By Luminous Jannamike

ABUJA – A rights group, the Centre for Human Rights and Civic Education (CHRICED), has warned that Nigeria is edging towards a dangerous tipping point, as rising insecurity, economic hardship and weakening democratic institutions converge, raising fresh fears about the country’s stability.

Speaking at a press conference in Abuja on Tuesday, the Executive Director of CHRICED, Zikirullahi Ibrahim, said the country is under severe strain and can no longer afford business as usual.

“Nigeria is experiencing a security breakdown so severe that it threatens the very foundations of the republic,” Ibrahim said.

The warning follows the killing of Brigadier Oseni Braimah during an attack on a military formation in Borno State, an incident the group described as a turning point that exposes deep cracks within the country’s defence system.

“When a senior military officer, operating within what should be a fortified command environment, is overrun and killed by insurgents, it sends a chilling message about the state of national security.

“Millions of Nigerians now live in fear, uncertain whether the state can or will protect them,” Ibrahim said.

For CHRICED, the killing is only one piece of a much larger crisis.

It noted that, across the country, violence continues to expand, with mass abductions, attacks on communities, and rising insecurity in both the North and the South. Armed groups are growing bolder, striking with increasing coordination and reach.

According to CHRICED, no part of the country is untouched. It pointed to recent killings in Plateau State and a reported airstrike in Borno that hit a civilian market, saying these incidents show how ordinary people are increasingly caught in the middle.

At the same time, CHRICED noted that economic pressure is tightening its grip, saying prices are rising fast, jobs are scarce, and households are being pushed to the edge as the cost of basic goods climbs beyond reach.

“These are not just numbers; they represent the painful choices families are being forced to make,” he said.

CHRICED said that, for many families, survival has become the only plan. It criticised what it described as a growing disconnect between government actions and everyday reality, pointing to reports of continued public spending on luxuries even as hardship deepens, alongside rising debt with little transparency.

On governance, the group warned that democratic space is coming under strain, with increasing pressure on journalists and civil society actors, and reports of harassment of opposition voices.

“Nigeria must not drift into a climate where truth becomes dangerous,” Ibrahim warned.

The organisation also said trust in institutions is thinning, raising concern over what it called the normalisation of corruption. It warned that elevating individuals facing serious allegations into public office weakens accountability and sends the wrong signal to citizens.

In the social sector, CHRICED said the situation is worsening fast: more children are out of school, public education is deteriorating, and the healthcare system remains fragile, with many professionals leaving the country.

It further highlighted ongoing forced evictions in parts of Abuja, warning that displacing vulnerable communities without due process only deepens inequality and marginalisation.

“Every citizen deserves dignity, security, and a place to call home,” he said.

CHRICED called for urgent and far-reaching reforms, including a comprehensive overhaul of the security architecture, stronger investment in education and healthcare, protection of civic freedoms, and a renewed commitment to accountability in public service.

“Nigeria stands at a defining moment. The choices made today will shape the destiny of generations yet unborn,” Ibrahim said.