A group of young Nigerians on Tuesday staged a peaceful demonstration in Abuja to press for stronger government action against the worsening insecurity across the country.
Operating under the platform “Nigerians Unite Against Terror,” the protesters marched from the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs to the National Assembly, where they demanded urgent intervention to address cases of banditry, kidnapping, and terrorism.
At the National Assembly gate, protest convener Isah Abubakar told journalists that insecurity has become a national crisis affecting all citizens, regardless of political or social differences.
“There are major highways where, after 5 p.m., people are afraid to travel. Those who are trapped, kidnapped, or killed are not just members of APC, PDP or any other party — they are Nigerians.”
He stressed that protecting lives and property remains the primary responsibility of government, while urging citizens to continue demanding accountability from security authorities.
“We have a right and a duty to demand accountability from those charged with our safety. We need real, proactive measures to protect our children, keep women safe in their homes and farms, and reclaim our rural communities from criminals.
“The citizens who are trapped, kidnapped or killed on these roads are not just members of one political party or another; they are Nigerians. The bandits do not care about your religion, tribe, political party or background. This is a collective tragedy affecting us all.”
He called for collective action involving government, security agencies, and citizens to restore peace and safety nationwide.
Another protest leader, Austin Okai, appealed to retired military officers and former security chiefs to contribute their expertise to the fight against insecurity.
“We are calling on our former military and security leaders to step forward and collaborate. We must secure the country first before we can talk about politics.”
Okai warned that continued insecurity could undermine democratic participation and political mobilisation across the country.
“No political party can successfully hold a rally or mobilise voters if the people they are gathering cannot return to their homes safely.”
He also urged lawmakers to intensify oversight of security spending and ensure proper accountability in public expenditure on security.
“The National Assembly has a constitutional mandate to demand strict accountability. That is the essence of democratic checks and balances.”
While supporting reforms in the security sector, he cautioned that any plan to establish state police or forest guards must be properly funded, trained, and equipped to avoid unnecessary risks.
“The only leverage these bandits have over our communities is their weaponry. If we create state police or forest guards but fail to train and arm them properly, we are sending them to their deaths.”
He added that decentralised policing must be backed with strong coordination between state and federal security agencies.
“If we are going to establish state police and forest guards, there must be rigorous training, standardised modern weaponry and seamless synergy with federal security agencies.”
The protest ended peacefully after representatives of the National Assembly received the protesters’ petition and assured them it would be conveyed to the appropriate authorities for consideration.
