By Shu’aibu Usman Leman
The recent onslaught against communities in the Alkaleri Local Government Area of Bauchi State serves as yet another harrowing reminder that insecurity continues to cast a long, perilous shadow over our nation. The killing of four individuals—including two soldiers and a member of a vigilante group—alongside the abduction of three others in Gwana District is not merely a local tragedy; it is a national alarm bell that we cannot afford to ignore.
Families have been shattered, and residents have fled their homes in terror. Businesses have been shuttered and farmlands abandoned. What we are witnessing is far more than an isolated incident; it is part of a deeply troubling pattern of violence that undermines communal stability and erodes public confidence in the state’s ability to protect its citizens.
To his credit, Governor Bala Mohammed has made concerted efforts to bolster security within Bauchi State. His administration has championed local security initiatives and responded with urgency during crises, most recently pledging to cover the medical expenses of those injured in this latest attack. Such actions demonstrate both leadership and compassion. However, we must be honest, the scale, coordination, and persistence of banditry across parts of Northern Nigeria have escalated beyond what any single state government can reasonably be expected to contain.
Security remains the primary constitutional responsibility of the Federal Government. When criminal networks operate across state boundaries, exploit vast ungoverned spaces, and challenge even seasoned security personnel, a more robust national response becomes imperative. This situation demands enhanced federal intervention—specifically, superior intelligence coordination, strategic security deployments, and sustained operations designed not only to repel attacks but to dismantle the very structures that sustain them.
Nigeria cannot afford to normalise this bloodshed. Every life lost in Alkaleri serves as a stark reminder of the desperate need for decisive action. Every displaced family highlights the human cost of a delayed or insufficient response. If we fail to confront this threat with the gravity it deserves, we risk allowing insecurity to seep further into communities that have long endured with quiet resilience.
The time has come for the Federal Government to act swiftly and decisively to restore public confidence, protect vulnerable citizens, and reaffirm the state’s fundamental duty of safeguarding of lives and property. History will not remember our rhetoric; it will remember whether we rose to defend our people when they needed protection most.
Shu’aibu Usman Leman is the Former National Secretary of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ).
