Stop blaming the North for insecurity, retired generals tell Nigerians

I came across an article yesterday where some retired generals are now telling Nigerians to stop blaming the North for insecurity in the country. This is an interesting position, especially coming from men who served in the military and should know the dynamics of security challenges better than most of us.

These retired generals argue that insecurity is a national problem, not a regional one, and that blaming the North alone is both unfair and unhelpful. I understand their point, but I also remember that for years, the narrative from many northern leaders has been that banditry and kidnapping are simply criminal activities with no ethnic or regional dimension. Yet when you look at the pattern of attacks, the targets, and the response from authorities, it is difficult to ignore the fact that certain areas have been more affected than others.

I am not saying we should start profiling entire regions, but we cannot pretend that the problem does not have a geographical and cultural context. If the generals want us to stop blaming the North, they should also be calling for more accountability and action from their own people who are in positions of power. So let me ask you this: Am I the only one who finds it hard to separate the issue of insecurity from the failure of leadership in certain regions?