Renowned scholar and former Delta State Commissioner for Higher Education, Prof. Patrick Muoboghare, has asserted that the only solution to Nigeria’s persistent security crisis is for the country to break up, allowing each region to govern itself independently.

Speaking on the recent Uromi incident and the continued insecurity plaguing the nation, Muoboghare did not mince words in his assessment of Nigeria’s fragile unity.

“The unity of Nigeria today is by the grace of the South,” he declared. “Before now, they [the North] openly stated that they are not Nigerians by deliberately breaching the constitution and declaring a state religion.”

Muoboghare further criticised the existence of Hisbah, the Islamic police force operating in Northern states.

“They established Hisbah, which could arrest the police, destroy trailer loads of alcoholic drinks, yet still come to the centre every month to share VAT from alcohol.

“They are pretenders, not Nigerians, because they have long pulled away.”

He argued that many in the North prioritise connectivity with neighbouring countries over developing ties with the South.

“The average Northerner would rather construct roads to nearby countries than to the South because they see us as conquered people,” he said.

He also accused the government of knowingly allowing Southern ransom payments to fund Boko Haram, questioning why kidnappings rarely target Northern elites or cattle owners.

“We have not heard of cattle owners or any Alhaji from the North being kidnapped. That shows we are their slaves and conquered people,” he submitted.

According to Muoboghare, Nigeria’s security problems stem from a structural imbalance that cannot be resolved within the current system.

“The South is holding this country together because of oil. Once the oil dries up, they [the North] will leave.

“The only way out is to go our separate ways. I mean it, because nothing good will come from this country as it is currently constituted.”

He warned that if Nigeria remains united, insecurity will persist. “If the East successfully secedes, no herdsman will dare infiltrate their territory because that would be an act of war.”

He also recalled the early days of Boko Haram, stating: “They made their demands clear: Sharia must be practised across Nigeria. That was how they frustrated Jonathan out. They openly said that a fight against Boko Haram is a fight against the North.”

Commenting on the recent killings in Uromi, Edo State, Muoboghare condemned mob justice but also questioned the circumstances leading to the violence.

“Why was that vehicle carrying people with arms? Where were they going with weapons?” he asked. “This is not an isolated incident. Uromi has become a killing zone, where people no longer sleep with their eyes closed.”

He cited past cases where communities were terrorised, with little to no police intervention. “A woman was raped in front of her husband, a child in front of their parents, and no arrests were made—just like in Uwheru, Delta State.”

According to him, the people’s trust in security forces has eroded, forcing them to take matters into their own hands. “These people are filled with anger. When they see someone with a machete, their pain fuels their reaction.”

While condemning mob action, Muoboghare blamed law enforcement agencies for failing to provide justice. “When something happens in a community, the first place to go should be the police. But instead, the police terrorise and harass victims with unnecessary questions. This is why people take the law into their own hands.”

He called for an investigation into the origin of the armed individuals involved in the Uromi killings. “Some say they came from Port Harcourt, others say Ogun State. We need to know the truth.”

As Nigeria grapples with deepening security concerns, Muoboghare’s statements underscore the growing frustration among citizens and raise pressing questions about the nation’s future stability. (Nigerian Tribune)