CISLAC Criticizes Government Inaction Amid Easter, Calls for Urgent Leadership on Insecurity

As Nigerians joined Christians worldwide in celebrating Easter, a season symbolic of sacrifice and renewal, the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC) issued a stark warning over Nigeria’s worsening insecurity and what it described as government inaction.

In a statement released Monday, CISLAC’s Executive Director, Comrade Auwal Musa Rafsanjani, expressed concern that ongoing violence in parts of the country has continued unchecked, undermining the spirit of Easter.

“Easter should inspire reflection, not remind Nigerians of bloodshed,” Rafsanjani stated. “Yet for many, this holy season deepens grief, as innocent lives are lost daily while authorities remain silent.”

The group cited recent attacks in Benue and Plateau states, where more than 50 people were reportedly killed, as part of a broader trend of escalating violence also seen in Zamfara, Katsina, Niger, and Kwara.

CISLAC expressed frustration over what it called a leadership vacuum, noting that the government’s muted response amid national tragedy highlights a breakdown in governance.

The organization also criticized President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s frequent international travel during moments of national crisis, calling his absence “morally troubling.”

“Leadership requires presence, not just during celebrations, but especially in the face of adversity,” the group emphasized. “Governing from abroad is not an option.”

CISLAC further condemned the politicization of national security, warning that using security personnel for political purposes only deepens division and detracts from urgent priorities like citizen safety and economic stability.

“It is disheartening that, even as lives are lost, the political elite seem more focused on the 2027 elections than on solving today’s emergencies,” Rafsanjani said.

The organization urged all levels of government to go beyond statements and rhetoric, and to take immediate, coordinated action to safeguard lives and restore public trust.

“We cannot continue to sacrifice Nigerian lives on the altar of political ambition and indifference,” the statement concluded. “The time to act is now.”

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