While the Federal Government of Nigeria has been alleged to have paid nine million dollars to lobby the Trump administration to “let them breathe,” over one hundred and seventy (170+) Christian worshippers, including women, children, and elderly faithful, were forcefully abducted on Sunday, 18 January, in Kaduna State, North West Nigeria.
Forty eight (48) hours later, the Nigeria Police and Local Government authorities are issuing conflicting accounts, disputing whether an attack even occurred and contradicting figures on the number of abducted persons.
As these authorities trade narratives, the fate of the kidnapped Christians remains unknown within the dens of their abductors. What dominates public discourse is not urgent rescue or accountability, but a contest over who is right between the police, the Local Government officials, and the local villagers of Southern Kaduna.
Unfortunately, while the people of Nigeria continue to grapple with unending hunger and poverty, worsening insecurity, and all forms of criminality perpetuated by terrorist groups bearing different acronyms, the primary concern of the Federal Government appears to be how to turn Nigeria’s democracy into a one party system and remain in office in 2027.
This fixation persists even as the government struggles to govern effectively and fails in its most basic responsibility of securing and protecting the lives and property of its citizens.
This is a shame.
Lord, have mercy.
Deacon Darlington Okpebholo Ray, MSc, Asoc CIPD, is a Journalist, fellow of the British College of Journalism, Human Resource Management Expert (CIPD), PhD Researcher, Sociopolitical Rights Activist and Publisher of Truth Live News. He writes from Greenwich, London, England.
