This week brought into sharp focus the multiple fronts on which Nigeria’s governance and security architecture are being tested.
In Kebbi, a confrontation with armed rustlers left 33 people dead, underscoring the violent consequences of weak state presence in rural borderlands.
In Rivers, an impeachment process against the governor was suspended after legal and presidential interventions, leaving a political truce that may not hold.
Former Governor Nasir El-Rufai raised alarm over an alleged toxic chemical import by the Office of the National Security Adviser, demanding transparency.
President Tinubu signed a controversial electoral amendment into law that permits but does not mandate electronic transmission of results.
SERAP dragged the Central Bank of Nigeria to court over ₦3 trillion in allegedly missing or unaccounted-for funds.
And the military announced that 117 repentant insurgents had completed a rehabilitation programme, even as debate continues over the efficacy and appropriateness of reintegrating former combatants.
Together, these stories paint a picture of a nation struggling with violence, accountability, and institutional trust.
1. 33 Killed After Clash With Lakurawa Militants in Kebbi
Thirty-three people died in Kebbi’s Bui District after residents confronted suspected Lakurawa cattle rustlers who crossed from Sokoto State. Police urged coordinated security responses over civilian self-defence, deploying additional personnel to stabilise the area.
Why it Matters:
This tragedy exposes the dangers of vigilante responses to rural insecurity. When communities feel abandoned by the state, they take up arms, often with fatal results. The police are right to call for coordinated intervention, but residents will only stand down when the state demonstrates it can actually protect them. Until then, such confrontations will recur.
2. Rivers Assembly Stops Impeachment Proceedings Against Fubara, Deputy
Rivers State lawmakers suspended impeachment proceedings against Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his deputy after court injunctions blocked the process and President Tinubu intervened. The truce follows a bitter feud between Fubara and FCT Minister Nyesom Wike that has paralysed governance in the state.
Why it Matters:
Rivers has become a case study in how personal political rivalries can destabilise an entire state. The suspension of impeachment offers temporary relief, but the underlying tensions remain unresolved. If the courts or the presidency cannot broker a lasting settlement, Rivers risks returning to the kind of chaos that triggered a federal state of emergency last year.
3. El-Rufai Raises Alarm Over Alleged Toxic Import Scandal At ONSA
Former Kaduna Governor Nasir El-Rufai formally wrote to the Office of the National Security Adviser, demanding clarification on reports that the agency imported 10 kilograms of thallium sulphate, a highly toxic chemical, from Poland without public disclosure or regulatory oversight.
Why it Matters:
Whether or not the allegation is accurate, the fact that it has been raised publicly by a former governor demands a clear and immediate response from ONSA. Thallium sulphate is a controlled substance with a notorious history as a poison. If ONSA imported it, Nigerians deserve to know why, how it is stored, and who has access to it.
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4. Tinubu Signs Electoral Act 2026 Amendment Into Law Amid Controversy
President Tinubu signed the amended Electoral Act into law, permitting electronic transmission of results to INEC’s portal but not making it mandatory or requiring real-time uploads. Manual collation remains an option where technology fails, a clause that has drawn sharp criticism from transparency advocates.
Why it Matters:
This amendment represents a qualified step forward that could easily become a step backward. By allowing manual results to override electronic transmission where network failure is claimed, a condition that is difficult to verify and easy to abuse, the law leaves open the very loophole it was meant to close. The 2027 elections will test whether this provision protects credibility or undermines it.
5. SERAP Drags CBN To Court Over Alleged N3tn Missing Funds
SERAP filed a lawsuit against the Central Bank of Nigeria over allegations that the apex bank failed to account for ₦3 trillion in public funds, including N629 billion paid to unidentified beneficiaries under the Anchor Borrowers’ Programme, according to the Auditor-General’s 2025 report.
Why it Matters:
The CBN is not just another government agency, but the guardian of Nigeria’s monetary system. Allegations of this magnitude, if proven, represent a catastrophic failure of accountability at the highest level of economic governance. The case also tests whether Nigeria’s courts can compel transparency from powerful institutions that have historically operated with little external scrutiny.
6. 117 Repentant Terrorists Complete Rehabilitation Programme
One hundred and seventeen former insurgents from Borno State graduated from the Disarmament, Rehabilitation and Reintegration programme under Operation Safe Corridor, which is now expanding to the North-West. Benue State has requested the establishment of a DRR camp in the North-Central zone.
Why it Matters:
The reintegration of former combatants is a necessary part of any post-conflict strategy, but it remains deeply contentious in Nigeria. Communities traumatised by insurgent violence often see these programmes as rewarding perpetrators while ignoring victims. For the DRR process to gain legitimacy, it must be accompanied by visible justice, compensation for victims, and transparent monitoring of reintegrated individuals.
Conclusion
This week’s stories collectively reveal a governance system stretched thin across multiple challenges: violent insecurity in rural areas, political feuds paralysing state governments, allegations of institutional corruption at the highest levels, and controversial legal and security frameworks being put in place for the elections ahead.
What ties these stories together is a central question: can Nigeria’s institutions rise to the demands being placed on them, or will they continue to fall short in ways that deepen public frustration and erode democratic norms? The answer will shape not just the politics of 2027, but the trajectory of the country itself.