Public affairs commentator Mahdi Shehu has blamed the rising wave of killings throughout Nigeria on what he described as the federal government’s continued engagement with, and concessions to, prison {groups}.
In a submit shared on X on Friday, Shehu expressed concern over what he sees as a pointy improve in violent incidents nationwide, noting that the development has develop into extra pronounced in latest months.
“Since November 2025, and extra considerably from February 2026 up to now, there seems to be a geometrical improve within the variety of Nigerians killed each day throughout the nation,” he stated.
He added that the assaults lower throughout each civilians and safety personnel, warning that there aren’t any clear indicators of enchancment.
“These killings are deliberate and systematic, affecting each civilians and safety personnel, without end,” he acknowledged.
In keeping with him, the nation’s safety structure is underneath extreme pressure and lacks the capability to reply successfully.
“All safety companies are overstretched, inadequate in quantity, and poorly geared up in comparison with the weaponry within the fingers of prison gangs,” he stated.
Shehu argued that the continued violence is being fuelled by insurance policies that, in his view, reward criminality, significantly via negotiations and amnesty programmes.
“These mindless and orchestrated killings will solely be curtailed when governments in any respect ranges cease partaking in what quantities to appeasement and start to deal with prison parts as such,” he stated.
He additionally referred to as for an finish to granting amnesty and official recognition to people concerned in prison actions.
“When authorities cease providing amnesty to vandals, bandits, and murderers, and when conventional establishments and governments stop conferring titles and public roles on recognized criminals, each domestically and internationally, significant progress can start,” he added.
The commentator additional criticised what he described as a broader tradition of rewarding wrongdoing via honours and appointments.
“When governments cease bestowing nationwide honours, political appointments, and recognition on people with information of criminality, together with arson, drug abuse, and {financial} misconduct, the system can start to appropriate itself,” he stated.
Shehu additionally linked the worsening insecurity to structural weaknesses inside the political system, together with electoral malpractice and institutional failures.
“When political actors cease deploying thugs to control elections, when votes actually depend in actual time, and when the judiciary refrains from legitimising outcomes that don’t replicate the desire of the folks, we are able to start to deal with the basis causes,” he acknowledged.
He harassed the necessity for justice, equity, and equality earlier than the legislation, warning towards selective enforcement.
“When governments abandon selective prosecution and guarantee seen, measurable justice, fairness, and equity for all no matter standing, gender, ethnicity, or perception, then actual progress could be achieved,” he stated.
Shehu additionally urged residents to be extra actively concerned in governance.
“When Nigerians transfer past apathy, concern, and complacency, and take an energetic function in shaping governance, significant change will comply with,” he famous.
He concluded by emphasising that actual progress will depend on a useful democratic system rooted in accountability and equity.
“True progress will solely come when democracy operates because it ought to, not as a personal enterprise, authoritarian construction, or transactional system, however as one rooted in justice, fairness, and equity for all. Something wanting this can stay a futile train,” he stated.
“Something much less will quantity to a wild goose chase.”