The Shattered State of Nigeria
Nigeria is currently in a state of chaos, with citizens from all walks of life—Muslims, Christians, and non-affiliated individuals—reacting emotionally to the unfolding crisis. In the past week, everyone has become an expert on religion and foreign policy, but it’s clear that we are not listening to each other. Emotions are driving the narrative, rather than reason or objective analysis. This emotional climate makes it difficult for anyone to address the issue without fear of being misunderstood or dismissed.
Despite the overwhelming amount of commentary and social media reactions, it seems unlikely that many Nigerians will change their stance on whether there is a ‘Christian genocide’ or not. Instead of focusing on these over-analyzed topics, I want to highlight some fundamental issues that have led us to this point.
A Nation in Disgrace
There is one thing that even a broken clock gets right twice a day, and in all his rants, former US President Donald Trump may be wrong about many things, but he is right on one issue: labeling Nigeria as a ‘disgraced country.’ What kind of nation allows itself to be disgraced by a group of ragtag terrorists, criminals, militias, and militants? How can a country rich in resources and population allow itself to be threatened with the withholding of foreign aid or military action by a foreign power?
Our ancestors said that one should not look at where one fell but at where one tripped. We have made a series of mistakes and oversights that have brought us to this point, where our sovereignty is being dragged through the mud. Our governments are responsible for this situation.
The Roots of Violence
The first mistake was tolerating the existence of terrorist and criminal gangs across the country. Nigeria has, through negligence, incompetence, and corruption, democratized violence. The rise of ethnic militias after the return to democracy in 1999 and the communal violence in places like Kano, Kaduna, Jos, Sagamu, and Lagos set us on this path. The government’s failure to secure its citizens and dispense justice after these outbreaks of violence only worsened the situation.
Mass murderers were shielded by this lack of justice, and their crimes were ignored, allowing them to continue their violent acts. This gave rise to militias and terrorists who claimed to be addressing the injustices the state overlooked. Fulani militias claim they are avenging the murders of their loved ones, while Christian youths claim they are retaliating against the injustices done to them when herdsmen raided their farmlands.
Even groups like Boko Haram and ISWAP claimed they were fighting for social justice and carving out an ‘Islamic state’ from Nigeria. Similarly, IPOB seeks to create a separate state they believe will be just to their people, while the Niger Delta militancy was fueled by decades of social and environmental injustices.
The Culture of Neglect
Instead of dispensing justice, Nigeria has cultivated relationships with terrorists and criminal gangs for political gain. ‘Repentant’ Boko Haram members are pardoned and reintegrated into society without facing justice, while pro-tempore ‘repentant’ bandits are treated as celebrities at ‘peace’ events, only to resume their killings later.
This culture of neglect has continued under successive governments, including those of Jonathan, Buhari, and Tinubu, who all made campaign promises centered on improving security. However, these promises have gone unfulfilled, leading to the current crisis. Massacres in Zamfara, Katsina, Plateau, and Benue have been met with government indifference, with perpetrators often going unpunished.
The Role of Diplomacy
Another critical mistake has been the failure to appoint ambassadors for two years. A country aspiring to play a major role in international affairs must have ambassadors to represent its interests. The absence of these diplomatic representatives may have contributed to the spread of misinformation about the situation in Nigeria.
The Need for Unity and Justice
Nigeria has also failed to foster national unity, especially when our concept of social justice is dangerously fragmented. We have not properly documented the killings in the country, which is essential for acknowledging the scale of the tragedy, honoring the victims, and reminding ourselves never to let it happen again.
Lessons from the Past
While it is easy to dismiss Trump’s actions as impulsive, a closer look reveals a pattern. The US has used similar tactics in the past, such as deploying disinformation campaigns to justify interventions in Iraq, Libya, and other countries. These interventions often led to more suffering than relief.
Nigeria must be cautious in how it responds to this US narrative. It would be a mistake to follow in the footsteps of Colombia, which faced the Banana Massacre in 1928 due to US interference. The US government misrepresented the situation, leading to the deaths of thousands of innocent people.
A Call to Action
If there is anything worthwhile in this episode, it is that Trump’s words might finally force the Nigerian government to act decisively. The government needs a wake-up call. If the cries of dying Nigerians have not conveyed the urgency of the situation, then perhaps these scathing words will.
It would be a terrible shame if the Americans had to come, but their words should suffice. Nigeria cannot afford to mismanage this crisis as it has done in the past. It is high time we put this house in order. After all, we can blame Trump’s unilateralism, but there has to be a crack in the wall for a lizard to crawl into.