President Tinubu has declared that “the worst is over” for Nigeria, adding that the nation is now “on the path of progress.”
His remarks, delivered during a recent visit to Imo State, emphasised new investments in healthcare, including what he described as well-equipped hospitals capable of treating critical illnesses such as cancer.
These optimistic assurances, however, do not reflect the realities facing citizens, particularly in Abuja, where violent attacks continue to occur within sight of law enforcement.
In a tragic incident that shows the severity of the security crisis in the capital, Somtochukwu Christelle Maduagwu, a 29-year-old News Anchor, Reporter, and Producer for ARISE News Channel, as well as a lawyer, lost her life following an armed robbery at her residence in Katampe, Abuja, on Monday, September 29, 2025.
Her employer, ARISE News Channel, expressed shock and grief, calling for a swift investigation and prosecution of the perpetrators.
The Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) likewise demanded justice, condemning the state of insecurity that continues to endanger journalists and citizens alike.
Just two weeks ago, a woman was robbed and stabbed near the Abuja City Gate while on her way to CDS.
The assault took place less than 50 metres from a police checkpoint.
In another daylight attack at Aco Estate along Airport Road, a woman was struck with a machete at 7 a.m.
She survived only by shielding her head with her hand, which was almost severed in the process
The attackers calmly collected her phone and laptop bag before leaving, despite the attack happening only a few hundred metres from a police station.
Beyond the capital, insecurity continues to devastate communities. On Sunday, September 28, 2025, armed bandits stormed the Oke-Ode community in Kwara State, killing no fewer than 12 people, including the Baale of Ogbayo.
Police confirmed the victims were primarily local vigilante members, though earlier reports suggested as many as 15 were killed, including hunters.
Even in Imo State, where the President had once praised improved security in 2024, residents appealed for urgent assistance during his recent visit, citing worsening violence, including kidnapping, cult-related clashes, and attacks on security operatives.
The climate of insecurity is also evident in Lagos State, where five female local government officials have died within just two months, the most recent being Mrs Adebimpe Akinola, who passed away on September 29, 2025.
Despite these realities across the country, including the machete assaults in Abuja, mass killings in Kwara, and continuing unrest in Imo and Lagos.
Tinubu has continued to insist that Nigeria is making progress, declaring once again that the worst is over and urging those talking ill of the country to desist.
For many Nigerians, however, the daily evidence of violence and insecurity tells a very different story.
