By Sabiu Abdullahi 

A soldier attached to the 35 Artillery Brigade of the Nigerian Army in Abeokuta accidentally shot himself to death, as confirmed by Lt.-Col. Olabisi Ayeni, the spokesman of the 81 Division, Nigerian Army, supervising the brigade. 

The unfortunate incident occurred when the soldier sustained a gunshot wound to his head. Lt.-Col. Ayeni reported on Wednesday that upon hearing the accidental discharge, the soldier’s colleagues rushed to the scene, discovering him in a pool of his own blood. 

“Investigation has since started to unravel the circumstances and possible remote cause of the unfortunate incident. 

“The remains of the soldier have been evacuated and deposited at the Federal Medical Centre, Abeokuta,’’ Mr Ayeni stated. 

Addressing speculations circulating on social media, Lt.-Col. Ayeni urged the public to disregard insinuations that the soldier took his own life due to non-payment of Ration Cash Allowance. 

He clarified that the late soldier had been deployed to the Brigade Standby Force on Jan.15, adequately fed alongside his colleagues in accordance with the Nigerian Army’s standards for troops on duty. 

Expressing deep concern over the misuse of the incident, Lt.-Col. Ayeni stated the commitment of the division to the welfare of its troops. 

He conveyed the division’s condolences and sympathy to the deceased soldier’s family, highlighting that the division is dedicated to providing necessary welfare to boost the morale of its troops.

 By Sabiu Abdullahi 

The Board of the Nigeria Wrestling Federation (NWF) paid a courtesy visit to Bashir Adewale Adeniyi MFR, the Comptroller General of Customs (CGC), on January 16, 2023. 

The visit aimed to express gratitude for the CGC’s significant contributions as a distinguished Board member. 

Daniel Igali, President of the Nigeria Wrestling Federation, led the delegation and took the opportunity to congratulate the CGC on his appointment. 

He conveyed the federation’s heartfelt appreciation for the CGC’s active role as a board member and his unwavering support over the years. 

President Igali also acknowledged the CGC’s longstanding association with the board, dating back to his tenure as the Commandant of the Nigeria Customs Command and Staff College in Gwagwalada. 

This history of collaboration added a special dimension to the expressions of gratitude during the visit. In response, the CGC expressed his thanks for the honor and appreciation extended by the Wrestling Federation. 

Reflecting on his enduring involvement with the board, he assured the delegation of the Nigeria Customs Service’s continued dedication to promoting wrestling and other sports activities within the service. 

The CGC affirmed the service’s commitment to supporting the Wrestling Federation, pledging ongoing assistance and collaboration.

He underscored the importance of fostering training and sporting activities for Customs officers, highlighting the readiness of the Nigeria Customs Service to engage in Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives with the Wrestling Federation. 

The visit highlighted the strong bond and collaborative spirit between the Nigeria Customs Service and sports federations, particularly the Wrestling Federation. 

This collaboration exemplifies a shared commitment to the development of sports in Nigeria, showcasing the positive impact of partnerships between government institutions and sports organizations.

By Sabiu Abdullahi 

Mr. Olusegun Adesokan, Secretary of the Joint Tax Board, initiated discussions with the Comptroller General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, MFR, on January 16, 2023.

The purpose of the visit was to forge collaboration, focusing on critical areas such as system integration and finalising the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) and the Joint Tax Board. 

Mr. Adesokan, during the meeting, stated the necessity of a robust partnership between the Tax Board and Customs, placing particular emphasis on the issues of system integration and the pending MOU.

The discussion also touched upon a proposed technical training session designed to fortify the collaboration. 

Comptroller General Adeniyi stressed the pivotal role of engaging stakeholders in achieving effective tax management.

Acknowledging the collaborative imperative, he expressed his commitment to coordinating with the Human Resources Department to explore the suggested technical training session.

He also directed the legal teams to expedite processes leading to the finalisation of the MOU. Providing insights, Assistant Comptroller General of Customs in charge of ICT and Modernization, Kikelomo Adeola, highlighted advancements in integration with the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC).

This integration aims to register only vehicles that have paid the correct customs duties, contributing significantly to efficient tax management. 

The collaborative efforts between the Joint Tax Board and the Nigeria Customs Service underscore the commitment of both entities to fostering synergy.

