By Ogwu OmaOmale
The dramatic scene on Wednesday, when youths in Eruku blocked Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq’s convoy, underscores a painful truth: for many Nigerians, government visits are empty words without real security or infrastructure. What played out in Eruku is not an isolated protest — it is a symptom of a broader, systemic breakdown in state capacity to protect its citizens.
The Eruku Flashpoint: A Microcosm of Crisis
The governor had come to Eruku to condole with victims of a recent church attack — three members of the congregation were killed, and others allegedly abducted.
But instead of leaving peacefully, his convoy was stopped by angry youths who formed a human barricade, demanding he speak to them face-to-face.
Their grievances were stark: “We are not safe … bandits enter here easily … our roads are bad.”
According to local reports, these demands are born of years of neglect: insecurity isn’t new, but they feel forgotten until tragedy strikes.
What happened in Eruku is significant for two reasons:
It’s reactive: Only after a deadly attack did officials show up — but the community made clear that mere presence isn’t enough.
It’s demanding accountability: The blockade sent a signal: symbolic solidarity isn’t enough. They want action — security deployment, better roads, real investments.
The Broader Landscape of Insecurity in Nigeria
To understand why Eruku’s protest resonates, we need to zoom out. Nigeria’s insecurity challenge is not limited to sporadic violence — it is deep, multifaceted, and getting worse in many parts.
Here are key trends and facts from recent years:
Widespread Kidnapping / Abductions
Between January 2023 and March 2024, Nigeria saw 3,110 kidnappings, and over 5,300 casualties from violent conflict, according to a report by Nextier.
Kidnapping has become a business: organised bands demand ransoms, and the crisis is evolving into a sophisticated criminal economy.
Still, there’s some glimmer of progress: according to the Counter-Terrorism Centre, Nigeria recorded a 16.3% decrease in kidnapping incidents in 2024 compared to 2023.
Mass Killings and Banditry
The Northwest bandit conflict remains deadly: for instance, in Zamfara State, more than 200 people were killed in a mass attack in January 2022.
In Kebbi State, a March 2022 massacre killed over 80 people, including vigilantes and security personnel.
In Plateau State, ethnic and communal violence also remains a danger. Between December 23–25, 2023, coordinated attacks in rural areas killed nearly 200 people and injured hundreds.
Casualty Toll Is Very High
According to Nextier’s 2025 violent conflict report, over the four years from 2020 to 2024, Nigeria suffered 5,291 violent incidents, resulting in approximately 20,472 fatalities and injuries.
These aren’t just numbers — they reflect persistent, daily insecurity that disrupts livelihoods, displaces communities, and wears on public trust.
Civilian Harm & Collateral Damage
In some cases, government counter-insurgency efforts have themselves caused civilian suffering. For example, a drone strike in December 2023 in Tudun Biri, Kaduna State, allegedly killed over 80 civilians in what was meant to be an operation against bandits.
Such incidents contribute to a deepening sense of alienation: communities caught between criminals and overzealous security forces feel they have no safe space.
Economic & Social Impact
The insecurity is not just physical — it’s undermining development. In North-Central Nigeria, studies find that insecurity is eroding agriculture, raising poverty, and disrupting access to basic services.
According to one report, families spend billions of naira on ransom, while local economies shrink due to abandoned farms, displaced populations, and lost productivity.
State Responses & Innovation
The government is not entirely passive. In late 2024, it launched the Multi-Agency Anti-Kidnap Fusion Cell (MAAKFC), which pools intelligence from various agencies (military, police, intelligence) to coordinate anti-kidnap operations. Officials claim it has had an 80% success rate in its missions so far.
But critics argue that such innovations must be accompanied by sustained political will, not just flashy operations.
Why Eruku’s Protest Hits Home
The frustration in Eruku is more than local disenchantment — it’s a microcosm of Nigeria’s long, grinding battle with insecurity. Here’s why their protest matters in the national conversation:
Visibility vs. Action: Time and again, public figures visit crisis zones, issue statements, but fail to translate sympathy into lasting protection. Eruku’s youths are making clear: presence alone is not enough.
Trust Deficit: Communities feel they are on their own. When violent actors strike, they lean on vigilante groups. But when vigilantes run out of ammunition, or are confronted by police, trust collapses.
Structural Neglect: Their demands are not just about security — they also ask for roads, infrastructure, and meaningful government engagement. This shows how insecurity and underdevelopment reinforce each other.
A National Warning: The fact that Eruku residents are confronting their governor is a signal to the rest of the country — insecurity is no longer a distant headline; it’s personal, it’s local, and people are demanding accountability.
If Nigeria is to meaningfully address insecurity — not just in Eruku but across its most volatile regions — several steps are critical:
Sustained Security Deployment: Deploy more well-trained security personnel to high-risk zones, not just during crises but permanently.
Community-Based Policing: Strengthen trust between security forces and local vigilante groups. Community policing must be institutionalized, with oversight and accountability.
Economic & Social Investment: Insecurity is both a cause and a consequence of underdevelopment. The government needs to invest in infrastructure (roads, schools), job creation, and poverty reduction in hot spots.
Anti-Kidnap Intelligence Architecture: Expand the reach of fusion centers like MAAKFC. Use technology, intelligence-sharing, and legal frameworks to dismantle kidnap syndicates.
Accountability for Civilian Harm: Investigate and mitigate instances where counter-insurgency operations harm civilians (e.g., drone strikes). Build accountability mechanisms so that citizens do not feel terrorised by both criminals and the state.
Dialogue and Reconciliation: Promote peace dialogues in communities experiencing communal or ethnic violence. Engage local leaders, civil society, and traditional institutions to mediate and build long-term trust.
In conclusion, the blockade in Eruku was more than a political spectacle — it was an act of desperation and defiance. The youths are forcing a simple but powerful message: enough with condolences, we want action. And if the rest of Nigeria’s war-torn communities are paying attention, they may see their own voices in Eruku’s protest.
In this moment, the federal government has a choice: double down on symbolic visits, or deliver substantive reforms that shift the trajectory from fear to resilience.
