The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has warned against what it described as the politicisation of insecurity in the country, warning that the lives of citizens must not be treated as instruments of political communication or propaganda.
The group said the worsening security situation, marked by recurring kidnappings, terrorist attacks and violent assaults across several states, reflects a failure that demands urgent and honest response rather than political rhetoric.
In a statement on Thursday by its National Coordinator, Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko, HURIWA expressed particular concern at the continued captivity of schoolchildren abducted in Oyo and Borno states, describing the situation as a national embarrassment and a humanitarian crisis.
It noted that over a month after the abductions, the inability of security agencies to secure the victims’ release raises serious questions about operational effectiveness and coordination.
“It is heartbreaking that while parents, relatives and concerned Nigerians agonise daily over the fate of these young victims, those entrusted with the responsibility of safeguarding lives and property appear unable to provide reassuring answers or tangible results,” the group said.
Moreover, HURIWA said the persistent violent attacks and kidnappings across the country show that current security strategies were not yielding measurable results, adding that public confidence in the system was steadily eroding.
Condemning what it called a pattern of official responses dominated by statements and political messaging rather than concrete operational outcomes, the group lamented that schools have become increasingly vulnerable to armed groups, with children exposed to avoidable danger, which underscores weaknesses in preventive security arrangements.
Consequently, HURIWA warned that the government’s continued inability to rescue abducted victims could embolden criminal networks and deepen a culture of impunity.
It also frowned at what it described as the absence of accountability within the security leadership structure, irrespective of repeated incidents of violence and kidnapping, stating that, “in functional democracies, persistent security failures attract consequences.
The group insisted that security performance must be judged by outcomes rather than promises, insisting that the rising frequency of attacks calls for a review of existing strategies and leadership structures.
Consequently, HURIWA called on the federal government to provide Nigerians with a transparent account of the security situation, including data on deaths, abductions and displacements since the current administration assumed office.
It also urged the National Assembly to strengthen its oversight on security spending and operations, ensuring that funds allocated to defence and intelligence are properly utilised.
According to HURIWA, the emergence of a “ransom-driven criminal economy,” where kidnapping has become a sustained source of income for armed groups, further weakens national stability and public trust.
(Ripples)
