Nigeria is bleeding. And if you think President Bola Tinubu carries all the blame — you’re only seeing half the picture. Yes, the north remains the epicentre of terror. But the rot goes deeper than Tinubu’s government: the region’s own elites must be held accountable.
A Week of Horror: Schools and Churches Under Siege
In just one week, northern Nigeria has suffered devastating attacks. On Monday, gunmen on motorcycles struck the Government Girls Comprehensive Secondary School in Maga, Kebbi State, abducting 25 schoolgirls. Security sources confirm the vice-principal, Yakubu Makuku, was killed, and another staffer was gravely wounded.
Then, Tuesday evening, bandits stormed a Christ Apostolic Church (CAC) in Eruku, Kwara State, killing three worshippers during service, and abducting the pastor and dozens of congregants. Reports indicate the assailants demanded ₦100 million per person. Military units have since taken over Eruku.
And if that wasn’t enough, Friday saw one of the worst school abductions in recent memory. Gunmen invaded St. Mary’s Catholic Primary and Secondary School in Papiri, Agwara (Niger State) around 2 a.m., abducting 215 students and 12 teachers, according to initial reports. After a full census, the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) revised the figure: 303 pupils plus 12 teachers are now confirmed missing.
In response, Niger State has ordered all schools closed indefinitely. The diocese, parents, and security agencies are scrambling to support rescue operations.
This Is Not Just About Bandits or Terrorists
Let’s be clear: these are not isolated criminal acts. This is a systemic crisis — a moral, political, and leadership failure. Northern Nigeria remains under siege, not just by gangs, but by its own elites who refuse to confront what’s happening in their backyards.
Between 2014 and now, the region has endured one atrocity after another:
- The Chibok girls’ kidnapping (2014)
- The Kankara boys’ abduction (Dec 2020)
- The Jangebe girls’ kidnapping (Feb 2021)
If the north is wealthy — in people, land, and resources — why is it reaping only blood and despair?
The Elites’ Failure Is Astonishing
Here’s the bitter pill: northern elites — political actors, traditional rulers, religious leaders, business moguls, academics — are largely complicit. Some look away. Some quietly profit from the chaos. Many remain silent, even as their people suffer.
They claim Islamic culture is being sullied by violence, but never speak with courage and clarity: Islam does not teach mindless mass murder. Instead of teaching peace, a number of leaders indulge in religion to preserve power — shielding themselves, while innocent children are abducted.
Where are the voices condemning these killers when schools go dark or when communities bleed? Why isn’t there a moral reckoning? Why does the north export its violence to other regions without internal resistance?
The Hypocrisy Is Telling
Many northern elites — the “western educated” — fly to Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the UAE for pilgrimage and luxury. They enjoy peace there. But at home, they allow their region to sink deeper into chaos. They hide behind faith and politics, treating tragedies as background noise.
This isn’t incompetence. It’s a deliberate choice — a shameful one.
If these elites are serious about Islam and their heritage, they’d speak up. They’d educate, reform, and advocate — not just for political survival, but for their people’s safety.
Why Tinubu Isn’t the Only Solution
Here’s what many refuse to say: this bloodletting will not end simply because Tinubu is president. Yes, he bears responsibility for national security — absolutely. But he cannot solve this alone. The northern elites must own their part.
- They must call out bandits, terrorists, and criminal herders within their communities.
- They must reassert moral and religious leadership against violence.
- They must invest in education, especially for girls, instead of passively accepting school attacks.
If they refuse, history will not forgive them. They will be recognized not as victims — but as beneficiaries of blood.
A Call to Conscience — Not Just a Call to Action
Northern political leaders, scholars, and clerics: now is the time to step up. Not for Tinubu. Not for politics. For your own people.
You cannot outsource your conscience. You cannot demand development while treating your population like collateral damage. You owe them protection, peace, and leadership.
If you will not speak, who will? And if you refuse to act, why should anyone trust your integrity?
The north’s future — and Nigeria’s — hinges on elite accountability. It demands courage. It demands honesty. It demands action.
The pulse of this crisis is in your hands, northern elite. Will you answer it?