A fresh wave of deadly explosions in Maiduguri has sparked outrage, with Engr. Obi Njoku condemning what he described as a collapse of Nigeria’s security system.
In a strongly worded statement issued on March 18, Njoku reacted to coordinated bomb blasts that tore through crowded civilian areas in the Borno State capital, killing at least 23 people and injuring more than 100 others. The attacks, believed to be suicide bombings, targeted vulnerable locations including markets and a hospital.
Describing the incident as more than a routine security breach, Njoku said the tragedy represents “a damning indictment of a failed security architecture,” warning that the resurgence of violence in the North-East exposes deep cracks in the country’s counter-insurgency efforts.
“For years, Nigerians have been told that insurgency has been technically defeated,” he said. “Yet terrorists can still strike at the heart of a major city like Maiduguri. If citizens are no longer safe in fortified cities, where exactly is safe?”
The attack, which occurred during a period of religious observance, has heightened public concern, with families reportedly caught off guard while gathering in what should have been a time of peace.
Njoku criticised the Federal Government’s response to repeated attacks, describing official condemnations as “predictable, repetitive, and meaningless.”
“Condemnation is not leadership. Statements are not security. Sympathy is not strategy,” he stated, urging authorities to move beyond what he called reactive governance.
He further questioned the effectiveness of Nigeria’s intelligence network and the level of coordination among security agencies, noting that recent warnings and escalating attacks in Borno State appeared to have gone unaddressed.
According to him, the situation reflects a broader failure of leadership, stressing that “lives are being lost because leadership has failed.”
Njoku called on the Federal Government to urgently acknowledge the deteriorating security situation and implement sweeping reforms, including a comprehensive overhaul of the nation’s security strategy and improved transparency in communication with citizens.
He also urged authorities to prioritise the protection of lives over “political optics and propaganda,” warning that Nigeria risks normalising mass casualty incidents if decisive action is not taken.
“The people of Borno and all Nigerians deserve safety, dignity, and a government that truly works for them,” he said.
The latest attack adds to growing concerns over renewed insurgent activity in Nigeria’s North-East, once declared largely secured by authorities, but now witnessing a troubling resurgence of violence.
Borno Bombings: Obi Njoku Slams ‘Failed Security Architecture,’ Demands Urgent Overhaul
