Bukola Afeni
Abuja-based engineer and public affairs commentator, Obi Njoku, has sharply criticised the Nigerian government following a series of bomb explosions in Maiduguri, Borno State, that killed at least 23 people and injured more than 100.
The attacks, believed to be coordinated suicide bombings, targeted crowded civilian areas including markets and a hospital, leaving the city in shock and mourning.
Speaking from Abuja, Njoku described the incidents as a “damning indictment” of the country’s security system. He questioned how insurgents could still carry out deadly attacks in Maiduguri, a city once considered one of the safest in the North-East.
“The fact that fortified urban centers are no longer secure raises serious concerns about the effectiveness of our current security measures,” Njoku said.
He argued that the resurgence of violence underscores the government’s failure to protect lives and property.
“While citizens bury their dead, the Federal Government continues to issue predictable condemnations. Words alone do not equate to leadership or security,” he added.
Njoku criticised what he called a reactive approach to national security, advocating instead for proactive intelligence gathering and preventive strategies to avert such tragedies. He also highlighted shortcomings in inter-agency coordination and questioned the political will to decisively address insecurity.
Calling for urgent reform, Njoku urged authorities to prioritise citizens’ safety over political considerations and warned against normalising mass killings.
“The people of Borno State, and indeed all Nigerians, deserve safety, dignity, and a government that truly works for them,” he concluded.
