As banditry, kidnapping and insurgency spread across Nigeria, some traumatised communities are turning to charms, ritual fortification, magic and ancestral spirits for protection. This response deserves neither ridicule nor romanticisation. It should be understood as evidence of fear—and of the widening failure of the state to protect its citizens. Traditional hunters and vigilantes in…
Mark Lipdo warns that worsening violence, mass displacement and disputes over the causes of attacks are undermining Nigeria’s security response The Stefanos Foundation says it documented the deaths of 2,543 people and the abduction of 1,809 others across Nigeria during the first six months of 2026, highlighting the continuing human cost of the country’s security…
Few subjects generate as much speculation among Nigerians today as migration to Europe. Social media has been flooded with claims that Europe has closed its borders, abolished asylum and intends to deport every irregular migrant immediately. Such narratives have spread rapidly, creating confusion among thousands of young Africans planning to study, work or seek opportunities…
As Nigeria inches closer to the 2027 general elections, concerns over the health of its democracy, the credibility of political institutions, and the worsening security situation continue to dominate national discourse. Those issues took centre stage on Majalisah, hosted by Rimamnde Shawulu, in a wide-ranging interview with former House of Representatives member and political commentator…
For nearly two decades, Nigeria has searched for a single solution to an increasingly complex security crisis. Every few years, a new proposal emerges, attracting passionate support and equally fierce opposition. Today, that proposal is State Police. To some Nigerians, State Police is the long-awaited answer to terrorism, kidnapping, banditry and violent crime. To others,…
More than a decade after the Chibok schoolgirls’ abduction shocked the world, another community in Borno State is asking a painful question: Have we learned anything? In this episode of *The Other Side*, Rimamnde Shawulu examines the abduction of 42 children from Mussa Community in Askira-Uba Local Government Area of Borno State. According to community…
