Nigerians Demand End to Kidnapping and Banditry, Call on FG for Safer 2026
Story: written by Joseph January 12,2026
As Nigeria enters 2026, citizens are urging the federal government to prioritize security and ensure that the new year is not defined by kidnappings, banditry, and violence that plagued the country last year. From farms and villages in Benue and Plateau to schools in Kebbi and Niger, places of worship in Kwara, and countless other locations, the wave of terror left lives lost and communities devastated.
Many Nigerians are calling on President Bola Tinubu and his administration to intensify collaboration with the United States on counter-terrorism initiatives to protect vulnerable communities, particularly in remote areas where attacks are most frequent. Citizens stress that faster, decisive action is needed, comparable to the energy shown in implementing the new tax reforms.
Hassan Kontagora, a corporate trainer and education consultant based in Abuja, expressed frustration over the ongoing cycle of abduction, negotiation, release, and re-abduction. “We are toying with people’s lives and destinies. The government must act decisively to end this cycle,” he said, noting that recent attacks in Niger State involved terrorists fleeing prior airstrikes.
Agnes Onche, a retired education director and school owner, lamented the impact of insecurity on education. She revealed that she closed boarding facilities in her schools in Keffi, Nasarawa, and Otukpo, Benue, as parents fear sending children to high-risk areas. “We need protection for schools, farms, and villages in the hinterlands in 2026. Securing lives is better than paying ransoms to heartless abductors,” she said.
Catholic Archbishop of Kaduna, Matthew Man-Oso Ndagoso, added that security is the foundation for peace and national stability. He urged authorities to secure the release of Rev. Fr. Bobbo Pascal and other kidnapped victims, highlighting that Rev. Fr. Pascal has been in captors’ custody since November 17, 2025.
The overarching call from Nigerians is clear: enhanced protection for citizens, schools, and communities in 2026 is essential to break the cycle of terror and restore confidence in the nation’s security framework.
