Nobel laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka, has urged President Bola Tinubu to order the reopening of investigations into unresolved assassinations and extrajudicial killings across Nigeria, warning that the continued failure to prosecute perpetrators is entrenching a dangerous culture of impunity.
Soyinka made the call on Friday while delivering the 28th Wole Soyinka Lecture organised by the National Association of Seadogs (Pyrates Confraternity) in Port Harcourt, Rivers State. The lecture, themed “Reclaiming the Nigerian State through Accountability, Justice and Civic Courage,” focused on the need for transparency, justice and responsible governance.
Reopen unresolved cases
The Nobel laureate said successive governments had failed to secure justice for victims of unlawful killings, a trend he described as a major threat to Nigeria’s democracy and the rule of law.
He recalled that shortly after assuming office, President Tinubu requested files relating to unresolved assassinations and extrajudicial killings, urging the President to ensure the investigations are revived and concluded.
“I want you to join me in asking the President to dig up those files. We want to know what happened, why it happened, and who is considered valuable as a human being and who can simply be disposed of,” Soyinka said.
According to him, leaving such cases unresolved has emboldened criminals and weakened public confidence in the country’s justice system.
End the culture of impunity
Soyinka maintained that Nigeria cannot build a just society while allowing serious crimes to remain unresolved.
He argued that every unresolved assassination or extrajudicial killing sends the message that some lives are valued more than others, thereby undermining public trust and confidence in state institutions.
He added that institutions responsible for protecting citizens would continue to lose credibility unless they demonstrate the resolve to investigate crimes thoroughly and prosecute those responsible, regardless of their status or influence.
The literary icon stressed that accountability must never be selective if the country is to strengthen the rule of law.
Nigerians must demand justice
Soyinka also urged Nigerians not to remain silent in the face of injustice, insisting that citizens have a responsibility to demand accountability from public officials and security agencies.
He said silence in the face of brutality amounts to complicity and encourages further violations of human rights.
According to him, active civic engagement remains essential to strengthening democracy and ensuring that justice is delivered to victims and their families.
Victims remembered
The Nobel laureate dedicated the lecture to victims of avoidable killings across Nigeria.
He cited the 2022 lynching of Deborah Yakubu, the killings of residents in Ogoni, and the recent shooting of a suspect by a police officer while the individual was in custody.
Soyinka said the incidents underscored the urgent need for institutional reforms that prioritise respect for human rights and ensure security agencies operate within the law.
Call for accountability
He concluded by urging the Federal Government to demonstrate its commitment to justice by reopening unresolved case files and ensuring that investigations are pursued to their logical conclusion.
According to Soyinka, holding perpetrators accountable would send a strong message that no individual is above the law and that every Nigerian life deserves equal protection.
He maintained that rebuilding public confidence in the justice system requires transparency, courage and unwavering commitment to accountability, adding that only through justice can Nigeria overcome the culture of impunity and strengthen its democratic institutions.