Their joint focus on addressing critical issues related to tax management and system integration reflects a proactive approach to navigating the complexities of revenue collection in the country.

By Aminu Mohammed

I recently came across an interview on Instablog9ja on Instagram, where an elderly man advised youths to think critically before moving to the United Kingdom for better opportunities. The interview sparked a lot of reactions from listeners, particularly from the youths who were unhappy with the man’s attempt to discourage them from seeking a better life abroad.

I was both amused and taken aback by the disparaging comments under the post. Unsurprisingly, many Nigerians, particularly the youths, are disenchanted with the country’s security challenges and economic situation, especially the lack of jobs and inflation, and are desperately looking for a means to travel abroad for a better life.

I have read several stories online of people who resigned from their jobs and sold their properties, such as houses, lands, and businesses, to raise significant funds to pay for tuition fees in the United Kingdom, which can range from £10,000 to £20,000, depending on the course of study.

I have received several emails from people asking for advice on applying for scholarships or postgraduate programs in Germany. Similarly, I have received messages from people seeking my opinion on whether to sell their property to pay for tuition for a master’s program in the UK and Germany or travel to another country to seek work.

First and foremost, I would never discourage anyone from exploring the world to pursue his or her aspirations. I believe that life without adventure is not worth living. I have gained many tangible benefits from moving to Germany for my studies. In the last few years, I have acquired valuable skills, visited great cities and met incredible individuals from different countries worldwide.

However, it is important that I share the reality of living abroad with those who are planning to embark on such an adventure. This will enable them to prepare adequately before leaving their home country.

Conduct Sufficient Research and Planning

Before making any relocation moves, it is important to conduct adequate research and preparation. You should start by evaluating your qualifications, skills, and ability to adapt. Remember that immigration laws are becoming stricter in European countries like the United Kingdom, France, Sweden and Germany. If you decide to migrate and explore other places, ensure you have a job with visa sponsorship, a scholarship, or the financial capability to support yourself while studying. Additionally, research the prospective countries you want to relocate to and check the ease of settling down after your studies.

It is also a good idea to consult reliable friends from the countries you intend to relocate to for genuine advice. Don’t be swayed by social media trends like the “Japa hype”. Peer pressure is a significant challenge in our society, and herd mentality often impedes personal growth.

Keep the Second Option in Mind

Defining your goals, intentions, and plans is important before jumping into something trending. Many people make the mistake of not having a concrete plan and end up stranded and depressed when things don’t work out as expected. If you plan to travel abroad, it is not advisable to do so on a visitor visa to find a job. This puts you at a great risk of getting stuck and deported for overstaying.

If you are currently employed in Nigeria and plan to study abroad, taking a study leave from your company is best. Similarly, if you have a successful business, do not dispose of it before travelling abroad. Instead, entrust it to someone you trust to manage it in your absence.

While many Nigerians have successfully moved abroad and achieved career and financial success, many are stranded and unable to return home. Some even suffer from depression and mental illness due to the challenges they are facing there.

Moving to a new country comes with challenges, so careful consideration is necessary before making any decisions. Best of luck as you embark on your personal pursuit and growth journey.

Aminu Mohammed wrote this article from Ingolstadt, Germany. He can be reached at gravity23n@gmail.com.

The film with the title above came with a big bang and burst the block( in real terms, Blockbuster). I came to know of the film( I am not as good at motion pictures as books because in books you can see and hear and smell and feel and taste everything) when Atiku Abubakar and Sanwo Olu sent a twit of congratulatory message that one plagiarised one (same words same message) for hitting the 1 billion naira mark and becoming the highest money grossing film in Nigeria. I became interested. And I watched.

Why am I writing this? Honestly, I like celebrating good people and their achievements (a gift God gave me that I don’t ever think I have ever envied anyone. Rather, I celebrate him believing that, so long I keep clapping for them, one day they will also clap for me). 

After celebrating people, I love strong women. I truly do. Though honestly, my love for strong women (becoming them) had made me vulnerable in the eyes of weaker women. MY MOTHER IS A STRONG WOMAN, and on trying to be her(defending and protecting and advising and assisting all and sundry I became – in lowly goons eyes – a weak soul: reason if a woman doesn’t have empathy, I see her like a man–I will never get attracted to you: My little secret.

The above paragraph made me have a great likeness for the film A Tribe Called Judah.

