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66 Years After Independence: Can We Truly Say We Are Free?


Salu Fatimoh 

As Nigeria celebrates 66 years of independence, the green and white flags are flying, messages of patriotism are everywhere, and Nigerians are once again reminded of the journey we have made as a nation.

But there is one question we should not be afraid to ask: Are we truly free when some Nigerians still live in fear of bandits?

Across parts of northern Nigeria, banditry has become more than a security problem. It has changed the way people live. Farmers are sometimes afraid to go to their farms because of the risk of attack or abduction. Families worry about loved ones travelling through certain communities, while some parents have had to deal with the frightening reality of children being kidnapped from schools.

A 2025 UNICEF study on insecurity in Katsina, Zamfara and Niger States found that banditry was the most prevalent and disruptive form of insecurity reported by respondents in the communities studied. The study also documented kidnapping as a common form of insecurity. 

The consequences go beyond those directly attacked. When farmers cannot safely access their farms, food production and livelihoods are affected. When schools are attacked or children are abducted, education is disrupted. UNICEF has reported that insecurity and armed violence have forced schools to close and displaced children and teachers in parts of the Northwest. 

And the problem is still very real. In August 2026, nearly 700 people were reportedly abducted in coordinated attacks around communities in Niger State, with residents later protesting over the continued captivity of victims. 

So, 66 years after independence, the question remains: What is keeping Nigerians from feeling truly free?

Is it a problem of political leadership and the government's ability to protect its citizens? Is poverty and lack of economic opportunities helping armed groups recruit and operate? Or is it a combination of several long-standing problems?

Whatever the answer, freedom should mean that a farmer can go to his farm without fear, a child can go to school without worrying about abduction, and families can live their daily lives without constantly looking over their shoulders.

As we celebrate our independence, perhaps we should celebrate not only how far Nigeria has come, but also honestly confront what still stands in the way of the freedom and security every Nigerian deserves.


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