Nigeria’s Growing Insensitivity to Insecurity Raises Alarm
Nigeria is witnessing a troubling desensitization to insecurity, according to Adeyanju Deji Adeyanju, an Abuja-based lawyer and activist. He laments that recent incidents, including the abduction of a judge from the Zamfara State High Court and the murder of a senior military officer, have failed to elicit the widespread outrage and political accountability that such crises traditionally garnered.
Acceptance of Violence Concerns Activists
In a recent post on social media platforms, Adeyanju expressed his dismay over a pervasive acceptance of violent crimes in the country. He noted that Nigerians seem to exhibit an alarming resilience in the face of tragedies that would typically shock any society. As he reported, “the other day, bandits kidnapped a whole general, broadcast the entire story on TV, then killed him and handed over his body to his relatives, but nothing happened.” Remarkably, no arrests were made during the handover.
Normalization of Tragic Events
Adeyanju contends that the rapid return to normalcy following such shocking incidents indicates the nation’s gradual acclimatization to violence and insecurity. He remarked, “These events have become so common that even opposition parties no longer condemn them.” He classified Nigeria as a failed state, emphasizing the absence of a robust opposition capable of holding the government accountable. “The last time Nigeria had both an effective government and an opposition was in 2015,” he added.
Lack of Public Outcry for Recent Abductions
His comments come at a time when the abduction of the Zamfara State High Court judge has sparked minimal public outrage or sustained pressure on authorities. During previous administrations, particularly when the All Progressives Congress (APC) served as an opposition party, such brazen acts would have invited relentless criticism and dominated public discourse.
Growing Public Apathy Towards Violence
The muted reaction to the latest abductions suggests a growing concern among Nigerians that prolonged experiences with terrorism, banditry, and kidnapping are desensitizing the nation. Tragedies that once ignited prolonged public outrage now often fade from media attention within days, overshadowed by subsequent security crises.
Media’s Role in Shaping Public Perception
There is an ongoing discourse regarding the role of media in this escalating violence. While government officials have accused journalists of unfairly promoting terrorism through extensive coverage, media advocates argue that it is their constitutional duty to inform the public and scrutinize governmental actions. The contrasting views highlight the complex dynamics at play in addressing violence and accountability.
Impact of Repeated Crises on National Attention
Adeyanju’s observations have reignited the debate over whether Nigerians are becoming dangerously conditioned to accept insecurity as a part of daily life. With each new case of kidnapping, killing, or attack on public servants, many citizens fear that national attention is increasingly reduced to fleeting headlines, rapidly replaced by the next impending tragedy.
