Why Nigerians Are Running Out of Their Country: Insecurity and the Normalization of Violence
In recent years, the mass exodus of Nigerians has become a familiar and heartbreaking phenomenon. Every day, more citizens seek refuge in foreign lands—not because they do not love their country, but because Nigeria is slowly becoming unlivable for the average person. One glaring and devastating reason is the rising wave of insecurity—kidnapping, killings, and the normalization of violence.
The recent tragedy involving Dr. Kunle Adeniji, a national director of the All Progressives Congress (APC), lays bare the terrifying reality facing Nigerians today. In February, Dr. Adeniji was abducted alongside his brother’s family while visiting their home in the Chikakore area of Kubwa, Abuja. Armed gunmen stormed the residence, unleashing horror. His brother’s wife, Esther, was shot and later dumped in a community in Niger State, badly wounded.
Despite a N350 million ransom demand, the family reportedly paid N50 million—hoping, praying, pleading for mercy. But in a cruel twist that has become all too familiar, Dr. Adeniji’s lifeless body was discovered after the ransom was collected. He was executed by his captors, underscoring the utter disregard for life and the lack of any semblance of law and order. Though his brother and son were eventually freed, the scars—emotional and psychological—will last forever.
This is not an isolated case. Across Nigeria, countless families are dealing with similar traumas. In many regions, kidnappings have become routine. Gunmen operate with impunity, extorting millions and leaving blood in their wake. People are no longer shocked by the news of abductions—they’re simply waiting to find out if the ransom was paid and if the victims came back alive.
What is more chilling is how normalized this chaos has become. Entire communities now have “contributions” set aside in case a loved one is kidnapped. Citizens now avoid major roads not because of traffic, but because they fear being ambushed. Children are pulled out of schools in certain areas because parents would rather have an uneducated child than a kidnapped one.
This is why Nigerians are leaving. Not just the poor or unemployed—doctors, engineers, students, tech professionals, and even politicians are fleeing a country that seems unable to protect its own. The murder of Dr. Kunle Adeniji is a tragic symbol of a system that has failed. And if a high-ranking party official can’t be kept safe, what hope does the average Nigerian have?
Until there is a deliberate, consistent, and uncompromising crackdown on violent crime—and a reestablishment of trust in law enforcement—the exodus will continue. People will run, not because they hate Nigeria, but because they want to live.
And who can blame them?