Nigeria, Jan. 19 -- My brothers and sisters of the North,

Let us begin with an honest truth that no culture, creed, or region can escape: crime is part of human nature. Wherever there are people, there will be those who test the limits of law, morality, and community. The real question is not whether crime exists. The real question is this, what allows it to grow roots, spread branches, and become a forest instead of a weed?

Across the world, from the safest cities to the most troubled regions, one principle remains constant: crime flourishes where deterrence is weak and where enablers are strong. And if we are brave enough to look inward, we must admit that our region carries too many enablers, too many silent permissions, too many op...