Nigeria is Bleeding - by Nancy Charles

There are days I sit back and wonder: what is Nigeria becoming? When the headlines carry stories of children stolen from school dormitories, churches drenched in grief, and the innocent silenced by violence — I cannot help but feel a deep ache, not just as a citizen, but as someone who refuses to look away. The Latest Wounds: Kebbi Girls KidnappedRecently, 25 schoolgirls were abducted from the Government Girls Comprehensive Secondary School in Maga, Kebbi State. The attackers came in the dead of night, scaling the school fence, opening fire, and dragging young lives into uncertainty. Tragically, the school’s vice-principal, Malam Hassan Makuku, was killed during the raid — reportedly shot while trying to protect his students. Security forces, the military, and local vigilantes have launched a manhunt — combing forests, checking escape routes, and promising intelligence-led rescue. But this is not the first time. The Senate has urged for a rapid rescue, even calling for mass recruitment of soldiers to deal with growing insecurity. Women's groups have also condemned the attack, calling it a test of our humanity — “how much longer will this go on?” they ask. The Minister of Women Affairs has pleaded for the unconditional release of the girls, her voice heavy with the weight of a mother’s heart. President Tinubu has directed security agencies to act swiftly. But the words “act decisively” ring hollow when this keeps happening again and again. Churches Under Siege:Around the country, reports show a disturbing trend: attacks on Christian communities and places of worship. According to a recent report, over 100 Christians were killed within a span of just two weeks; six churches were attacked, and several clerics abducted. This isn't random violence — it feels like part of a broader pattern, a message: nowhere is safe, not even in prayer. Justice Betrayed: The Case of Ochanya OgbanjeThen there’s Ochanya Ogbanje, whose name has returned to national conversation with renewed anger. Seven years ago, she died at 13 — but not of natural causes. Ochanya reportedly suffered repeated sexual abuse by her uncle, a lecturer, and his son over several years. Her abuse led to devastating medical injuries (Vesicovaginal Fistula) and, ultimately, her death. Public outcry has reignited under the hashtag <a class="tc-blue external-link" href="https://twocents.space/insights/tag/justiceforochanya" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#JusticeForOchanya</a> — yet the justice system still feels like it’s failed her. Her uncle was acquitted; her aunt (who was her guardian) was convicted only of negligence and sent to prison for a few months. People are angry — because this isn’t just one broken system, it’s a repeated betrayal. As one commentary put it, if someone can rape a child for years and walk free, what message does that send to predators? These are just a few of the many evil that has been going on in Nigeria for years, the killings, the corruption, bad governance, police brutality, name it, the list goes on... And what Is the Government Doing — Really?On one hand, President Tinubu has ordered the security agencies to accelerate search-and-rescue operations. The Army Chief of Staff has urged troops to act decisively, using intelligence to leave no stone unturned. The Senate has called for massive recruitment into the military and established a committee to probe funds used for “safe school” initiatives. Meanwhile, civil society groups (like VIEW — Voices for Inclusion and Equity of Women) are publicly demanding accountability. International organisations such as Save the Children have issued condemnations, warning that recurring attacks on schools threaten Nigeria’s future. Still, for many citizens, the response feels just reactive, not preventive. We’re always chasing after tragedy — instead of building systems to protect. Nigerians have cried for years, intended peaceful protest but all turned out brutal with so many casualties and lost lives. The same Government promised us a better future, but here we are, with same stories, even worse, with nothing to write home about... And we the people, what are we doing?Here’s where my heart aches the most: security can’t just be the responsibility of the government or the military. It has to be ours — as neighbors, parents, teachers, communities.We need to talk — openly and without shame — about trauma, about the children missing from school, about the girls taken in the night.We need to build coalitions, across religion, ethnicity, gender — because the threat is not one group’s problem, it’s everyone’s problem.We must demand accountability — not just statements of condemnation, but real action, real resources, and real consequences.We must pray — yes, but also act. Prayer without action is not enough; action without empathy is hollow. Silence Is No Longer an OptionNigeria is bleeding, the wounds cut deep, and they are tearing us apart. We cannot keep pretending that things are fine. We cannot keep scrolling past tragedies as if they are distant stories. They are not. These are our children, our sisters, our brothers, our homes. And if we remain silent because we fear what the government might say, or what someone might think, then we become part of the quiet that destroys nations. Every post matters. Every comment matters. Every voice matters. When you speak up, when you share, when you repost, when you cry out for justice — you are pushing back against the darkness swallowing us. Do not underestimate the power of awareness. Do not think your voice is too small. A nation is saved when its people refuse to be silent. So let us speak — loudly, boldly, unapologetically — until Nigeria hears us, until the world hears us, until something changes. We owe it to the children taken, the families mourning, and the future we still hope to build. Let us fight for Nigeria together, united, refusing to be divided. <a class="tc-blue external-link" href="https://twocents.space/insights/tag/nigeria" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#Nigeria</a> <a class="tc-blue external-link" href="https://twocents.space/insights/tag/justice" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#justice</a> <a class="tc-blue external-link" href="https://twocents.space/insights/tag/bringbackourgirls" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#Bringbackourgirls</a> <a class="tc-blue external-link" href="https://twocents.space/insights/tag/nigeriaisbleeding" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#nigeriaisbleeding</a> <a class="tc-blue external-link" href="https://twocents.space/insights/tag/endbadgovernance" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#endbadgovernance</a> <a class="tc-blue external-link" href="https://twocents.space/insights/tag/freedom" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#freedom</a>

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