Public affairs commentator Taiwo Akinlami has criticised the handling of the ongoing controversy surrounding activist Harrison Gwamnishu’s involvement in a kidnap ransom operation, describing the situation as evidence of Nigeria’s deepening governance and security crisis.
In a strongly worded commentary, Akinlami said the unfolding events illustrate a “full-blown theatre of absurdity,” arguing that the Nigerian state has failed in its primary duty to protect citizens.
According to him, while debates continue over allegations that Gwamnishu removed part of the ransom money entrusted to him by the victim’s family, the more pressing issue is the failure of security agencies to prevent or resolve the kidnapping itself.
A couple was abducted, with the kidnappers releasing a video showing both the husband and his pregnant wife. In the footage, the husband appealed to Nigerians to help raise funds, saying they had managed only ₦7 million. Despite the public circulation of that video, Akinlami noted, the police were unable to trace the victims or their captors.
“Either the police do not have the machinery to trace criminals in 2025, or they are working in concert with them,” he said.
Akinlami questioned why, after failing to rescue the victims or track the kidnappers, the police suddenly appeared active and committed to investigating Gwamnishu’s handling of the ransom funds. He described the development as an indictment of the institution, saying the police “have no moral standing” to probe a private citizen attempting to fill the vacuum left by state failure.
He argued that whether Gwamnishu acted improperly is secondary to the glaring institutional collapse that allowed kidnappers to operate with impunity and release videos without fear of consequences.
“Why was the Nigerian Police unable to conduct this rescue themselves? Why is the Inspector General of Police still in office? Why are the officers in charge not sanctioned?” he asked, stressing that the real scandal is the state’s inability to protect citizens.
Akinlami characterised the situation as reflective of a national crisis where citizens increasingly rely on private actors to perform duties constitutionally assigned to the police. He urged Nigerians to redirect their outrage toward systemic failures rather than the distractions of ransom disputes.
“I am struggling to process it, deeply, painfully. Because nothing makes sense anymore,” he concluded.
