In a impassioned video message that has galvanized social media and sparked widespread civic mobilization, Nigerian rapper, actor, and activist Folarin "Falz" Falana has launched a scathing critique of the federal government's opacity in handling the nation's escalating security crisis. Taking to his X (formerly Twitter) account on Sunday evening, Falz questioned the lack of details surrounding President Bola Tinubu's announcement of the rescue of 38 kidnapped churchgoers in Kwara State and 50 schoolchildren in Niger State, urging citizens to move beyond online outrage and demand a live-broadcast public hearing on terrorism strategies, military equipping, and public safety.
Falz, 34, known for his unfiltered advocacy on issues from police brutality to electoral reform, didn't mince words in his two-minute video, which has amassed over 1.2 million views in less than 24 hours. "President Tinubu announced yesterday that all 38 people kidnapped in Kwara State have been rescued... Also that 50 out of the over 300 people kidnapped in Niger have also returned home," he began, his tone laced with frustration. "There was no mention of any arrests being made, no mention of whether any ransom was paid, no mention of anyone being apprehended and brought to book. This does not cut it. It is just not enough."
The activist, son of renowned human rights lawyer Femi Falana, went further, lambasting the routine nature of these announcements amid persistent violence. He highlighted the murder of a serving army general captured on video without consequences, ambushes on military convoys, and rumors of an ill-equipped armed forces despite billions allocated annually to defense. "I'm tired of Nigerians always complaining online... one tweet here, one hashtag there, one post there," Falz declared, rejecting superficial activism. Instead, he proposed a unified action plan: Every citizen should bombard their representatives and senators with emails, calls, and WhatsApp messages using a template he provided. "Dear Hon/Sen, as your constituent, I am urging you to call for a PUBLIC hearing to address the strategy to defeat terrorism, rumours of an ill-equipped military and how Nigerians will be kept safe. Please act urgently."
Falz's intervention comes on the heels of a string of high-profile abductions that have exposed the fragility of Nigeria's security apparatus. On November 21, over 100 students were seized from St. Mary’s Catholic School in Niger State, prompting Falz to demand President Tinubu's resignation just days earlier, accusing the administration of "woeful failure" in protecting citizens. The Kwara incident involved 38 members of the Christ Apostolic Church in Eruku, Ekiti Local Government Area, who were freed without fanfare or follow-up on perpetrators. In Niger, local authorities confirmed 51 students had fled or been released, but details remained murky, fueling suspicions of ransoms or negotiated releases.
The video's release has ignited a firestorm of support and replication across platforms. The #PublicHearingNow hashtag trended nationwide within hours, with over 45,000 posts by Monday morning. Comedian Nasboi, who recently collaborated with Falz on unity anthems, amplified the call: "Falz is right—time to stop the noise and start the action. Our reps work for us, not the other way around." Media personality Daniel Regha echoed, "Transparency isn't optional; it's the foundation of trust. Why celebrate rescues without justice for the criminals?" Even international observers, including Amnesty International's Nigeria chapter, praised the push: "Falz's template is a blueprint for civic engagement. Nigerians deserve answers, not alibis."
This isn't Falz's first rodeo in holding power to account. The Grammy-nominated artist, whose 2018 track "This Is Nigeria" dissected societal ills, co-founded the #EndSARS movement in 2020, leading peaceful protests against police extortion that drew global attention. His father, Femi Falana, a SAN and Wikiquote staple for quips like "Nigerians need to ask questions," has long instilled this ethos. In June 2025, Falz slammed the administration's two-year mark as a "backwards" slide, and in May, he joined voices decrying unconstitutional bills on compulsory voting.Falz's latest salvo underscores a broader crisis: Nigeria's insecurity has claimed over 2,000 lives in 2025 alone, per reports from the Council on Foreign Relations, with banditry and kidnappings surging 40% year-over-year. Defense allocations topped ₦3.2 trillion in the 2025 budget, yet allegations of procurement scandals persist, including a 2024 audit revealing ₦1.5 billion in unaccounted arms funds.
"President Tinubu announced yesterday that all 38 people kidnal@pped in Kwara State have been rescued, but the story is not adding up. There has been no mention of any arrests, and no information about whether a rånsom was paid. I'm tired of Nigerians always complaining online,… pic.twitter.com/jUrYB7iuPh
— CHUKS 🍥 (@ChuksEricE) November 24, 2025
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