Soyinka: Nigeria’s Silence Over Unsolved Killings Fuels Culture of Impunity
Nobel Laureate Prof. Wole Soyinka has condemned what he described as the growing silence surrounding unresolved assassinations and extrajudicial killings in Nigeria, warning that the nation's failure to confront such crimes is becoming more dangerous than the killings themselves.
Speaking at the 28th Wole Soyinka Lecture in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, he urged Nigerians to demand accountability and justice for victims whose cases remain unresolved.
Soyinka called on President Bola Tinubu to revisit files relating to unsolved political assassinations and extrajudicial killings, recalling that the President had requested the documents after assuming office. He questioned why many of the cases have remained dormant and stressed that Nigerians deserve to know what happened, why the crimes occurred, and why those responsible have not been brought to justice. According to him, allowing such cases to fade into silence only strengthens a culture of impunity.
The playwright argued that repeated failures to investigate and prosecute perpetrators have weakened public confidence in the country’s justice system while emboldening criminals. He said accountability must become a national priority, insisting that justice delayed or denied sends the wrong message to both victims’ families and those who commit violent crimes.
Addressing participants at the lecture, themed “Reclaiming the Nigerian State through Accountability, Justice and Civic Courage,” Soyinka urged citizens to remain vocal and refuse to normalise violence. He maintained that sustained public pressure is essential to ensuring that governments fulfil their responsibility to protect lives and uphold the rule of law.
His remarks come amid renewed national debate over insecurity and unresolved killings across several parts of the country. The Nobel Laureate maintained that restoring public trust requires transparent investigations, prosecution of offenders and a clear commitment by authorities to end impunity, warning that silence over state killings ultimately threatens Nigeria’s democratic values and national stability.