The Storyline:

Jeddidah, played by Funke Akindele herself, is the mother of five boys from her five different men (East, North, South, West and “Mid-West”) that she vowed to protect with her life.

Emeka Judah, her first son, is the son of an Igbo man. He works in a Furniture shop, C&K, as a sales boy in a mall to a very wicked money laundering man.

Adamu Judah is the second son who works as a security guard at the same mall as Emeka.

Pere, the third son, is the black sheep of the house who goes about picking pockets in Lagos.

Shina, the fourth and second to the last born, always has his mother’s back and is a Lagos hooligan.

Ejiro, the last born, is a lover boy with–his life–Testimony (a beautiful young girl who can give him EVERYTHING, including her life, if it matters. Honestly, their love is something that can be seen only in films in the contemporary world.

As life keeps unravelling itself, every member of the family is loved by one another because their mother is solidly behind them. Emeka played his role as the big brother, always defending, fending, protecting and advising them. Adamu, the second from the womb, played his deputy role perfectly. He fell in love with a beautiful Hausa girl, but having no name or knowing the house of his father at Kano in Dala made him lose her. (Ejiro and Testimony’s love in reverse). Pere, the thief who, if not for sheer luck and the goodness you do, always find you wherever you are, would have been burnt alive by typical Lagosians, but for Jeddidah’s always love for goodness. She was there at the right time, and Pere was saved. Shina, the bloody bad English speaker and an area tout in a gang in Lagos, hears him, “I will work on me.” All these fingers are not equal.” despite his bad English guy, he is the man with the strongest will. He defended the family when it mattered most.

Ejiro, last born. The weakling and the somehow rejected cornerstone who, without the last heroic act of his lover, Testimony, would have all been killed.

You see, I have this belief that if you are good, you are good. Funke Akindele, both in the outside world and in the film she produced, is a good woman. The reason she has to be riding Keke Napep is to make sure that she loves her children despite having lost all their fathers one way or the other. So, when the time came for the children to stand by her, they all teamed up to save her by getting the needed money for a kidney transplant. 

The highly accented Igbo-speaking CEO of C&K Furniture, in fact, this guy is the salt of that film, is the wicked man who is Emeka’s boss that can’t lend Emeka money for his mother’s sickness but saying that Emeka should give him his mother’s number to give to his wife to join a strong “player glup in a church his wife is in.” You will laugh your life out and you will see in your very eye the statement “money miss road.” His dressing code, ehn! His I don’t care attitude, eh?! And his love for money is something I doubt I have ever seen.

Collette, the C&K General Manager (later have to “Correct don Collect” according to her boss), who was inherently wicked with a bad past, because hardly does a leopard shed its spots, Collette teams up with another gang to come and rob C&K. 

On that faithful day, the Juddahs agreed to rob that same. C&K and robbery turned into a war of two factions that Emeka paid the supreme price, but having a strong Deputy, Adamu picked up and made sure that EIGHT HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS was moved for their mother’s kidney transplant. Collette was apprehended and was shown when she was breaking a CCTV unknown to her. Some lights are not for illumination alone. 

She tried to indict Emeka and Adamu, but Emeka has an alibi of saying he is travelling to Italy through the desert always and when sacked from C&K, his phone number hadn’t been reachable. Adamu was off duty on that day and part of the money was gotten from her gang. And for being “GILIDI”, she took a slug for her wickedness. And that was the end of a bad life, I believed.

The cinematography, the sounds, the colour combo, the settings, the scenes, the plots, the structure and everything that is required of a good film are contained in A Tribe Called Judah. 

Let’s make Funke Akindele the BILLIONAIRE that she deserves. Go watch the film. 

Written by

Engr. Mustapha Ibrahim, MNSE, R.Eng. BDSP.

President, Triple E Foundation.

By Uzair Adam Imam 

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar attributed the surge in kidnappings and insecurity across the country to pervasive poverty and hunger.  

In a statement shared through his official handle on Tuesday, Atiku expressed concern over the distressing level of violence, particularly in Abuja, the nation’s capital. 

He highlighted the correlation between worsening poverty and the escalation of kidnapping and insecurity.  

Atiku criticised the government’s failure to fulfil its constitutional duty of safeguarding citizens’ lives and property, asserting that such negligence creates an open invitation for criminals to operate freely, leaving citizens vulnerable to abductions. 

