His bold statement, made during an appearance on The Honest Bunch Podcast, has ignited widespread debate across social media and public discourse. Seyi Law’s Key Argument Speaking alongside co-host Daddy Freeze, Seyi Law defended the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, asserting that security has markedly improved since around 2015–2016. He highlighted:
- The current government has reportedly neutralized more bandits than any administration since former President Goodluck Jonathan’s era.
- Large-scale bomb blasts and widespread Boko Haram terror attacks—common during the peak insurgency years (roughly 2014–2016)—have significantly declined.
- The nature and visibility of insecurity have shifted from nationwide bombings and mass abductions to more localized banditry and kidnappings.
Seyi Law’s point centers on comparing the intense, headline-dominating terrorism of a decade ago (when Boko Haram controlled territory and suicide bombings were frequent) to today’s challenges, arguing that overall fear levels and major incidents have reduced.
Why This Perspective Resonates for some around 2014–2016, Nigeria faced one of its most severe security crises:
- Boko Haram insurgency peaked with thousands killed annually and cities like Maiduguri under constant threat.
- Homicide rates hovered higher in some reports (e.g., around 34.5 per 100,000 in 2016 per certain estimates).
- Daily news cycles were filled with bombings, school abductions (notably Chibok in 2014), and territorial losses.
In contrast, recent years show:
- A notable drop in intentional homicide rates in available data (e.g., down to 21.74 per 100,000 by 2019 from 33.60 in 2016, per Macrotrends/UNODC-linked figures).
- Reduced frequency of large-scale explosive attacks in urban centers.
- Military operations claiming successes against bandit groups and insurgents.
Supporters of this view credit sustained military pressure, better coordination, and policy focus for these gains making everyday life in many areas feel less terrorized than during the mid-2010s height of insurgency.
The counterarguments and ongoing reality critics strongly disagree, pointing to persistent kidnappings (especially of schoolchildren and travelers), farmer-herder clashes, bandit raids in the Northwest, and recent reports of thousands killed in 2025 alone (e.g., over 6,800 fatalities in the first half of 2025 per some monitoring groups, and 2,266+ from bandits/insurgents in early 2025 per National Human Rights Commission data).
Many argue that while spectacular terrorism has waned, everyday violent crime, abductions for ransom, and regional instability remain high—making Nigeria feel far from “safe” for millions.
Final ThoughtsSeyi Law’s claim isn’t a blanket declaration that Nigeria has zero insecurity it’s a comparative one: safer relative to 10 years ago, when the nation grappled with existential threats from organized terrorism.
Whether you agree depends on the metrics decline in bombings and peak insurgency vs. persistent localized violence. What remains clear is that security remains a top national priority, with progress in some areas and serious work still needed in others.
