonder some foreign leaders have mocked us , we have become a sad example of how a rich nation can be crippled by poor leadership.

As if that wasn’t enough, something even more shocking happened today. imagine, Sheikh Gumi a man widely known for his involvement in negotiating with bandits was given a warm reception and allowed to deliver a speech at the University of Ibadan during the 2025 Southwest Muslims Ulama Summit. He spoke about insecurity, blaming it on lack of education and unemployment, and referenced his visits to armed groups.

But the real question is:
How does a controversial figure who openly engages with armed bandits get invited to speak at one of the oldest and most prestigious universities in the Southwest without any scrutiny, caution, or accountability?
It feels like an infiltration of our educational spaces, a dangerous normalization of the very forces terrorizing the country.
At this point, many Nigerians are simply tired.
We do not need more empty speeches.
We do not need leaders who act shocked every time tragedy strikes.
We need action, strategy, and a security system that protects the people instead of leaving them to fend for themselves.

Until then, Nigerians will continue to live in fear.
And fear is no way to live.