By Tunji Ogabi There are moments in the life of every nation when leadership is tested not by promises or policies, but by its ability to p...
By Tunji Ogabi
There are moments in the life of every nation when leadership is tested not by promises or policies, but by its ability to protect the lives of its citizens. Nigeria stands at such a moment today.
The recent kidnapping of school children and their teachers in Oyo State has reopened painful wounds and revived a fear no parent should ever have to live with: the fear that a child may leave for school and never return home.
For many Nigerians, these incidents bring back memories of the Chibok girls' abduction in 2014, an event that became more than a security failure. It shaped public perception, altered political fortunes, and left a lasting mark on our national consciousness.
As the nation moves toward 2027, insecurity is increasingly becoming the issue dominating public discourse. History reminds us that security challenges can overshadow every other achievement of government. As our Yoruba elders wisely say, "Ikú tó pa ojúgbà ẹni, òwe ló ń pa fún ẹni" (the tragedy that befalls another serves as a lesson to those who remain).
Insecurity is not merely a security problem. It is political, economic, and psychological. It weakens public confidence, discourages investment, undermines institutions, and creates doubt about the state's capacity to protect its people.
The kidnappers understand this reality. Their objective goes beyond ransom. Through every video, every threat, and every act of terror, they seek to spread fear, project strength, and create the impression that government is powerless.
This battle is therefore being fought not only in forests and hideouts but also in the minds of Nigerians. That is why this moment demands extraordinary leadership and an extraordinary response.
Mr. President, Nigerians have shown remarkable patience. Many citizens continue to endure economic hardship because they believe in the promise of a better future. Yet no economic reform can flourish where fear reigns, and no parent can celebrate statistics while worrying about the safety of their child.
The time has come for a response so decisive, coordinated, and effective that it fundamentally changes the calculations of those who have chosen a life of violence. The true test of visionary leadership is how it responds in moments of crisis and uncertainty.
This should not be treated as just another kidnapping incident. It should become the catalyst for a comprehensive national offensive against kidnapping, banditry, terrorism, and violent criminality across the country.
The kidnappers are only the visible face of a larger network. Behind them are financiers, informants, suppliers, collaborators, and beneficiaries of insecurity. The fight must extend beyond the forests to the structures that sustain these criminal enterprises.
Security agencies must operate with unprecedented coordination. Criminal funding channels must be identified and dismantled. Communities willing to cooperate must be protected. Most importantly, government must visibly demonstrate that the safety of Nigerian lives remains its highest priority.
Mr. President, the nation is watching, the world is watching, and history is watching. The victims deserve rescue, their families deserve hope, and Nigerians deserve peace. This is the moment to act. This is the moment to lead. And this is the moment to reassure every Nigerian that the protection of innocent lives remains the first duty of government.
God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria!
Prince Tunji Ogabi
_Public Administrator, Public Affairs Commentator and Community Development Advocate._
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