Nigeria, Feb. 12 -- At this critical juncture in our national life, it is vital that we speak about something that touches every breath we take in this country: security and justice. Not as abstract phrases buried in policy documents, but as the air our children breathe, the peace of our homes, the freedom to move, speak, and live without fear.

At its heart, national security exists for only one purpose: to ensure that Nigerians may live long, live well, and live in peace with one another. Nigeria's own National Security Strategy (2019) affirms that "security is the cornerstone of development and progress in a free society, and a guarantee of the well-being of citizens and stability of the state." National security, properly understood, ...