***Calls for Governance Overhaul
A disability advocate and policy strategist, Chike Okogwu, has cautioned that Nigeria’s worsening insecurity cannot be defeated through military operations alone, insisting that the crisis is fundamentally driven by governance failures, weak institutions, and declining public trust in the state.
Okogwu made the remarks in a policy essay titled “The Man, The Rottweilers and The Marauders: Nigeria Cannot Afford to Keep Holding the Leash,” where he examined the structure of Nigeria’s security system and the limitations of force-based responses to violence.
He argued that although security agencies continue to record operational gains against insurgents, bandits, kidnappers and other armed groups, the persistence of attacks across the country reflects deeper systemic challenges that go beyond firepower.
According to him, sustainable peace can only be achieved when security is treated as a governance responsibility rather than a purely military assignment.
“Security cannot be achieved through weapons alone. It requires effective governance, economic opportunity, community trust, intelligence and justice. Most importantly, it requires leadership,” he said.
Rottweiler Analogy: When the System Holds Back Its Defenders
At the centre of his argument is a striking analogy likening Nigeria’s security structure to a protected estate where trained Rottweilers are restrained by their owner while intruders cause damage.
In the analogy, the dogs represent security forces, while political leadership represents the estate owner.
Okogwu said the illustration captures the frustration of frontline personnel who are often expected to deliver results under difficult conditions such as poor logistics, delayed intelligence, conflicting directives and political interference.
“The dogs are capable and ready, but they are held back. Yet when damage is done, they are blamed for failing to protect the estate,” he noted.
He further observed that despite rising security allocations by federal and state governments, insecurity continues due to structural weaknesses including corruption, intelligence gaps, porous borders and poor inter-agency coordination.
Security as a Whole-of-Government Responsibility
Okogwu warned against the tendency to view insecurity solely as a military problem, stressing that such an approach ignores the broader social and institutional ecosystem that enables violence to persist.
“Security is often treated as a military issue when it is, in fact, a whole-of-government responsibility,” he said, adding that justice delivery, accountability and institutional efficiency are central to any lasting solution.
Vulnerable Groups Left Behind
The policy strategist also highlighted the disproportionate impact of insecurity on Persons With Disabilities (PWDs), noting that they are often excluded from emergency response frameworks.
He explained that limited mobility, inaccessible communication systems and weak inclusion policies leave many PWDs particularly exposed during crises.
“Every security failure deepens inequality and widens the gap between vulnerable citizens and protection systems,” he warned.
Fear, Fatigue and Normalisation of Violence
Beyond operational concerns, Okogwu expressed concern about what he described as the psychological danger of Nigerians gradually normalising insecurity.
He warned that when violence becomes routine, it weakens public demand for reform and reduces pressure on authorities to act decisively.
“The greatest danger is not just violence itself, but the acceptance of violence as normal,” he said.
Call for Structural Reform
Okogwu concluded that Nigeria’s biggest challenge is no longer the capability of its security forces, but the political will to fix the system that constrains them.
He called for stronger institutions, improved intelligence coordination, reduced political interference, and a more effective justice system capable of deterring crime.
“The question is not whether the dogs can defend the estate. It is whether those holding the leash are ready to do what is necessary before the estate is lost,” he said.
His intervention adds to growing national debate on the need to shift from a predominantly militarised response to insecurity toward a broader strategy anchored on governance reform, social investment, and institutional accountability.