Gisthood 
…Super Eagles Star Criticized for Alleged Bias in Outrage
Nigerian footballer and Super Eagles star, Ahmed Musa, has come under intense criticism for his reaction to the recent killings of innocent travelers in Edo State. The incident, which occurred during the Eid al-Fitr celebrations, has sparked nationwide discussions on security, empathy, and perceived bias in public discourse.
Musa’s Emotional Response
Expressing his grief over the tragic event, Musa took to his Twitter page to share his dismay, writing:
“My heart is heavy. How did we get here? How did we lose our sense of humanity? Innocent travelers, simply on their way to celebrate Eid al-Fitr, were hijacked and unalived in Edo State.
This isn’t about tribe, religion, or background—this is about human lives! When did we become so desensitized to pain? Where is our compassion? Where is our sympathy? We cannot allow this kind of evil to become our new normal. Every life matters.
May their souls rest in peace. May their families find strength. And may we, as a people, remember that humanity comes first.”
His statement, however, did not sit well with many Nigerians, who accused him of displaying selective outrage.
Public Backlash and Accusations of Hypocrisy
Gisthood reports that shortly after his post, Musa faced an onslaught of criticism from Nigerians who argued that he had remained silent on similar tragedies when victims were from other ethnic or religious backgrounds. Many accused him of being vocal only when incidents affected Northerners, particularly Muslims.
One critic responded:
“The problem is that you Northerners ONLY find your tongues when it involves one of you. It’s shameful and hypocritical. Just only if you had been voicing out like this when Deborah, Benue, Ebonyi, etc., happened, maybe we wouldn’t get here as a nation.”
Another echoed the sentiment:
“We got here because people like you kept quiet because it was convenient. We got here because the handle of the axe cutting the forest was made of wood so you thought, ‘Oh, the axe is one of us, so we can’t condemn the axe.’ Now you’re screaming because the lumberman is using a chainsaw. It is still the same forest, same wood, just a different tool.”
Several other users called out Musa for his silence during the 2022 murder of Deborah Samuel, a Christian student lynched in Sokoto over alleged blasphemy, and the numerous killings in Benue, Plateau, and Southern Kaduna.
Other Twitter users added:
“Where was your voice when bandits and insurgents were terrorizing communities in the North for years? Why are you speaking up only now?”
“If you had spoken out against past injustices, maybe we wouldn’t be in this situation. You are part of the problem.”
“You say ‘every life matters,’ but why do you only speak when it’s your people? We need to see consistency, not selective sympathy.”
The Larger Conversation on National Unity and Consistency in Advocacy
This backlash against Musa highlights a broader concern about how Nigerians respond to tragedies based on tribal, religious, or regional affiliations. While Musa’s message called for unity and compassion, critics argue that true unity must be built on consistency—speaking out against injustice regardless of who the victims are.
Security analysts suggest that the incident in Edo State and the resulting social media storm underscore the urgent need for an unbiased, collective response to violence across Nigeria. Selective outrage, they argue, only deepens existing divides and fuels further resentment.
As the nation grapples with these security challenges, the call for impartial advocacy remains paramount. For public figures like Ahmed Musa, navigating these conversations requires a balanced and consistent stance, one that speaks for all Nigerians, irrespective of background.
