Nobel Laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka, has condemned what he described as a growing culture of silence over alleged extrajudicial killings and abuses by state actors, warning that public indifference is allowing impunity to thrive in Nigeria.
Soyinka made the remarks in Port Harcourt during the 28th Wole Soyinka Lectures, themed “Reclaiming the Nigerian State through Accountability, Justice and Civic Courage.”
The Nobel Prize winner dedicated his 2026 lecture to victims of alleged state excesses and mob violence, arguing that Nigeria’s challenge goes beyond the loss of lives to the failure of citizens and institutions to demand accountability from those responsible.
He said the value placed on human life continues to diminish when killings and abuses occur without consequences for perpetrators.
“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.
The literary icon identified public silence as a major obstacle to justice, stressing that those responsible for acts of violence must be held accountable.
“The crime is the silence of the rest of us, that such a thing is possible and that the killers of that girl can actually go on television, hold up a match and say, ‘This is the match with which I set her on fire.’ And there the system of justice fails us completely,” he said.
Soyinka rejected arguments that speaking out against alleged abuses could worsen religious or social tensions, insisting that the defence of human dignity and justice remains central to protecting citizenship.
He urged Nigerians to remain vigilant and continue demanding accountability, especially in cases involving alleged unlawful killings.
Speaking at the event, former Minister of Aviation, Chief Osita Chidoka, said justice in Nigeria begins before cases reach the courtroom, arguing that the first measure of fairness is whether security agencies and institutions respond appropriately to citizens’ complaints.
Chidoka raised concerns over prolonged pre-trial detention in the country, stating that many Nigerians in correctional facilities remain without convictions.
He claimed that 64 per cent of inmates are awaiting trial, affecting more than 50,000 Nigerians.
“Each of these 50,000 is a life in suspension, a job lost, a family destabilised, someone’s health failing. When the state causes that delay, and the citizens pay for it in lost liberty, the delay is not inefficiency. It is a form of violence carried out by the state itself,” he said.
The former minister called for a justice system where laws are applied equally regardless of political affiliation, social status or personal identity. He also stressed that prosecutions must be supported by evidence and that detainees should have access to legal representation.
Earlier, former Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) Managing Director, Chief Timi Alaibe, said sustainable national development cannot be achieved without accountability and strong institutions.
Alaibe warned that weak institutions erode public confidence and replace hope with cynicism, urging Nigerians to see the lecture as a call to action rather than a mere ceremonial gathering.
“Nations are not reclaimed by rhetoric alone; they are reclaimed when conscience triumphs over confidence; when institutions are stronger than individuals; when citizens summon the courage to do what is right, even when it is difficult,” he said.
