Nigeria is lethargically fighting an untelevised war, with human casualties far more than the televised war in Russia/Ukraine. A war that compels every sane mind to question the value of human life in Nigeria. The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights puts verified death figures in Ukraine at 16,000 civilians, while Ukraine’s military and independent international media estimates roughly 43,000 to 140,000 Ukrainian soldiers killed. On March 22, 2026, Vanguard News referenced the International Society for Civil Liberties and Rule of Law’s report that no fewer than 190,150 Nigerians were killed by bandits, Boko Haram insurgents, suspected armed herdsmen, and unknown gunmen between July 2009 and March 19, 2026. Surpassing the total figure of casualties recorded in Ukraine.
Since 2009, Nigeria has battled insecurity with increasing failure to secure the state. We have faced the war with a reactionary model, with attacks occurring first, troops mobilised later, and a matching order from a top hierarchy for an investigation and resolute results. In most cases, there is neither a concluded and transparent outcome of investigation nor all the victims rescued, like the cases of the Chibok girls, the Oyo abducted children and thousands of individuals taken in smaller, localised kidnappings or mass raids that are unaccounted for. Presidents have fired service chiefs, allocated approximately N34.5 trillion from 2009 through 2026 to defence and security architecture, and left thousands of Nigerians kidnapped, killed and dehumanised. All manner of solutions have been proffered and promised, and assurances made on securing Nigeria. Notwithstanding and without undermining their efforts, Nigeria’s security system has failed to achieve the single most important reason for the existence of Nigeria – ensuring the security and welfare of Nigerian citizens.
