Mallam Nuhu and the Mischief of Merciless Muggers’ Misdemeanour

By Bala Ibrahim

Nigeria is a wonderful country, too wonderful to make one forget the meaning of a kerfuffle. Whatever happens, someone somewhere is waiting to make an issue out of it, by giving a good, bad or even ugly rendition of what happened. That is Nigeria, and the mimicry characteristic of its nationals. For the best part of today, Saturday, the 12th of April, 2025, the social media is awash with ridiculous stories, to the effect that, shortly after his proclamation, that national security has improved in Nigeria, robbers have stolen, and vamoosed with the official vehicle of Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, the National Security Adviser to the President of Nigeria. The stories, mostly written in Hausa, were put in a manner that are intended to create a comic, or crude caricature effect of the extraordinarily good work being carried out by Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, as the National Security Adviser.

The first version of the story was disclosed on the X handle of a popular security analyst, who revealed that the FCT Police Command, has launched a citywide stop-and-search operation, deploying officers to various checkpoints across major entry and exit routes in Abuja, with a view to arresting those who stole the vehicle of the NSA, that was parked around 1:05 p.m. directly opposite the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) complex, in Area 10. According to some sources, which seem relatively reliable, an official, in the office of the NSA, had left the vehicle to observe prayers at a nearby mosque. However, upon returning, the car was nowhere to be found. This is not to say the vehicle in question, was in the entourage of the NSA, nor was the NSA, any where near the scene of the crime.

My investigation has confirmed that, virtually every thing that is trending about the vehicle theft is false. Yes, the vehicle was once the property of the office of the NSA, but not any more. It happened to be one of those dilapidated vehicles that were auctioned to staff, often in response to challenging situations, with a view to increasing or lifting their spirit and enthusiasm to duty. So, as far as the legal status of the vehicle is concerned, it doesn’t belong to the Office of the NSA. It is now the personal property of that staff, who works in the office of the NSA.

Rather than commiserate, or express sympathy, to someone that lost his vehicle, mischief makers went to work with derogatory remarks about the incredible efforts of the NSA, and how Nigeria is gradually winning the war against crime and criminality. Certainly no one, including the NSA, is saying Nigeria has completely won the war, because even as I write this article, my office is mourning the death of a Director, who was abducted and mercilessly murdered in captivity. However, if we look at the trend of events, particularly with respect to what used to happen hitherto, it would be uncharitable, to continue putting a downer on the Nigerian security situation. We have not gotten yet to uhuru, but surely, we are not on the way to Waterloo. Our security agents are working and the criminals are being weakened increasingly.

While in some countries, citizens see patriotism as a show or feeling of love, devotion, and a sense of attachment to his or her country, in Nigeria, sometimes, some people seem to have a reversed thinking or ambition. Instead of aligning with the efforts of those who are sacrificing their comfort for our own comfort, we tend to make a mockery of almost everything they are doing. And yet, we want to get out of the woods, without the express expressions of patriotism in our daily lives. As citizens, there is the need for us to embrace a patriotic attitude towards our leaders, by way of loyalty, respect, and the expectation that they serve the best interests of the nation. We must also show a willingness to engage in constructive criticism when necessary, while maintaining a belief in the potential for positive change. Those holding responsibilities are put there on trust, and we must have a trust on their trustworthiness. Not the other way round.
As President John F. Kennedy famously told his fellow Americans in his 1961 inaugural address, “Ask not what your country can do for you — ask what you can do for your country.

Making a mockery of our leaders, is akin to making a mockery of our country. And that is a mischief, greater than the merciless muggers’ misdemeanor.