By Oyigu Elijah.
Nigeria continues to confront persistent attacks carried out by violent groups who disguise themselves as kidnappers. They have targeted schoolchildren, workers, worshippers and whole communities.
The situation has created a climate of fear that grows with each passing week. Many citizens believe that the response from responsible authorities remains slow and uncertain, leaving the country in a defensive posture rather than leading a coordinated effort to protect the people.
Recent events reveal that the North Central region has become a major target. Three of the most serious episodes recorded in recent times occurred there within a short interval. Apart from Kebbi State in the North West, the states of Kwara, Nasarawa and Niger, all in the North Central zone, were directly affected. The central position of the region and the ease of movement across its borders expose it to steady pressure. The danger will increase unless deliberate steps are taken to prevent further incursions.
The North Central zone consists of six states. Such a broad span demands a clear and unified security structure. Each state currently runs its own local security outfit with limited coordination. The threats confronting the region exceed what individual state efforts can resolve. A joint framework is the only realistic path forward.
The governors of the six states need to rise above partisan considerations and act as a collective front. All of them belong to the same political party at present, which removes a major barrier to cooperation. Nothing should delay the formation of a common platform that strengthens intelligence sharing, joint patrols and coordinated planning. A unified strategy will increase their influence and improve their capacity to act with urgency.
Leadership carries responsibility. The governors must remember that their foremost duty is to protect citizens rather than advance narrow interests. Several of them seek a second term, and their approach to the ongoing security situation will shape their political future in 2027. Communities across the region observe their actions closely, and the decisions taken today will influence the level of trust they receive tomorrow.
Concern continues to rise over the way land is allocated to herders in some states and the manner in which armed groups move through rural communities without restraint. A thorough audit of arms and ammunition in the region is now essential. Individuals carrying weapons without lawful authority should be identified and disarmed. Herding does not require firearms, and their presence fuels tension and suspicion in already vulnerable communities.
Nigeria must also adopt modern livestock management practices. Ranching remains a practical and proven approach used across many developed nations. No contemporary country permits uncontrolled movement of animals across states. The practice harms farms, strains security and fuels recurring conflict. Accepting this fact is an important step toward lasting peace.
Borders linking the states within the North Central zone require careful supervision. Criminals exploit unmanned forest routes and open paths. Coordinated border watch among the six states can limit their freedom to enter, hide or escape after attacks. The moment has come for the governors to form a firm regional shield that reduces the operations of violent groups.
Some leaders hesitate out of fear of offending powerful interests in the wider North. Such hesitation carries more risk than courage. The same interests they seek to appease can weaken them politically if citizens lose patience with insecurity. A governor who fails to provide safety endangers the very support he hopes to keep.
Roads across many parts of the region have become dangerous. Kidnappers position themselves along major routes and target travellers. Forests that once served as natural reserves now serve as hiding places for armed groups. Farming has become a fearful task. Many farmers cannot reach their fields or gather their crops. Entire communities face hunger simply because their land is no longer safe.
Leadership is not measured by ceremonies or fine clothing. It is defined by the ability to solve problems. It is reflected in the courage to act when decisions are difficult. It is the duty to protect the people who entrusted leaders with authority.
A regional intelligence-sharing centre should be established. Information gathered in one state ought to be accessible to all others in real time. Criminal groups move quickly, and only a shared information system can track their movements with accuracy.
Joint patrol corridors are also necessary. Security teams drawn from multiple states can cover highways, forest belts and border routes in coordinated patterns. Such collaboration reduces blind spots and prevents criminals from exploiting state boundaries.
A community safety network will strengthen early warning. Trained community groups can observe suspicious activity, relay urgent information and work with security agencies. When communities feel included, information flows more freely and response time improves.
A formal assembly of retired generals and senior security personnel is also needed. Many of these officers served the nation with distinction and possess deep knowledge of the region, its terrain and security gaps. Their careers have reached a natural close, and they carry no political ambition. Their experience remains valuable. They may not return to active duty, yet their guidance can shape better strategies and prevent errors that active officers may overlook.
A regional security summit would provide another important platform. Such a gathering should encourage honest conversations rather than political display. Experts from government, security agencies, private security organisations and civil society groups should take part. When a broad range of perspectives is represented, solutions emerge from real, lived experience rather than theory. A summit of this kind can help the region define a practical and achievable plan of action.
The world continues to observe Nigeria’s security situation with growing concern. Life and safety must never become subjects for political contest. Families, workers and whole communities depend on firm decisions from those in authority.
This is the moment to set aside rivalry, recognise the seriousness of the challenge and clear the neglected space where insecurity has grown unchecked. Only then can confidence return to the region.
People are tired. They are tired of waking up to new reports of abduction and fear. They are tired of hearing that investigations are under way without seeing strong results.
They are tired of living like targets while waiting for help that arrives too late. Families struggle to sleep. Parents worry each time their children leave for school. Farmers watch their crops waste away because they cannot step onto their land.
Communities that once lived with hope now carry a sense of anxiety. Their demand is simple. They want safety restored. They want leaders who act, not leaders who trade excuses. They want clarity, courage and honesty that rebuild trust across the region.
The region stands at a turning point. Citizens have shown patience, resilience and faith, yet their endurance has limits. Real progress will depend on deliberate choices taken by those in authority. A coordinated security structure, firm political will and honest engagement with communities can change the present trajectory.
The North Central states possess the capacity to reclaim their roads, protect their farms and restore calm to their towns. What remains is the resolve to act with unity and purpose. When leaders place the safety of the people above every other interest, the region will move from fear to stability and from uncertainty to hope.
– Oyigu Elijah writes from Abuja.
