ABUJA, Nigeria — The Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II, has issued a stark warning over Nigeria’s escalating security challenges, declaring that the country is already engulfed in a full-blown crisis, with citizens coexisting with bandits and Boko Haram insurgents.
Speaking during the 60th birthday celebration of former Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi, in Abuja on Saturday, May 31, 2025, the former Central Bank of Nigeria Governor dismissed calls for caution as misplaced, urging the nation to confront the severity of its insecurity head-on.
“For all those cautioning that we should be careful before entering a crisis, please wake up,” Sanusi said.
“We are living with bandits and Boko Haram; we are already there. We are already in crisis; it has already happened. The question is how do we get out of it.”
Sanusi’s comments reflect a consistent theme in his public engagements in recent years.
He has frequently drawn attention to the deteriorating security situation in northern Nigeria, where armed bandit groups and jihadist militants have continued to wreak havoc on rural communities.
His latest remarks reiterate that Nigeria’s internal conflicts are not distant threats but current realities affecting millions.
The Emir also linked Nigeria’s insecurity to poor leadership and widespread poverty, asserting that much of the political elite remains detached from the daily struggles of ordinary Nigerians.
He accused the country’s leadership of failing to address the root causes of conflict, including unemployment, poverty, and a lack of basic social services in large parts of the country.
Sanusi stated that Nigeria’s “multi-dimensional poverty” is largely a product of leadership failure and warned that without urgent intervention, the situation could spiral further out of control.
While not offering a specific policy roadmap, Sanusi’s message underscored the need for a national conversation on security, governance, and economic inclusion.
His remarks come at a time when the Nigerian government continues to face mounting pressure to rein in armed violence, especially in the northern and central regions.
The Federal Government has yet to issue a formal response to the Emir’s comments.
