By DAYO ADESULU
Nigerians Question Leadership as Terror Attacks Escalate Across the North-West
Public frustration rose sharply on Monday after 25 schoolgirls were abducted in Kebbi State, yet the Presidency and top security chiefs offered no immediate response to the worsening insecurity. The unsettling silence has intensified debate over the government’s commitment to protecting citizens amid an alarming spike in terror-related violence.
The kidnapping, carried out by armed terrorists in the early hours of the morning, has become the latest reminder of the persistent vulnerability of communities in northern Nigeria. Parents and local authorities confirmed that the attackers stormed the area, seized the girls and fled into the forest, leaving families in panic and confusion.
Tinubu’s Public Message Draws Criticism
While the nation grappled with the shock, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu released a statement, not on the abduction, but congratulating a “seasoned banker” on a personal achievement. The timing sparked outrage online and offline, with many arguing that the President’s priorities appeared disconnected from the national mood.
Citizens questioned why a congratulatory message made headlines when the country was reeling from yet another kidnapping involving school-aged girls. For many Nigerians, the episode deepened concerns about leadership and empathy at the highest levels of government.
No Word From the Inspector General of Police
Adding to the tension, the Inspector General of Police offered no comment on the Kebbi abductions. Security experts and civil society groups noted that the force did not issue an update, deploy a visible special intervention team, or address public concerns.
Critics said the IGP’s refusal to speak reinforced doubts about his capacity to lead, especially after his much-criticised handling of the Yelwata massacre in Benue State earlier in the year. That incident, which left several villagers dead, reportedly exposed deep operational lapses within the police structure. Many Nigerians have since argued that the police chief should have been replaced long before now.
Brigadier General Executed by Terrorists
The nation’s anxiety grew further after confirmation that a Brigadier General in the Nigerian Army was executed by Boko Haram/ISWAP fighters. The killing of a senior military officer, usually considered a rare and grave escalation, sent shockwaves through security circles.
Yet, once again, there was no official statement from the President. No public reassurance. No declaration of a renewed strategy. The silence created an information vacuum that pushed citizens to vent on social media, where anger, fear and disbelief spread quickly.
Security analysts warned that when senior officers become direct targets for execution, it signals a troubling shift in the boldness and capability of terror groups operating in the region.
A Nation on Edge
With Kebbi schoolgirls abducted and a top-ranking officer murdered within days of each other, Nigerians described the government’s silence as disturbing. Many expressed fears that the country was drifting dangerously toward normalising tragedy, especially when coordinated attacks go unanswered at the highest levels.
“A nation where schoolgirls are kidnapped, military officers are assassinated, and leaders behave as if nothing happened is a nation in decline,” one public affairs analyst said. “This level of detachment is not compatible with the responsibilities of modern governance.”
Experts Warn of Failing Public Trust
Security analysts believe the pattern of kidnappings, massacres, and targeted killings suggests that terror groups are expanding operations across the North-West and North-East. They warned that leadership silence weakens public confidence and emboldens attackers who rely on fear as a psychological weapon.
Human rights groups also argued that failure to communicate during national emergencies could fuel disinformation, encourage panic and undermine morale among security agencies.
Parents Demand Immediate Action
In Kebbi, families of the abducted girls appealed for decisive action. Local leaders urged security agencies to launch coordinated search-and-rescue operations, insisting that time is critical in such cases.
Community members said the abductions revived painful memories of previous kidnappings in Chibok, Dapchi, Jangebe and Tegina. Many insisted the federal government must treat the latest incident with urgency to prevent another prolonged ordeal.
A Growing Fear of a Security Collapse
The latest events have deepened conversations about whether the country is sliding into a state where violent groups operate with impunity. The combination of leadership silence, delayed intervention and repeated attacks has strengthened complaints that Nigeria’s security architecture requires urgent overhaul.
For families of the victims and a nation weighed down by grief, the hope remains the same: that the girls return home safely, and that those responsible face justice.
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