The pervading onslaught by terrorists on the South-West region of Nigeria is nothing but a mere confirmation of predictions by watchers of security, and indeed many reasonable Nigerians, who have seen the handwriting on the wall even before the June 2022 attack on Saint Francis Catholic Church in Owo, Ondo State.

For the discernible minds, the horrific killings, forceful abductions and humongous demands for ransom were tragedies waiting to happen, following the government’s inability to stop them in the north. The worst of the tragedies is that the only Nigerians who either did not foresee the attacks, or care less about them, are the politicians and public office holders who, unfortunately, hold the powers and authority to prevent or counter the criminal activities.

These public officers were enthroned to keep watch over Nigerians, protect them from harm, ensure their security and welfare, among other sacred duties. They swore to uphold the constitution that provides for these duties, but they fail woefully; and thus, they gradually render the country rudderless and without a government in the real sense of it.

The spate of killings and abductions is simply intolerable. In Ekiti state, one person was killed and 16 abducted for about 40 days now. In Oyo State, two persons were killed and 42 pupils were whisked away into the forest. Before the dust settled, three more persons, Mrs Olaide Busayo Adegoke John-Paul, alongside her twin sons, Peter and Paul, were kidnapped in the early hours of Wednesday, June 3, 2026. These are the more major incidents, as there were others in which kidnap attempts were foiled, or local vigilantes and other security outfits reportedly apprehended suspected terrorists with a huge arms cache.

Nigerians, individually and in groups, did a lot to make political leaders perform their duties when the killings and kidnappings, particularly the Chibok incident in Borno State, started taking shape in the northeast. Very sadly, for reasons of entrenched vested interest known to the leaders as well as most Nigerians, the leaders did just enough to keep the boys busy, raise the hopes of the victims and other Nigerians, and keep spending big on the security industry. But they didn’t do enough to stop the killings, which then spread to the North West, north central and now to the south west.

The South-East and the South-South are not spared from the kidnapping orgy. The entire episode is distressing because it signposts a failure of government that can ultimately lead to the failure of the state. The signs are palpable, and, given the social, political, economic, religious and ethnic complexities in the country, such failure can cause a dislocation of unimaginable proportions.

Although the buck for the responsibilities to prevent anarchy in Nigeria stops at the desk of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who doubles as Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, many other public officials will not be exonerated; certainly not the governors who command huge sums of money daily for security but prefer to hide behind the excuse that they have no control over the police or the army. Yet they have not shown a serious propensity to make the establishment of state police a reality. Ditto for local government chairmen who now receive huge sums monthly, and directly from the federal government, but are yet to come to terms with their primary duty being the security and welfare of Nigerians in their domain, just as it is for the president and the governors. Local government chairmen need to live up to their billing as representing the government at the grassroots.

It is equally distressing that despite security summits that have been held by governors and other leaders of the South-West states and some moves that have been made, insecurity has continued to escalate in rural communities in parts of the region where kidnapping and violent assaults have persisted as if there are no security operatives to stop the criminal impunity and prove that there is a government in place in the states.

Last week in Ekiti State, residents of Eda-Oniyo Community in Ilejemeje Local Government Area of the State were compelled to stage a peaceful protest over the continued captivity of 16 residents abducted by gunmen during a church service, despite the payment of N10.5 million ransom and other items demanded by their captors. The protesters, including community leaders, women, youths and relatives of the victims, accused authorities of failing to secure the release of the abductees, who have remained in captivity for 36 days.

The victims were kidnapped on April 28, 2026, when armed men invaded Christ Apostolic Church (CAC) during a worship service in the community. During the attack, the church’s presiding pastor was reportedly killed while 16 worshippers were taken away by the gunmen.

According to the protesters, the kidnappers initially demanded a ransom of N1billion before reducing it to N150 million and later N50 million.  However, despite the community raising and paying N10.5 million alongside other materials requested by the abductors, the victims have not been released.

Nothing is more tragic and depressing for citizens than the fact that for 36 days, there was no assurance of any rescue mission from the government. The despair of the family members is best imagined.

The killing of a cleric and abduction of the worshippers at the Christ Apostolic Church (CAC) in Ekiti State is a troubling indication that life and property are seriously under threat in the region. Many people now live in constant fear of being attacked and possibly killed anytime, anywhere. It should not be so. Nigerians cannot continue to live at the mercy of criminals. The government must prove to the whole world that it has not lost control of this country to criminal elements. It can do this by always ensuring the safety of life and property of the citizens and in all places.

According to eyewitness accounts, the attack in Ekiti lasted about 40 minutes, forcing residents to flee as the community was thrown into panic. The Commissioner of Police in Ekiti State, Falade Michael, who led other senior police officers on an assessment visit to the community, could only, in the usual and expected verbal response, assure the residents of intensified operations to track down the perpetrators and rescue the abducted victims. Also, officials of the state government, led by the Deputy Governor, Monisade Afuye, reportedly visited the community to commiserate with the people and, in the same response pattern, assure residents of the administration’s commitment to safeguarding life and property.

To be continued tomorrow.