Actress Kehinde Bankole demands action over kidnappings

Award-winning Nollywood actress Kehinde Bankole has amplified the growing public outcry against the pervasive insecurity in Nigeria, particularly the alarming rise in kidnappings. Her direct demand to the Federal Government, the Office of the National Security Advisor, and intelligence agencies for the "full wrath and force" to be deployed reflects a deep-seated frustration shared by many Nigerians who are tired of empty rhetoric and inaction.

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It is no longer about why it is happening; it is now simply about lives! Lives are being lost! This should not be our new normal, children running for their lives in 2026! Oh God.

Bankole's statement powerfully dismisses political defenses that attribute the insecurity to opposition sabotage. Instead, she argues that such theories should galvanize the state into more aggressive action. The actress's impassioned plea, "Find a way! No bigger political campaign. Tactically flush out their 'saboteurs' if that exists," underscores the public's demand for tangible results rather than political posturing.

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Even if the kidnappings are a smear campaign on the government, it should be all the more reason for the Office of the National Security Advisor, along with the Presidency, to tackle insecurity with full wrath and force.

The context of her outburst is crucial: it comes in the wake of the horrific mass abduction of at least 25 school children and seven teachers in Ogbomoso, Oyo State, a tragedy that included the brutal murder of one teacher in captivity. This event, like many others, has pushed the public's tolerance to its limit. Celebrities like Bankole are increasingly using their platforms to voice the collective anxiety and demand accountability from those in power.

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Find a way! No bigger political campaign. Tactically flush out their “saboteurs” if that exists. That should be the focus now. They must make the National Intelligence Agency, the DSS, the Ministry of Defence, and security agencies work! Because enough is enough! The people are tired of condolence speeches and need only bigger action.

From our perspective in Nigeria, this is not just about celebrity activism; it's about the lived reality of citizens. While international coverage might frame this as a security challenge, for us, it is a daily threat that paralyzes communities and stifles progress. The demand for "bigger action" and for security agencies to "make the National Intelligence Agency, the DSS, the Ministry of Defence, and security agencies work!" is a desperate plea for the government to fulfill its most basic duty: protecting its people. The exhaustion with "condolence speeches" is palpable, and the call for decisive action is a reflection of a nation yearning for safety and stability.

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Our cry is for something decisive to be done and to be done fast. They must put everyone to work! They must tactfully fish out who is causing this and find a way. All hands have to be forced to be on deck! The people need only results, no more condolence speeches.