Editorial
Supporting Terror Victims
On 21 August, 2021, the United Nations (UN) and the global community observed the International Day of Remembrance and Tribute to the Victims of Terrorism. This day is commemorated annually to pay tribute to people around the world who have been attacked, injured, traumatised or lost their lives as a result of terrorist attacks. The occasion represents a critical advance in solidarity with the victims of terrorism.
The International Day is celebrated against the backdrop of a debate by the Security Council on the continuing threat of terrorist groups and the organisation’s first independent statement on the role of technology in protecting UN peacekeepers in the face of asymmetric threats. Days after the Afghan crisis meeting, the UN called on the international community to ensure that Afghanistan was never again used as a platform or refuge for terrorists.
The day also focused on the important role that victims play in countering terrorism, preventing violent extremism and recognising and respecting fundamental rights. The United Nations Global Strategy for the Prevention of Terrorism adopted by the United Nations General Assembly (A/RES/60/288), in 2006, lays the foundation for the work of the UN on victims of terrorism.
Terrorist attacks that spread terrible ideologies injure, maim and kill thousands of innocent people every year. In many countries, assistance for victims has been a problem for the authorities in those nations. These victims struggle to have their voices heard, their needs sustained and their rights respected. They often feel forgotten and neglected when the immediate consequences of a terrorist attack fade with far-reaching outcomes for them.
Unfortunately, few countries have the resources or capacity to address the medium and long-term needs that victims require to recover, rehabilitate and integrate fully into society. They can recover and overcome their trauma only through long-term multi-faceted assistance, including physical, psychological, social and financial support, to heal and live in dignity.
It is the primary responsibility of nations to promote and defend the rights of victims of terrorism. However, the UN has a crucial role in assisting countries to implement the UN Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy through standing in solidarity and providing backing for victims, capacity-building assistance, establishing networks, and offering help to civil society organisations, particularly terror victims associations, and encouraging member-states to foster, protect and respect the rights of victims.
By proclaiming an international day dedicated to victims, the UN General Assembly has reaffirmed that the improvement and protection of human rights and the rule of law at the national and international levels are essential for preventing and combating terrorism. The Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy, which was unanimously adopted in its resolution 60/288 on September 8, 2006, pointed out that dehumanising victims is one of the conditions that facilitate the spread of terrorism, and the most effective way to counter terrorism is to adopt the following measures: respect human dignity and maintain the rule of law.
This year’s theme is “Connections”. It aims to encourage victims to find creative ways to stay connected while isolated from one another, family, friends and community during the pandemic. It is significant for the global community to demonstrate connection and solidarity with victims of terrorism, to unite peoples, learn from each other and share best practices to ensure that their needs are met and their rights are respected.
Unfortunately, insurgency in Nigeria and the Lake Chad region is still underestimated. Because the victims of terrorism are still in different internally displaced persons (IDPs) camps. This year marks the 7th anniversary of the Nigerian refugee crisis. So far, there is a difficult humanitarian situation in the Lake Chad area. More than 3.2 million people have been displaced, including at least 2.9 million IDPs from North-Eastern Nigeria, more than 684,000 IDPs from Cameroon, Chad and Niger, and over 304,000 refugees from the four countries.
Food insecurity has exacerbated the crisis brought on by conflicts and severe malnutrition, which has reached critical levels in all four countries. Despite the efforts of governments and humanitarian aid, some 12.5 million people remain in need of compassionate assistance in the Lake Chad Basin region, with 5.3 million people remaining food insecure.
The deteriorating security situation and socio-economic vulnerabilities have further exacerbated the challenge of protecting the displaced in Nigeria. The affected communities are facing chronic poverty, severe weather conditions, repeated epidemics, and infrastructure weakness as well as limited access to basic services.
The Nigerian military, together with the Multinational Joint Taskforce, have driven extremists out of many areas they once controlled, but these gains have been offset by an increase in insurgents and bandit attacks. Although IDPs and Nigerian refugees are returning to accessible areas, the crisis remains serious. The Federal Government must increase access to social and basic services for displaced persons, and provide victims with a well-protected and better environment.
Let the Nigerian government galvanise efforts towards the restoration of peace to enable durable solutions and engagement in the North-East operations and other problem spots in the country. This includes capacity building and training for the military, partners and persons of concern on international and domestic legal frameworks for the protection of IDPs and other persons of concern.
We solemnly pay tribute to all the victims of the global scourge of terrorism, both here and abroad. We are inspired by the incredible strength and resilience of countries that put men and resources into the fight against insurgency. In observing the victims of terrorism, it is vital to prevent future terrorist attacks. This means that Nigeria and the international community must hold terrorists accountable for their crimes, but not grant them amnesty.