Lamenting the unchecked reign of terror by kidnappers, Atiku urged authorities to urgently address the deteriorating security situation to rebuild the trust of the Nigerian people.  

He drew attention to recent tragic incidents, including the abduction and subsequent murder of Nabeeha and 13-year-old Folorunsho Ariyo in the Sagwari Estate Layout in Dutse, Bwari Area Council of the FCT. 

Expressing condolences to the families of the victims, Atiku called for immediate action to curb the rising violence and lawlessness.  

He affirmed the need for the government to fulfill its duty in protecting citizens, praying for comfort to the bereaved families and eternal peace for the departed.

By Uzair Adam Imam The Federal Capital Territory FCT Minister, Ezenwo Nyesom Wike, convened an emergency security meeting on Tuesday in response to the rising incidents of kidnapping by bandits in Bwari Area Council and other parts of the territory. 

During the opening session, Wike reassured residents that his administration and security agencies were actively addressing the situation and urged them not to panic.  

He acknowledged the security challenges but emphasized that steps were being taken to resolve them.  

“We are all aware of the security situation in the Federal Capital Territory, particularly Bwari and some other areas that we have witnessed security challenges.  

“I am also aware that sometimes too, the Press overblow what is happening but indeed we owe a duty to make sure that FCT is safe,” said Wike. 

He further stated that the purpose of the meeting was to discuss the challenges and find solutions collaboratively, involving all Council Chairmen who share responsibilities for their respective areas. 

Wike warned Council Chairmen against unnecessary stated their responsibility to remain in their councils and address issues within their purview.  

He expressed dissatisfaction with Chairmen leaving their responsibilities for unnecessary travels and noted the need for them to actively engage in resolving challenges within their jurisdictions. 

“We will not be happy where Area Council Chairmen will leave their responsibilities and travel out. We have gotten reports that Council Chairmen travel anytime and then, if anything happens, they will not call anybody’s name except the FCT Minister,” warned Wike. 

He also addressed the recent strike by the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), pointing out that primary schools fall under the jurisdiction of Area Councils.  

While emphasizing that resolving the issue was not the responsibility of the Ministers, Wike invited the Council Chairmen to collaborate in finding solutions to challenges. 

Wike concluded by asserting that every effort was being made to address the security challenges faced by the FCT and urged Council Chairmen to fulfill their responsibilities actively.  

The security situation has escalated in Bwari Area Council since December 23, 2023, with kidnappers carrying out bold attacks and even killing their hostages.

On Monday, reports indicated that kidnappers had dumped the remains of at least four victims around the Jere junction on the Abuja-Kaduna highway.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

In his support for sports within the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), the Comptroller-General of Customs (CGC), Bashir Adewale Adeniyi MFR, expressed his commitment to encouraging officers engaged in sports activities. 

According to the customs service spokesperson in a statement on Monday, this announcement came on Sunday, January 15, 2024, during the Polo Tournament between Customs Players and the Nigeria Army at the Nigeria Army Polo Resort in Abuja. 

CGC Bashir Adeniyi said, “We will consider officers who have expressed interest in the Polo game here to be the nucleus of our team — and we will give similar encouragement to other Officers to engage in the game.” 

Impressed by the NCS representatives’ performance, he declared, “I am quite impressed with what I have seen, and this will mark the beginning of the resurgence of Polo Games development in Customs.” 

Highlighting the importance of physical fitness, CGC Bashir Adeniyi noted that maintaining officers’ health directly impacts the NCS’s performance in revenue generation, trade facilitation, and smuggling suppression. 

“Our job is a very serious one: generating revenue, facilitating trade, fighting against smuggling — and these are serious callings. It requires us to be physically and mentally fit, as doing so will help maintain a delicate balance between the requirements of our work and the need to stay fit,” he remarked. 

The Chairman of the Nigerian Army Polo Association (NAPA), Major-General Adamu Garba Laka, organized the tournament to celebrate Army Remembrance Day and honor CGC Bashir Adewale Adeniyi MFR. 

Major General Laka urged other security agencies to emulate the NCS by engaging their staff in Polo activities, stating, “The easiest way to do that is to invite the big men to come and appreciate their players like CGC Bashir Adewale Adeniyi.” 

Major-General Laka recalled the game’s introduction to Nigeria in the 60s by Colonial Masters. 

