Security in all facets of life, be it physical, economic, social, or political, is the cornerstone of progress for any society. It should, without compromise, be the top priority on both State and National agendas. Unfortunately, the Nigerian landscape today tells a different story, one marred by a disturbing shift in values and a deepening crisis of insecurity.
In the early days of Nigeria’s democratic era, militancy in the Niger Delta emerged as a form of resistance. These groups sought attention, not for selfish gains, but to draw the Federal Government’s focus to the gross neglect and underdevelopment of the region. Initially, it was about letters and petitions. But when these calls went unanswered, frustration morphed into desperation. Kidnapping expatriates from multinational oil companies became a potent tool for gaining attention.
What started as activism eventually mutated into enterprise. The agitation for justice and development gave way to Mammonism, the unchecked pursuit of money, regardless of moral or social cost. Today, this dangerous ideology has taken deep root in our society and is at the heart of Nigeria’s escalating security crisis.
‘Mammonism’ has redefined criminality, transforming it from an act of desperation into a booming industry. Kidnapping, banditry, electoral violence, and terrorism are now monetized ventures. Greed fuels chaos. The result is a worsening collapse of our social, economic, religious, and political fabric.
Even more alarming is the complicity of some political actors who, in their thirst for power, enlist and arm youths for political thuggery, further sowing the seeds of insecurity. These young individuals, once used and discarded, often turn their training and weaponry against society. It is a vicious cycle with grave consequences for our collective future.
This systemic failure has not gone unnoticed. The international community increasingly ranks Nigeria, and by extension, many of its states, as unsafe for meaningful investment. Foreign investors, once interested in our potential, now hesitate, deterred by headlines of violence and instability.
The rise of groups like Lakurawa, a herder-terrorist formation reportedly invited by traditional leaders to combat banditry, adds another layer to the complexity.
Analysts observe that the group’s presence underscores the tragic truth: vast swathes of Nigeria are now ungoverned spaces. In these regions, state authority is absent, and alternative, often violent, orders take root.
The army’s attempt to portray this as a “new development” appears less like a revelation and more like a strategy to evade accountability. But Nigerians know better, the signs have long been visible, and the silence of leadership has only deepened the wounds.
The time has come for us to confront the root of our insecurity: the worship of Mammon. Until we, as a nation, reject the normalization of greed and the commodification of violence, no policy, budget, or military operation can bring lasting peace.
Security is not merely the presence of guns and checkpoints; it is the assurance of justice, equity, opportunity, and the rule of law. It is time for Nigeria to reclaim its soul.
