Nobel Laureate Prof. Wole Soyinka has called on President Bola Tinubu to put an end to extrajudicial killings and other forms of violence by state actors, warning that the continued silence of Nigerians only encourages injustice.
Soyinka made the remarks during the 28th Wole Soyinka Lecture held in Port Harcourt, themed “Reclaiming the Nigerian State through Accountability, Justice and Civic Courage.”
He dedicated this year’s lecture to victims of extrajudicial killings and state abuses, saying Nigeria’s greatest tragedy is not only the loss of lives but also the failure of society to demand accountability.
“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… and to Deborah, who was hunted, set ablaze and killed,” Soyinka said.
He lamented that many perpetrators continue to walk free because citizens remain silent.
“The crime is the silence of the rest of us… the system of justice fails us completely,” he added.
Soyinka also dismissed claims that speaking out against such incidents fuels religious or ethnic tensions, insisting that defending human life should remain a national priority.
He urged Nigerians to continue demanding justice, particularly in cases involving alleged abuse by security personnel.
Delivering the keynote address, former Minister of Aviation Osita Chidoka argued that justice begins long before cases get to court, stressing that many Nigerians are denied justice through delays and abuse within the criminal justice system.
According to him, over 50,000 inmates are currently awaiting trial across Nigeria’s correctional centres, describing prolonged detention without conviction as “a form of violence carried out by the state itself.”
Chidoka maintained that justice must protect everyone equally, regardless of status or political affiliation.
Earlier, former Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Timi Alaibe, urged Nigerians to move beyond speeches and commit to rebuilding institutions through accountability and civic responsibility.