The victorious NCS Players, honored with major trophies, received awards from dignitaries including Major-General Adamu Garba Laka, Director-General and CEO of Voice of Nigeria Jibril Baba Ndace, and Assistant Comptroller-General of Customs in-charge Headquarters Olaniyi Alajogun. 

Representatives at the tournament, Chief Superintendent of Customs Jamilu Haruna Funtua and Superintendent of Customs Aminu Labaran Kago, expressed gratitude to CGC Bashir Adeniyi for his morale-boosting presence.

They pledged increased efforts for future matches, aiming to bring more trophies to the Nigeria Customs Service.

By Ismaila Academician

People often frown at the content generated using AI. And I believe there is another set of people who copy and paste content generated by AI without any consideration or editing. Perhaps, the former group relies on the latter to pass their judgment. But I think both groups misuse and misunderstand the idea, they misuse AI and pass their opinions subjectively. Both fail to understand that AI is here not to do the actual work but to help us do it better.

Literally, intelligence refers to the capacity to understand principles, facts or meanings and apply it to practice. On the other hand, artificial implies something not natural to the human world, and not normal to certain principles or conditions. Put the two together you will have a complete clear picture of what AI is.

As a domain, Artificial Intelligence or AI, is a branch of computer science that aims to create machines capable of “thinking” and “acting” intelligently, much like humans. This could encompass various forms of intelligence, such as linguistic, biological and mathematical intelligence.

AI is a byproduct of human intelligence. It’s a human construct with limited and subjective experiences. It’s like a mirror reflecting our cognitive abilities. AI’s intelligence, designed to mimic our thought processes and actions, is a derivative of human intelligence. AI is currently available in various forms. The one we are most familiar with is ChatGPT. There are also thousands of machines in numerous industries doing remarkable jobs.

One of the key differences between AI and humans is predictability. AI is predictable as it operates based on pre-defined patterns subject to human manipulation. In contrast, we humans are unpredictable. We’re capable of creativity and spontaneity. We assume personality traits and express emotions. Human power is inimitable!

For instance, AI can recognise images of a cat but can never “feel or understand” what a cat is in reality because it doesn’t possess a mind of its own. AI can tell you the weather condition of your location, whether it’s cold, hot, sunny, hazy or raining without feeling any. It does not have feelings but can express them.

However, another striking difference between AI and humans is ‘Consciousness’. AI can neither assume nor replicate human consciousness. AI strictly operates based on algorithms designed by humans. The greater the data input the bigger the data output, and vice versa.
There’s a common misconception or fear that AI will replace us and render us jobless. But that’s far from the truth. AI was primarily created to complement our abilities. It’s a tool designed to help us do our jobs more efficiently and effectively, to enhance our skills, and to unearth and explore our hidden talents. AI is NOT here to do the work for us, but rather to teach us how to do the work faster, better and smarter.

Artificial Intelligence is not mere a trend. It’s a constant human companion like dogs and cats that will remain useful and loyal to humans as long as humanity stands. As we steadily navigate through the Digital Age, understanding AI is no longer a choice but a necessity. It’s crucial to know, learn and utilise the power of AI for productivity.

Sometimes, change can be difficult to cope with. But resisting change means missing out the opportunities that come along with it. Instead of viewing AI as a threat, we should embrace it as a tool for improvement, a lifelong companion that’s here to make our lives better.

Embrace AI, embrace the future!

Ismaila Academician can be reached via; 07034413534 or his email: ismailaacademician@gmail.com

By Bello Hussein Adoto 

At last, the Al-Kadriyar family has raised the 60-million-naira ransom to free their loved ones. Asiya Adamu, a relative of the family and the de facto champion of the fundraising campaign, wrote on X, “The donation has been received. We’ve now officially put a stop to any crowdfunding concerning #Najeebahandhersisters.” 

The Al-Kadriyar family had a rude welcome into 2024 when armed men stormed their Bwari home on the night of January 2 to kidnap the father, Alhaji Mansoor Al-Kadriyar, his children, and a niece. A relative who went with the police to rescue the family was shot dead.

The father was released two days later to source for 60 million naira before January 12, or else his children would be killed. January 12 arrived, and what seemed to be a frighteningly regular occurrence snowballed into a national sensation when the kidnappers killed Al-Kadriyar Nabeeha, one of the girls in captivity. The killing incensed the nation and brought greater attention to the fundraising campaign for the ransom. 

