National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu struck a familiar chord this week when he declared: “We will hunt them, we will find them, and we will bring them to justice.” His vow, delivered while reuniting 128 rescued kidnap victims with their families in Abuja, was a welcome assurance. Yet, it also echoed a refrain Nigerians have heard for two decades—from successive administrations that vowed to end insecurity, but left the country more unsafe than before.
The hard truth is that despite trillions of naira pumped into defence and security operations, terrorists still carve out territories, bandits sack communities at will, and kidnappers have turned abduction into a thriving industry. According to the latest report by SBM Intelligence, kidnappers demanded a staggering N48 billion in ransom between July 2024 and June 2025. Of this, N2.57 billion was paid—evidence of a criminal enterprise growing in sophistication. At least 4,722 Nigerians were kidnapped in nearly 1,000 incidents, while 762 were killed in the same period. Worse still, religious institutions have become prime targets. Priests are kidnapped at ease, worshippers are gunned down in Churches, and communities of faith are forced to worship under the shadow of fear.
These attacks strike at the soul of our national identity, eroding trust in both government and the sanctity of sacred spaces. At the heart of Nigeria’s insecurity lies a failure to tackle the root causes of terrorism. Poverty, poor governance, and inequality continue to breed despair, while greed in high places fuels resentment. Millions of Nigerians live without reliable electricity, water, or healthcare. Children roam the streets without access to education. Young people, unemployed and disillusioned, become easy prey for extremist recruiters. When a government fails to provide for its people, it inadvertently feeds the very conditions that sustain terror.
Ribadu’s words will only carry weight if backed by consistent action. Security forces may neutralise kingpins, but new ones will rise if communities remain trapped in deprivation. A strategy that ignores hunger, corruption, and the exclusion of the poor is a strategy doomed to repeat the cycle. The government must go beyond kinetic responses to dismantle the socio-economic conditions that fuel violence. That means enforcing justice transparently, reforming the police, regulating ransom-driven real estate of banditry, and investing in jobs, schools, and healthcare.
Enforcement of justice must go hand in hand with social investment. Security cannot be achieved when politicians accumulate obscene wealth while the masses sink deeper into poverty. Nor can Nigeria claim progress if discrimination, corruption, and nepotism continue to undermine trust in government. The rescue of 128 victims is commendable, but Nigerians need more than occasional victories. They deserve safe communities, secure highways, and Churches free of bloodshed.
They need leaders who understand that development and dignity are as powerful against terrorism as drones and bullets. Ribadu has given his word. Now, Nigerians are watching. Empty promises have expired; only results will count. Ribadu has given his word. Nigerians are watching. The time for recycled promises has long passed; only result oriented sustained action will count.
