President of Ghana, John Mahama (left), exchanges a handshake with Nobel Laureate Prof. Wole Soyinka, as former Commonwealth Secretary-General, Chief Emeka Anyokwu, looks on.
Renowned Nobel Laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka, has issued a powerful rebuke against the entrenched silence surrounding extrajudicial killings and abuses by state actors in Nigeria. He warned that the failure of citizens and institutions to demand accountability is enabling impunity to flourish unchecked.
Speaking in Port Harcourt at the 28th Wole Soyinka Lectures, themed “Reclaiming the Nigerian State through Accountability, Justice and Civic Courage”, Soyinka dedicated his 2026 public lecture to victims of state excesses and mob violence. He emphasized that Nigeria’s tragedy lies not only in the loss of lives but in the collective failure to uphold justice and human dignity.
“The devaluation of human life is reinforced each time Nigerians remain silent after unlawful killings or abuses,” he declared. “Today is dedicated to the 18 Ughelli residents butchered by state agencies for no reason at all; to the young man shot dead in broad daylight by a policeman under mere suspicion; and to Deborah, the youth hunted by her classmates, necklaced and set ablaze.”
Soyinka described this silence as society’s greatest betrayal, stressing that perpetrators must never be allowed to escape accountability. “The crime is the silence of the rest of us. That such a thing is possible, and that the killers of that girl can go on television, hold up a match and boast, ‘This is the match with which I set her on fire.’ There, the system of justice fails us completely.”
Rejecting claims that his interventions risk inflaming religious tensions, Soyinka insisted that conversations on justice and human dignity are essential to preserving the value of citizenship. He urged Nigerians to remain vigilant and demand accountability, particularly in cases of unlawful killings by security forces.
Justice Beyond the Courtroom – Chidoka
Delivering the keynote address, former Minister of Aviation, Chief Osita Chidoka, argued that justice in Nigeria begins long before a case reaches the courtroom. He stressed that the first test of justice occurs when law enforcement decides whether a citizen’s complaint will be heard or ignored, and that such decisions must be based on merit rather than status or privilege.
Chidoka raised alarm over Nigeria’s prolonged pre-trial detention crisis, noting that 64 percent of inmates in custodial centres are awaiting trial—over 50,000 Nigerians trapped in legal limbo. “Each of these 50,000 is a life in suspension, a job lost, a family destabilised, someone’s health failing. When the state causes that delay, and citizens pay for it in lost liberty, the delay is not inefficiency. It is violence carried out by the state itself.”
He emphasized that genuine justice requires equal application of the law, prosecutions driven by evidence, and meaningful access to legal representation. “Justice is tested by how society treats those it dislikes. The law is not established when it protects only our friends. Justice must defend the accused, the unpopular, the political opponent, and the minority. Where justice is negotiable, citizenship becomes hierarchical.”
Accountability as the Foundation of Development – Alaibe
Earlier, Chief Timi Alaibe, former Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission and chairman of the occasion, underscored that sustainable development cannot thrive in an environment where accountability is weak. Drawing from his years in public service, Alaibe warned that weak institutions erode public confidence and replace hope with cynicism.
He urged participants from government, academia, civil society, and the private sector to treat the lecture as more than a ceremonial gathering. “Nations are not reclaimed by rhetoric alone; they are reclaimed when conscience triumphs over convenience, when institutions are stronger than individuals, and when citizens summon the courage to do what is right, even when it is difficult.”
