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By Henry Udutchay
October 14, 2026, is another painful reminder of a future cruelly denied. On this day, my beloved son, Barr. Mr. Ndubuisi Iheanacho Kanayo Udutchay (late), would have celebrated his 34th birthday. Ordinarily, this should have been a day of joy, thanksgiving and celebration, a day when a father calls his son to wish him a happy birthday, looking forward to many beautiful years ahead. Instead, I am confronted with the painful reality that my son is no longer here. There will be no birthday telephone call, no embrace, no laughter and no celebration. There is only an aching silence and memories of a son whose life was cut short just when his future was beginning to unfold.
My son Ndubuisi was a young man of immense promise, whose life embodied the hopes and aspirations of a family and a generation. A graduate of Law from the University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus, he was intelligent, gentle and committed to the ideals of justice and fairness. He believed in making a difference, and those who encountered him remember his humility, warmth and willingness to help others. As his father, I saw in him a future filled with possibilities. I imagined the heights he would attain, the contributions he would make to society and the fulfilment that would accompany his accomplishments. I looked forward to watching him establish his own family and eventually become a father himself, but those dreams remain suspended in time.
His death at the hands of armed robbers in his Enugu residence remains a wound that refuses to heal. How does one reconcile the death of a young man whose only offence was living his life and pursuing his aspirations? How does a father come to terms with the fact that his son, whom he nurtured with love, sacrifice and prayers, would be taken away by the very insecurity that continues to threaten innocent Nigerians? I still find myself imagining what Ndubuisi would be doing today. Would he have married? Would I have become a grandfather? What professional milestones would he have achieved? These unanswered questions are the cruel companions of bereavement. The greatest pain of losing a child is not merely losing the person he was; it is losing the person he would have become. While the world moves on, a grieving father continues to live with the painful knowledge that an entire future has been taken away.
Today, as I reflect on my son’s 34th posthumous birthday, my personal grief inevitably becomes a national concern. Ndubuisi’s tragic death is a painful illustration of the human cost of insecurity in Nigeria. Across the country, young men and women are losing their lives to armed robbery, kidnapping, banditry, terrorism and other violent crimes. Behind every reported incident is a family whose world has been shattered, parents whose hopes have been destroyed and communities deprived of promising young people. Every Nigerian lost to preventable violence represents not just an individual tragedy but a loss to the nation’s human capital, intellectual capacity and future leadership.
I, therefore, use this solemn occasion to appeal to the Federal Government, state governments, security agencies and all relevant authorities to intensify efforts towards making Nigeria safer. Security must go beyond public assurances and become a demonstrable commitment to protecting every Nigerian, irrespective of status or location. Government must strengthen intelligence gathering, surveillance capabilities, community policing, rapid response mechanisms and the operational capacity of security agencies. Security personnel must be adequately equipped, motivated and supported to confront emerging threats. Equally important is the need for effective investigation and prosecution of violent criminals to ensure that those who take innocent lives do not continue to operate with impunity. Our homes, streets, highways and communities must become safer places for ordinary Nigerians. No Nigerian family should have to endure the kind of devastation that my family has experienced.
Beyond the immediate security challenges, government must also address the underlying conditions that expose people to criminality, including unemployment, poverty, inadequate opportunities and social disorganization. Our youths need hope, education, meaningful employment and an environment in which their talents can flourish.
Ndubuisi, my beloved son, today you would have been 34. I wish I could see your face, hear your voice and hold your hands as I congratulate you. I wish I could tell you how proud I am of the young man you became. I wish I could hear about your plans, your aspirations and the beautiful things you still hoped to accomplish. There are moments when I appear strong, but there are other moments when your absence becomes unbearable. I miss you in ways words cannot express. I mourn the son I lost, the future you were denied and the countless memories we will never have the opportunity to create. If a father’s love could defeat death, you would still be here.
On this 34th posthumous birthday, I celebrate your life even as I mourn your departure. Your life may have been tragically brief, but it was meaningful, and your memory remains indelible in the hearts of those who loved you. More importantly, I pray that your story will awaken the conscience of our nation and strengthen the determination of those entrusted with our security to protect innocent lives. May your death inspire a renewed commitment to ensuring that other Nigerians are not carelessly deprived of their future through preventable acts of violence.
Though I can no longer celebrate with you, I will continue to carry you in my heart, cherish your memory and speak for a safer Nigeria in which no other father will have to write such a painful tribute.
•Chief Udutchay, a public affairs analyst, is based in Abuja; +234809111125
