The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) has issued a searing condemnation of the unending wave of killings across the country, demanding decisive and immediate intervention from the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
In a strongly worded statement, the NUJ described the ongoing carnage—raging from Benue to Borno, Zamfara to Imo, and Plateau to Ondo—as “needless, senseless bloodletting” that threatens the soul of the nation. The Union warned that the persistent violence is not only eroding national cohesion but also tearing apart the fragile fabric of Nigeria’s socio-political structure.
Achike Chude, the National Secretary of the NUJ, did not mince words: “The consistent and unrelenting gruesome killings of our fellow Nigerians speak volumes about the current state of the Nigerian nation. They highlight the seeming helplessness of our security institutions in defending our sovereignty and safeguarding our people.”
Chude lamented how Nigeria’s once-celebrated armed forces—renowned for their peacekeeping triumphs in countries like Liberia and Sierra Leone—now appear overwhelmed on their own turf. “We refuse to believe that the same military which brought calm to war-ravaged neighbors is now incapable of defending Nigeria. The capability is there; what is missing is political will.”
The NUJ laid the blame squarely at the feet of the political elite, accusing them of inertia, selfishness, and dangerous complacency. The Union decried the absence of a united front among leaders, calling for an end to partisan bickering and urging them to summon a “new kind of political consciousness—one driven by patriotism and a burning desire to protect Nigerian lives.”
In a chilling rebuke, the Union warned that political actors who have, directly or indirectly, enabled or benefited from the unrest “have blood on their hands” and must be held to account. “We will not remain silent while innocent Nigerians are slaughtered like animals. Anyone fueling this crisis—whether through action or complicity—must face justice.”
The NUJ’s statement wasn’t merely a lament—it was a rallying cry. The Union called for an urgent and comprehensive overhaul of Nigeria’s political and security architecture, emphasizing that peace and development cannot coexist with chaos and bloodshed.
“Enough is enough,” Chude declared. “Too many have died. Too many communities have been shattered. We cannot continue like this. The time for action is not tomorrow—it is now.”
As Nigeria reels from one tragedy to another, the NUJ’s message is clear: the era of inaction must end. The lives of countless Nigerians—and the future of the nation—hang in the balance.
PIONEER NEWS 