The growing insecurity that has plagued parts of Nigeria over the
years has understandably generated frustration among citizens,
particularly in communities that have suffered kidnappings, killings,
and other violent crimes. It is within this atmosphere that Sunday
Adeniyi Adeyemo, popularly known as Sunday Igboho, emerged as a
prominent voice against insecurity in parts of Yorubaland. While many
may sympathize with the concerns that gave rise to his activism, the
methods associated with his approach raise profound questions about
the rule of law and the future of Nigeria’s security architecture.

No democracy can function effectively when private individuals begin
to assume powers that belong exclusively to constitutionally
recognized institutions. The authority to investigate, arrest, detain,
prosecute, and punish citizens is vested in the state and exercised
through legally established agencies and courts. Once individuals
begin exercising such powers independently, the very foundation of
lawful governance is threatened.

The greatest danger in self-help justice is that it replaces evidence
with suspicion. Security operations require investigations,
intelligence gathering, witness statements, forensic examinations, and
judicial scrutiny. An individual acting outside institutional
frameworks is unlikely to possess the safeguards necessary to prevent
mistakes and abuses.

History across the world has repeatedly demonstrated that vigilante
movements often begin with public support but eventually become
difficult to control. What starts as a response to insecurity can
gradually evolve into a parallel authority operating outside the law,
creating new security challenges in the process.

Particularly troubling is the idea that any private citizen can issue
quit notices to fellow Nigerians residing in any part of the
federation. The Constitution guarantees every Nigerian the right to
live, work, own property, and conduct lawful business anywhere within
the country. Those rights cannot be suspended by personal declarations
or ethnic mobilization.

Sunday Igboho, whose real name is Sunday Adeniyi Adeyemo, became
widely known in 2021 following public ultimatums directed at certain
groups in parts of Oyo State. Those actions generated national debate
and heightened tensions across several communities.

The danger of collective accusations is that innocent citizens often
become victims alongside genuine criminals. Criminals should be
identified and prosecuted as individuals. Entire ethnic, religious, or
occupational groups should never be treated as suspects merely because
some members have engaged in unlawful conduct.

Another serious concern is the possibility of retaliation. If one
region accepts the principle that private individuals can expel or
threaten citizens from other parts of the country, similar actions may
emerge elsewhere. Such a cycle could quickly degenerate into
nationwide tension and reciprocal hostility.

Nigeria’s security challenges are already complex enough without the
emergence of competing centres of authority. The country faces threats
ranging from terrorism and banditry to kidnapping, communal violence,
and organized crime. Introducing private enforcement structures would
further complicate an already difficult security environment.

The security agencies may have their shortcomings, but weakening them
through parallel structures is not the solution. The answer lies in
reforming institutions, improving intelligence gathering, enhancing
accountability, increasing manpower, and strengthening community
policing initiatives within the framework of the law.

The concentration of security powers in the hands of one individual is
particularly risky because there are few mechanisms for
accountability. Government agencies are answerable to laws, courts,
legislatures, and administrative procedures. Private actors are
generally not subject to the same level of oversight.

Nigeria’s democratic system was deliberately designed to prevent the
emergence of individuals who exercise unchecked authority over the
lives of citizens. The rule of law exists precisely because societies
cannot depend on personal discretion to determine questions of justice
and security.

The South-West has historically distinguished itself as a region that
values education, democratic engagement, and constitutional
governance. Those traditions should guide responses to insecurity
rather than approaches that may inadvertently undermine the legal
order.

It is important to acknowledge that community participation remains
essential in combating crime. Citizens have a responsibility to
provide intelligence, support law enforcement efforts, and remain
vigilant. However, vigilance is fundamentally different from assuming
the powers of arrest, punishment, or expulsion.

One of the lessons from various conflict zones around the world is
that armed or influential non-state actors often become difficult to
regulate once they acquire substantial public support and operational
influence. Governments that fail to address such developments early
frequently face prolonged security complications.

If the excesses associated with self-help justice are not checked in a
timely manner, Nigeria could find itself confronting an uncontrollable
security quagmire in which multiple actors claim authority to enforce
their own interpretations of justice. Such a scenario would weaken
national institutions and threaten social stability.

The fight against insecurity is too important to be entrusted to
individuals, regardless of their popularity or intentions. Lasting
security can only be achieved through strong institutions, respect for
constitutional rights, professional law enforcement, and equal justice
for all citizens. Any path that elevates personal authority above the
law risks creating a problem far greater than the insecurity it seeks
to solve.
Isiaka Mustapha, Editor-in-Chief,
People’s Security Monitor
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