Particularly troubling is the reported targeting of National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members, who play a vital role in Nigeria’s electoral process. Many serve far from home and undertake sensitive assignments at polling units and other electoral locations. As civilians, they should not be exposed to intimidation, abduction or violence without adequate protection. If election workers are vulnerable, the safety of other officials, observers and voters cannot be guaranteed.
Nigeria’s electoral history offers painful lessons. Human Rights Watch reported in Nigeria’s Post-Election Violence, published in May 2011, that more than 800 people died in the violence following the 2011 general elections. NYSC members serving as electoral officials were among the victims. This tragedy underscores the deadly consequences of political tension, incitement and disputed outcomes. Nigeria must act on the latest warning before another preventable disaster occurs.
INEC deserves recognition for uncovering the alleged plot, while the DSS and other security agencies merit commendation for their reported assistance. However, arrests are only the beginning. Investigators must establish the suspects’ identities, motives, networks and intended targets, ensuring that evidence is admissible in court. The process must remain impartial and free from political interference. Credible public updates are also necessary, provided they do not compromise investigations or operational security.
The authorities must adopt a comprehensive, intelligence-led security strategy for 2027. INEC’s proposed security conference should produce practical measures developed in collaboration with the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES), the police, the DSS and other relevant agencies. Threat assessments should guide personnel deployment, secure transportation, emergency communications, evacuation procedures and rapid response. Protection must extend beyond polling day to the distribution of sensitive materials, collation centres and the safe return of ad hoc personnel.
Those who provide intelligence must also be protected from retaliation. Confidential reporting channels and appropriate safeguards should be established for informants and others assisting investigations. Equally, security deployments must not intimidate voters or facilitate political repression. Personnel should act professionally, impartially and proportionately, within the law. Clear mechanisms for reporting misconduct and investigating abuses are essential to maintaining public confidence.
The threat also highlights broader concerns about trust in the electoral system. The European Union Election Observation Mission’s June 2023 final report identified shortcomings in transparency and operational implementation during Nigeria’s 2023 general elections, alongside concerns about the legal framework and electoral dispute resolution. Credible elections require more than security; they depend on transparent procedures, accountable officials and consistent enforcement of electoral laws. INEC must demonstrate measurable progress in addressing previously identified weaknesses.
Voter apathy presents another challenge. INEC’s published figures indicate that approximately 25 million people voted in the 2023 presidential election, out of about 93.5 million registered voters, a turnout of roughly 26.7 per cent. Although insecurity is not the sole cause of low participation, threats against electoral personnel can heighten public anxiety and discourage voters from exercising their franchise. INEC should strengthen civic education, improve polling accessibility and communicate procedures clearly. Political parties, civil society and the media must promote peaceful participation and reject electoral intimidation.
Misinformation and manipulated digital content pose additional risks. False reports, fabricated announcements and deepfake videos can inflame tensions, impersonate officials and mislead voters. INEC should establish a well-resourced, rapid-response communication system supported by verified digital channels and timely public statements. Collaboration with credible media organisations and fact-checkers would help counter falsehoods without suppressing legitimate criticism. Clear, consistent communication is indispensable, as administrative confusion and delayed explanations often allow rumours to spread.
Electoral integrity must also begin within INEC itself. The chairman’s warning against partisanship, negligence, extortion and ethical misconduct deserves serious attention. Security measures cannot compensate for officials who abuse their positions or disregard established procedures. INEC should strengthen staff training, ensure transparent recruitment and deployment, provide secure channels for reporting misconduct and enforce disciplinary rules consistently. Allegations of bribery and political interference must be investigated regardless of rank, while ad hoc personnel should receive adequate briefing, support and prompt payment.
The legal framework also requires clarity and consistent enforcement. INEC should explain the precise provisions and applicability of Section 26 of the Electoral Act 2026, including the obligations of electoral officials and security personnel, and publish authoritative guidance on neutrality and professional conduct. Complaints by opposition parties that they have been prevented from campaigning in certain states must likewise be investigated impartially. Any established violations should attract appropriate corrective action. Electoral fairness requires not only impartial polling officials but also lawful campaigning, access to competing viewpoints and freedom from intimidation.
The alleged plot against INEC’s ad hoc personnel is a warning against complacency ahead of the 2027 general election. Governments, security agencies, INEC, political parties and civil society must work together to prevent violence, punish misconduct and protect citizens’ participation. The commission should communicate its security priorities, maintain accessible threat-reporting channels and provide periodic updates on preparedness. Nigeria’s democracy cannot be safeguarded by assurances alone; it requires demonstrable preparation, impartial law enforcement and an unwavering commitment to free, fair and credible elections.
