In what appears to be Nigeria’s most dramatic “return on investment” complaint yet, a man on Thursday stormed the All Progressives Congress (APC) national secretariat in Abuja with a message as blunt as it was unsettling: reward me or kill me. The protest, captured in a now-viral video, shows the visibly distressed man holding a placard and demanding recognition for what he described as his personal sacrifices during the party’s 2023 campaign. According to him, loyalty was not just emotional, it was financial, physical, and, ultimately, total. In a country where political support often comes with expectations, some spoken, many implied the man’s outcry reads like a tragic audit of misplaced trust. His claim that he sold his house to fund campaign efforts has not been independently verified, but the symbolism is hard to ignore: a citizen liquidating stability in exchange for promised political dividends. Observers at the scene watched as the protester oscillated between anger and ...
Over 40 Youth Organizations Storm CONYSSA Summit: South West Youth Declare War on Crime, Cultism, and Corruption
Osogbo, Osun State, Nigeria,
In a bold and unprecedented gathering, over 40 youth-led organizations from across Nigeria’s South West region converged at the Adolak Event Centre in Osogbo, the Osun State capital, for the Coalition of Nigerian Youth on Security and Safety Affairs (CONYSSA) summit. The event marked a watershed moment in the youth-driven movement to tackle rising crime, internet fraud, cultism, drug abuse, and other vices undermining national stability.
The summit, themed "Uniting South West Youth Against Cultism, Internet Fraud, Money Laundering, Drug Abuse, Child Trafficking and Economic Sabotage", brought together security agencies,
government representatives, youth stakeholders, and civil society actors,
all committed to crafting homegrown solutions for Nigeria’s growing insecurity.
Ambassador Ade Mario, Director-General of CONYSSA,
emphasized that the initiative was driven by six regional coordinators and borne out of deep concern for the worsening security crisis.
He raised the alarm over the rising tide of insecurity in Nigeria’s South West region, declaring that the fight against crime can no longer be left to the government alone.
“The level of insecurity in our region is deeply troubling,” said Ade Mario. “Ironically, the more the Nigerian government invests in funding, equipping, and digitizing the fight against crime, the more these vices seem to multiply daily. We identified a troubling disconnect between young people and security institutions, and that disconnect is producing disastrous results.”
Responding to a Sahel correspondent’s question about the program’s impact, Ambassador Ade Mario highlighted the strong representation from government and security agencies.
“Today, we had in attendance the SSA to the Ondo State Governor on Security, the Commissioner for Youth from Ogun State, a delegation from the Osun State Government, representatives from EFCC, NDLEA, Civil Defence, DSS, and more. That alone shows seriousness and official backing.”
“We have resolved to step forward, not just in advocacy, but in active service. Our youth are ready to join the Nigerian Police, Armed Forces, EFCC, NDLEA, Amotekun Corps, and other security agencies to combat the growing menace that threatens to consume us all.”
He lamented the degeneration of moral values in a region once known for its discipline and cultural integrity.
Comrade Solomon Adodo,
President of the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN), described the summit as a vital bridge between youth potential and national productivity.
“Look around, more than 40 organizations, united in vision. That tells you something,” Adodo noted. “This is not about who you know. Once you’re ready, the system will respond. We must reform ourselves first, then reform our nation.”
He praised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s expressed readiness to work with young Nigerians in advancing national development and restoring public order.
The EFCC was represented by DSE Titilola Tokan-Lawal, who highlighted the need to redirect youth engagement with technology away from crime and toward innovation.
“Tod
ay’s smartphones can be more dangerous than guns, or more empowering. It’s all about how we use them,” she said, while calling for collective effort to “reconfigure our society.”
She emphasized that Nigerian youth were once globally known for integrity and innovation, but that image has been badly damaged.
“We must reclaim that narrative. This fight belongs to all of us.”
“Security extends beyond law enforcement. It includes accountability, fairness, and protection against all forms of abuse, whether from citizens or those in uniform,” he said.
Ambassador Ade Mario tasked religious leaders to shift focus from prosperity sermons to promoting ethical values, dignity of labour, and purposeful living.
“Let’s stop glamorizing sudden wealth. Our youth must build with their own hands. Nigeria is rich in talent, we must guide it in the right direction.”
As delegates departed the Adolak Event Centre, the message rang clear: Nigeria’s youth are not waiting for change, they are becoming it.
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