Hours later, former Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Prof. Isa Pantami, announced on X, via his verified handle, that he “spoke with a friend and a brother who offered to pay the remaining 50 million Naira of the 60m immediately.” 

The minister’s announcement is a relief to the troubled family. But for the crowdfunding campaign and the eventual contribution of the minister’s friend, the family would have needed at least 151 years to raise the 60-million-naira ransom if they were on the national minimum wage. However, the family’s crowdfunding success is a loss for everyone but the bandits. 

Kidnapping for ransom has become a lucrative business for bandits, terrorists, and other strains of daredevils in Nigeria. A report by Voice of America shows that kidnappers demand between 1,000 to 5,000 dollars, depending on their evaluation of the victims.

SBM Intelligence, a Lagos-based risk analysis firm, reported that Nigerians paid about 18.3 million dollars or 13.7 billion naira in ransom between June 2011 and March 2020. Some victims paid as low as 4,000 naira. The largest was 190 million. 

The latest data from SBM Intelligence, released in August 2023, showed that the kidnappers are still cashing out from the business. They kidnapped more than 3,600 people in Nigeria between July 2022 and June 2023, and demanded about five billion naira in ransom. The outcome was a 302 million naira ransom. 

Most of these payments came out of pocket. Some families of the victims had to sell their properties. A young man in Ilorin sold his car to pay ransom after his two daughters were kidnapped in 2022. Isyaka Labaran, a veterinary drugs seller in Kwali, Abuja, had to sell his three-bedroom apartment to fund his release after he was kidnapped in September 2023. 

But these pockets are running dry, and many families don’t have more to sell. The 2022 Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI) survey by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) showed that more than 133 million Nigerians, 63% of the population, are multidimensionally poor, with low income and lack access to basic amenities. These are some of the people bandits compel to pay millions in ransom. Where will they get the money from? 

That Nigerians are turning to crowdfunding for ransom shows the helplessness of the situation. Late last year, parents of the 11 remaining Yauri schoolgirls started a crowdfunding campaign for the 100 million naira bandits demanded to release the students. The students had been in captivity for 19 months. The campaign started after government interventions and negotiations failed to secure their release. 

This helplessness has further encouraged a collection of savages to kidnap and maim at will, funded by the millions of ransoms hapless victims pay, and the casual complicity of the government for not providing enough deterrence.

We can debate the morality of contributing to a ransom and arming bandits to wreak even more havoc, shatter more dreams, and take more lives, or calling their bluff at the risk of losing more lives to their cold, indifferent hands, but to what end? 

Al-Kadriyar family had little option than to pay the ransom. One of their daughters had been killed; more lives were at stake. The risk of flouting the federal government’s criminalisation of ransom payment and the chilling prospect of funding terrorism was not going to be enough to deter them, especially when the government has not been able to deter kidnappers. 

Meanwhile, bandits are raking in billions. In 2023, the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU) reported that two self-appointed negotiators facilitated two billion naira transactions for bandits between November 2021 and August 2022. Most of these monies were paid by the families of the kidnapped victims. 

The monies, according to the NFIU, are often used to “purchase the terrorists’ weapons and motorcycles, logistics, and further their terrorist campaign/recruitment of new members.”

Armed with hundreds of millions of naira from ransom, the bandits have graduated from attacking villagers and herders to hijacking cars on the highways, abducting children from schools, and attacking homes, trains, civilians, and security operatives. What they will do with the tens of millions they will get now from crowdfunded ransom is anybody’s guess.

The fiasco of the rampant kidnapping, the crowdfunding campaigns it inspired, and the brazen savagery of the bandits are a sad indictment of our government and a call for them to do more to secure fellow Nigerians and win citizen confidence. No amount of criminalisation or moral judgements will disincentivise families from paying ransoms or crowdfunding for it. 

For the victims and their families, the pain of captivity is raw, the threat of a repeat experience is haunting, and the horrors of the old are ever-present. They may never find closure. 

The rest of us are now wary of being the next victims of better-funded bandits with more weapons, members, and greater reach. The government is struggling to contain the crisis. 

And the bandits, basking in the success of their most recent propaganda and incoming million, lick their lips: there is more to come.

Bello Hussein writes from the University of Ilorin via bellohussein210@gmail.com.