Nigeria joined the world in commemorating the International Day of the Girl-Child on 11 March 2026, an observance dedicated to advancing girls’ rights and amplifying their voices. This year’s theme, “End Child Marriage and Invest in Girls’ Rights,” confronts a deep-rooted injustice and demands an end to sacrificing girls’ futures to prejudice and expediency.
The focus is child marriage, not as an unavoidable misfortune but as a preventable injustice. Though prevalent in many societies, the practice remains particularly troubling in parts of northern Nigeria, where it has become normalised. Reports of girls aged 10 to 13 being married off are disturbing. The controversy surrounding a Nigerian senator and former governor who married a 13-year-old girl further exposed the practice to global scrutiny, yet accountability at home appeared limited. When lawmakers disregard the law, society’s moral compass is compromised.
UNICEF’s statistics reveal the scale of the crisis. Globally, an estimated 650 million women and girls alive today were married before turning 18, while more than 12 million girls enter marriage annually before adulthood. In Nigeria, about 33 per cent of girls marry before 18 and 11 per cent before 15. The prevalence reportedly reaches 63 per cent in Jigawa and Zamfara States and 61 per cent in Sokoto and Katsina. These figures represent millions of childhoods interrupted and futures imperilled.
These statistics explain why the United Nations continues to campaign against child marriage and advocate investment in girls. The consequences are devastating. Girls whose bodies are not fully developed face increased risks of maternal death, obstetric fistula, sexually transmitted infections and psychological trauma. The economic cost is equally significant. A 2017 World Bank and International Centre for Research on Women Study estimated that ending child marriage could generate an additional $7.6 billion in earnings and productivity for Nigeria, as early marriage deprives girls of education, skills, and opportunities to contribute to national development.
Educating a woman benefits the entire society. As a mother, she often becomes her children’s first teacher and a vital influence on their character. An educated mother helps raise enlightened children, just as one candle can light many others without losing its flame. Denying women education undermines families and communities. To expect wisdom while deliberately withholding knowledge is to demand the impossible.
Several reasons are offered for marrying off young girls, including economic hardship, cultural practices and religious beliefs. In some households, daughters are treated as commodities, married early so that their bride price can finance their brothers’ education. While boys enter classrooms, their sisters are sent to matrimonial homes. This discriminatory practice is shortsighted, depriving the nation of half its human potential. A country cannot expect to run effectively after deliberately crippling one side of its capacity.
Beyond these justifications lies the entrenched belief that women ultimately belong in the kitchen, regardless of their education. This outdated notion is demonstrably false. Countries where women lead governments, businesses, research institutions and other sectors show what investment in female talent can achieve. Rwanda’s substantial female parliamentary representation is one example. Confining women to domestic roles limits not only their ambitions but also the nation’s progress.
A girl-child must not surrender her childhood to poverty or prejudice. Some traditions discourage women from attaining educational heights comparable to or greater than those of men, driven by the baseless fear that educated women will disrespect their husbands. Such thinking equates enlightenment with insubordination and empowerment with threat. This patriarchal mindset perpetuates inequality and keeps society trapped in backwardness.
Consequently, some parents consider educating their daughters a waste of resources, likening it to watering another man’s garden. This attitude is deeply misguided. Every girl deserves the opportunity to learn, grow and pursue her dreams. Early marriage mortgages her future, stifles her potential and traps her in circumstances she might otherwise overcome. No society can justify sacrificing a child’s prospects to outdated customs or immediate financial gain.
Ending child marriage must, therefore, go hand in hand with investing in girls’ education, safety and rights. Every girl should have the opportunity to realise her potential. This requires more than annual declarations, billboards, posters and seminars held in air-conditioned halls. Awareness without action is like a cloud without rain: promising, yet incapable of nourishing the ground.
The campaign must move beyond tokenism to practical intervention, particularly at the state level, where the problem is acute. Governments should formulate policies that protect girls and make education accessible. Scholarships, bursaries, conditional cash transfers, school feeding programmes and other incentives can help keep girls in school. When education is affordable and adequately supported, more girls can choose the classroom over the bridal chamber.
Civil society organisations, faith-based groups, and traditional institutions must intensify efforts to challenge child marriage and dismantle harmful beliefs disguised as religious or cultural obligations. Parents must also uphold their responsibility to protect and educate their daughters, despite economic pressures. A society that educates its girls invests in its future; one that marries them off in childhood mortgages that future at an incalculable cost.
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