Obasanjo Raises Alarm Over Worsening Insecurity in Nigeria
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has warned that Nigeria’s worsening insecurity is becoming a serious threat to the country’s stability, saying the government’s ability to protect lives and property is the true test of its legitimacy.
He said the increasing cases of kidnapping, armed attacks and violent crime show a deep breakdown in national security. According to him, when insecurity becomes normal in a country, it signals that something fundamental is going wrong.
Obasanjo expressed concern that Nigerians are slowly getting used to fear and violence, where what should be shocking incidents are now treated as everyday events. He described this trend as dangerous for both governance and national unity.
He traced part of the problem to long standing issues, including weak governance systems, failure to properly manage arms after past conflicts, and the involvement of armed groups in political activities. He also linked the current situation to the rise of extremist movements and the return of armed fighters from regional conflicts.
The former president further warned that Nigeria’s large number of out of school children remains a major risk factor, saying such a population could easily be drawn into crime or violent groups if not urgently addressed.
Obasanjo stressed that Nigeria still has the capacity to recover, but only if leaders take security seriously, strengthen governance and focus on long term national stability.
