As insecurity continues to grip parts of Nigeria, spokesperson and political activist Kenneth Okonkwo has raised serious concerns about the consequences of government inaction and public frustration. Speaking during an interview on Channels TV, Okonkwo addressed the growing trend of community-led self-defense, warning that without proper state control and accountability, it could spiral out of control.
“When you allow them to defend themselves, they’ll go to extremes, killing innocent people,” Okonkwo cautioned.
He made the comment while discussing recent violent incidents across the country, including in Plateau, Edo, and Borno states, where jittery and desperate communities have taken security into their own hands amid mounting fear and state failures.
According to Okonkwo, the root of this breakdown is the government’s inability to provide safety and justice. He lamented that the trust between citizens and law enforcement has eroded so deeply that people now feel compelled to act as their own protectors.
“People are living in such terror that they’re reacting to every threat—real or perceived—with deadly force. That’s what happens when there’s no confidence in the state,” he said.
Okonkwo stressed that while self-defense may seem necessary in a climate of lawlessness, it also carries the risk of vigilante justice, ethnic clashes, and irreversible human rights abuses. He called for urgent reforms in security architecture, community policing, and stronger government accountability…..For More READ THE FULL ARTICLE HERE ▶▶
