Broken Promises, Burning Houses: The Global Crisis of Governance and Human Cost
The world today finds itself navigating a tempest of instability, where the promises of progress often crumble under the weight of escalating conflict, political maneuvering, and a profound disregard for human dignity. From the vibrant streets of Nigeria to the battle-scarred plains of Ukraine and the complex societal fissures within the United States, a chilling narrative of insecurity and failing governance is unfolding, leaving a devastating human toll in its wake.
Nowhere is this sense of a “burning house” more palpable than in Nigeria, where security concerns have plunged everyday life into fear and uncertainty. In Delta State, Delta State University was compelled to suspend all academic activities in Abraka, directing students to remain indoors due to escalating insecurity. This drastic measure followed deadly clashes between security operatives and suspected kidnappers, leaving four suspects dead, an incident that tragically sparked violent reprisals against Hausa residents, fueled by claims that the killed kidnappers were innocent.
Eyewitness accounts describe chaotic scenes, armed mobs, and bodies on the streets. The Nigeria Labor Congress (NLC) asserts that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration has overseen a deepening security crisis marked by mass kidnappings, banditry, and terrorism, arguing that discussing economic policy in such an environment is akin to “debating the color of curtains in a burning house”. NLC President Joe Ajaero notes that this pervasive insecurity deters investment and plunges families into fear and uncertainty, questioning who would invest in such a climate “except looters and plunderers”. He critically calls the government’s economic policies “deformations” that inflict pain without benefit, demanding a new course that prioritizes Nigerians over external interests.
This crisis of governance extends to the very institutions meant to uphold justice. Human rights activist Omoyele Sowore is in a public dispute with Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kayode Egbetokun, challenging the legality of Egbetokun’s extended tenure, which critics view as a political plot for the 2027 elections. Egbetokun has labeled his critics “enemies of Nigeria,” but Sowore counters that such “impunity is bound to consume him”.
Meanwhile, prominent human rights advocate Femi Falana is demanding urgent reforms to Nigeria’s criminal justice system, specifically calling for the abolition of “ex parte” remand orders, which he contends are “grossly abused by police and magistrates” and lead to unjust, prolonged detentions, violating the constitutional right to personal liberty. Adding to the picture of systemic issues, the Nigerian Customs Service recently grounded at least 60 private jets belonging to high-profile individuals, including bank executives and oil moguls, over unpaid import duties running into billions of naira. This clampdown, which led to the sealing of private jet hangars, raises security concerns about foreign-registered aircraft operating without proper clearance, with some officials noting that such practices pose a threat to national security, especially given the ongoing insurgency.
Beyond Nigeria, the echoes of conflict and instability reverberate globally. In Ukraine, a brutal nighttime Russian drone strike in Pryluky tragically killed five people, including a 1-year-old child, his mother (a police officer), and grandmother. This attack, which saw 103 drones and one ballistic missile target multiple Ukrainian regions, occurred just hours after a call between Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, intensifying Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s calls for stronger international sanctions and air defense capabilities. The conflict’s human toll is further underscored by civilian injuries reported in Kharkiv and Kherson.
The depths of human rights abuses are also being uncovered in Libya, where the UN human rights office expressed shock over the discovery of dozens of bodies—some charred and buried, others found in hospital refrigerators—in a section of Tripoli controlled by an armed militia known as the Stabilization Support Authority (SSA). The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, highlighted “gross rights violations,” including suspected instruments of torture and potential evidence of extrajudicial killings, urging authorities to preserve evidence and ensure accountability.
Even in the United States, the ripples of global tensions and the complexities of immigration policy are starkly evident. A recent firebombing attack in Boulder, Colorado, injured 15 people and a dog during a demonstration for Israeli hostages. The suspect, Mohamed Sabry Soliman, confessed to the attack, stating a desire “to kill all Zionist people”. This incident became a focal point for President Trump, who announced a new travel ban on 12 “high-risk” countries, linking it to national security concerns and criticizing existing immigration policies. Yet, the US justice system also faces scrutiny, as a federal judge intervened to block the deportation of Soliman’s family, who were taken into custody despite not being charged. This echoes a prior ruling where a Guatemalan man, deported by the Trump administration despite a judge’s protection order, was finally returned to the US after his removal was deemed to have “lacked any semblance of due process”.
These dispatches from across the globe reveal a pressing confluence of challenges: the fragility of peace amid escalating violence; the urgent need for accountable governance where public trust is eroded by perceived impunity and policies that fail the populace; the constant tension between national security and fundamental human rights, especially within immigration and legal systems; and the overwhelming human cost of these instabilities, from displaced students and ethnic violence to families mourning lost loved ones and individuals suffering illegal detention. The collective message is clear: peace, security, and justice are not given, but are hard-won achievements that demand constant vigilance, robust institutions, and an unwavering commitment to upholding the rights and well-being of every individual.
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