The recent attacks by Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province in Borno State, which reportedly claimed the lives of more than 40 Nigerian soldiers including a Lieutenant Colonel, once again expose a troubling pattern in the country’s national discourse, selective outrage.
Reports indicate that the terrorists launched coordinated assaults on several military bases across the state, killing soldiers who were on the frontline defending Nigeria from insurgency. In addition to the tragic loss of soldiers, hundreds of women and children were reportedly kidnapped during related attacks in the region, deepening the humanitarian crisis that has plagued Nigeria’s North-East for over a decade.
Yet, what has been most striking is the relative silence that followed these tragic developments. There were no widespread protests across northern cities demanding justice for the slain soldiers or urgent action to rescue the abducted civilians. The quiet response raises serious questions about the priorities of public outrage and civic activism.
In contrast, large protests were quickly organized in parts of northern Nigeria following reports of the death of Ali Khamenei, with members of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria taking to the streets in cities such as Kano and Sokoto. Demonstrators condemned alleged attacks by the United States and Israel on Iran, which reportedly killed Khamenei and several civilians.
The protests were significant enough to raise security concerns in Abuja, prompting the United States Embassy in Nigeria to cancel visa appointments due to fears of possible unrest in the Federal Capital Territory.
This contrast highlights a disturbing paradox. While Nigerian soldiers are killed defending their country and civilians are abducted within Nigeria’s own borders, public reaction appears muted. Yet events occurring thousands of kilometres away can mobilize large crowds and generate immediate protests.
Such selective activism raises concerns about misplaced priorities. The men and women of the Nigerian armed forces risk, and often lose, their lives protecting communities from terrorism. Their sacrifices deserve national attention, solidarity, and public demand for accountability and stronger security responses.
When citizens mobilize quickly over international issues but remain largely silent over domestic tragedies, it risks sending a dangerous signal that the loss of Nigerian lives has become normalized.
Nigeria’s fight against insurgency in the North-East is not just a military battle; it is also a moral test of national unity and empathy. The deaths of soldiers in Borno and the abduction of vulnerable civilians should provoke the same urgency, outrage, and public demand for action as any international crisis.
Until the country learns to respond with equal passion to the suffering within its own borders, the fight against terrorism will continue to be undermined not only by armed insurgents but also by indifference and selective outrage.
