Dozens of people were killed in a recent attack in Jos, Plateau State, prompting a response from President Bola Tinubu, who stated he was not elected "to comfort and create widows and widowers". The attack adds to a growing toll of violent incidents across Nigeria since Tinubu assumed office in May 2023. Various terrorist groups have carried out assaults in different parts of the country, particularly in the North-East, North-Central, and North-West zones. Civilians have borne the brunt of these attacks, with thousands losing their lives, according to data compiled from security reports. The latest bloodshed in Jos has reignited public debate over the federal government's ability to secure lives and property. Critics argue that despite assurances, the administration has not stemmed the tide of violence. Security forces continue to face challenges in containing non-state armed groups, some of which have operated with apparent impunity. The statement by the president has drawn scrutiny, with observers questioning the disconnect between rhetoric and on-the-ground realities.
President Bola Tinubu's claim that he was not elected "to comfort and create widows and widowers" rings hollow against the backdrop of escalating violence under his watch since May 2023. The statement, made after the Jos massacre, attempts to project resolve but instead exposes a leadership struggling to match words with outcomes. Thousands have died in terrorist attacks during his tenure, a fact that undermines any narrative of restored security.
The persistence of mass killings reveals deeper failures in Nigeria's national security architecture. Despite increased military budgets and periodic offensives, armed groups operate across vast territories with minimal resistance. The government's strategy appears reactive rather than strategic, focusing on public statements after attacks instead of preventing them. The recurrence of violence in Plateau State, a region long plagued by communal and religious tensions, underscores how insecurity is fed by both terrorism and unresolved local conflicts.
Ordinary Nigerians, especially rural communities in Plateau, Borno, Kaduna and Niger states, pay the highest price. Farmers cannot tend their fields, children miss school, and families flee homes with little hope of return. The state's inability to protect them erodes public trust in national institutions.
This is not an isolated breakdown but part of a pattern stretching back over a decade—successive administrations have failed to build a coherent, effective security doctrine.
