Enough Of The Bloodshed!” Wole Soyinka Challenges Tinubu To End Killings Across Nigeria

Nobel Laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka, has called on President Bola Tinubu to take decisive action to end killings, extrajudicial executions and other forms of violence allegedly carried out by state actors across Nigeria.

Speaking at the 28th Wole Soyinka Lecture in Port Harcourt, themed “Reclaiming the Nigerian State through Accountability, Justice and Civic Courage,” the renowned playwright said the continued silence of Nigerians in the face of state abuses has encouraged further violations of human rights.

Soyinka lamented what he described as the growing devaluation of human life, saying he dedicated the 2026 edition of the annual lecture to victims of extrajudicial killings and abuses of power.

According to him, the country’s greatest tragedy is not only the loss of innocent lives but also the collective failure of citizens and institutions to ensure justice for victims.

He paid tribute to several victims, including 18 residents of Ughelli whom he alleged were killed by security agencies without justification, a young man reportedly shot dead by a police officer in broad daylight, and Deborah, who was lynched and set ablaze by a mob.

“Today is dedicated to the 18 Ughelli residents butchered by state agencies for no reason at all, simply for minding their own business; to the young man shot dead in broad daylight by a policeman while under suspicion; and to Deborah, the youth hunted through the city by her own classmates, necklaced and set ablaze,” Soyinka said.

He argued that the nation’s silence in the face of such incidents has allowed perpetrators to evade justice, recalling that one of those allegedly involved in Deborah’s killing openly admitted his role without facing accountability.

Responding to critics who accuse him of inflaming religious tensions whenever he speaks about human rights abuses, Soyinka rejected the claims, insisting that raising awareness about injustice is essential to protecting the dignity of every Nigerian.

He stressed that forums such as the annual lecture serve as important reminders that the value of human life must remain the foundation of any democratic society.

Soyinka also urged Nigerians to closely monitor the case involving the police officer accused of fatally shooting a young man in southern Nigeria, calling on the justice system to ensure those responsible are held accountable and that victims receive justice.