LEADERSHIP ON TRIAL: NIGERIA’S SECURITY CRISIS AND THE QUESTION OF ACCOUNTABILITY
April 6, 2026 | News
frustration among citizens who feel trapped in a cycle of violence that seems to defy resolution. For many, these incidents are not isolated events but part of a broader pattern of insecurity that raises hard questions about leadership
LEADERSHIP ON TRIAL: NIGERIA’S SECURITY CRISIS AND THE QUESTION OF ACCOUNTABILITY
-- By Zik Gbemre
The reported killing of unarmed Christians in Jos on Palm Sunday, March 29, 2026 has once again reopened deep wounds in the conscience of Nigeria. Each fresh tragedy compounds a growing sense of grief, fear, and frustration among citizens who feel trapped in a cycle of violence that seems to defy resolution. For many, these incidents are not isolated events but part of a broader pattern of insecurity that raises hard questions about leadership, protection of lives, and the capacity of the state to uphold its most basic duty.
At the center of this anguish is a demand for accountability from those entrusted with governing the nation. Citizens expect their leaders to prioritize safety, strengthen security institutions, and pursue effective strategies against violent groups. When killings persist, public confidence erodes and anger turns into a call for change, whether in policy, approach, or leadership itself.
The debate over political ambition and tenure becomes especially charged in such moments. Some argue that any leader seeking a continued mandate must first demonstrate tangible progress in safeguarding lives and restoring public trust. Others emphasize the complexity of Nigeria’s security challenges—spanning terrorism, banditry, communal conflicts, and criminal networks—which require long-term, coordinated responses across federal, state, and local levels.
However, many grieving citizens go further by pointing directly to what they see as President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s failure to end insecurity. His campaign during the 2023 presidential election promised to end killings by Boko Haram, banditry, and herdsmen violence, yet they believe the killings have increased far more than before. They ask whether there is any justification for seeking a second term in office under these circumstances, arguing that the Commander-in-Chief should be judged first and foremost by the protection of lives.
What remains undeniable is the pain of communities affected by violence and the urgent need for solutions that go beyond rhetoric. Strengthening intelligence, equipping security forces, addressing root causes of conflict, and ensuring justice for victims are essential steps toward rebuilding faith in governance.
In times like these, the voices of grieving citizens reflect not only sorrow but a profound yearning for a Nigeria where no one lives in constant fear, and where leadership is measured by its ability to protect every life regardless of faith or religion.
Zik Gbemre
April 2, 2026
We Mobilize Others To Fight For Individual Causes As If Those Were Our Causes
-- By Zik Gbemre
The reported killing of unarmed Christians in Jos on Palm Sunday, March 29, 2026 has once again reopened deep wounds in the conscience of Nigeria. Each fresh tragedy compounds a growing sense of grief, fear, and frustration among citizens who feel trapped in a cycle of violence that seems to defy resolution. For many, these incidents are not isolated events but part of a broader pattern of insecurity that raises hard questions about leadership, protection of lives, and the capacity of the state to uphold its most basic duty.
At the center of this anguish is a demand for accountability from those entrusted with governing the nation. Citizens expect their leaders to prioritize safety, strengthen security institutions, and pursue effective strategies against violent groups. When killings persist, public confidence erodes and anger turns into a call for change, whether in policy, approach, or leadership itself.
The debate over political ambition and tenure becomes especially charged in such moments. Some argue that any leader seeking a continued mandate must first demonstrate tangible progress in safeguarding lives and restoring public trust. Others emphasize the complexity of Nigeria’s security challenges—spanning terrorism, banditry, communal conflicts, and criminal networks—which require long-term, coordinated responses across federal, state, and local levels.
However, many grieving citizens go further by pointing directly to what they see as President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s failure to end insecurity. His campaign during the 2023 presidential election promised to end killings by Boko Haram, banditry, and herdsmen violence, yet they believe the killings have increased far more than before. They ask whether there is any justification for seeking a second term in office under these circumstances, arguing that the Commander-in-Chief should be judged first and foremost by the protection of lives.
What remains undeniable is the pain of communities affected by violence and the urgent need for solutions that go beyond rhetoric. Strengthening intelligence, equipping security forces, addressing root causes of conflict, and ensuring justice for victims are essential steps toward rebuilding faith in governance.
In times like these, the voices of grieving citizens reflect not only sorrow but a profound yearning for a Nigeria where no one lives in constant fear, and where leadership is measured by its ability to protect every life regardless of faith or religion.
Zik Gbemre
April 2, 2026
We Mobilize Others To Fight For Individual Causes As If Those Were Our Causes