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On a fateful morning in 1984, Nigerians woke up to a shocking news: the home of the revered Yoruba leader, thinker, and statesman, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, had been raided. Security forces broke into his wardrobe, ransacked his files, and carted away documents. The nation was outraged. The backlash was swift and fierce, with curses rained on the then-Head of State, General Muhammadu Buhari, and his government. From that moment, no good he did would be recognized by the Yoruba people, their powerful media, or the progressives across the country.
Such actions, seemingly orchestrated to stir public anger, were not isolated. Many analysts saw them as deliberate attempts to make the regime unpopular. Years later, Buhari would insist he never authorized the raid, acknowledging that it was politically damaging to his administration.
Fast forward to April 1990. In the early hours of the morning, security forces stormed two homes in Lagos—one in Ikeja, the other in Anthony Village. In a gestapo-style operation, they abducted two prominent activists: lawyer Femi Falana and medical doctor Beko Ransome-Kuti. Beko was driven furiously toward Epe and dumped in the bush, while Falana was taken toward Badagry and similarly abandoned. The human rights community, both in Nigeria and abroad, erupted in outrage.
The motive? It was later revealed that the arrests were a prelude to a coup attempt—an effort to destabilize the Babangida regime and prepare public sentiment for an overthrow. Days later, soldiers led by Colonel Gideon Orkar and Colonel Tony Nyiam launched an attack on Dodan Barracks, nearly assassinating President Ibrahim Babangida and his family.
More recently, Nigerians awoke to another shock: an abrupt decision to redesign the naira at the height of a presidential election season. The implementation was chaotic, plunging the nation into a cash crisis. Again, the people rained curses on Buhari and his government. To this day, the true architects of that decision remain unknown. Poorly executed, it will likely be remembered by historians as a defining moment in Buhari’s tenure.
Similarly, the persistent security crisis in the Northeast, marked by insurgency and banditry, has been linked to elements within the power structure who were dissatisfied with the government. These crises, rather than arising spontaneously, often bear the fingerprints of hidden actors seeking to create instability for political advantage.
Instances like these—from 1966 to the present—have been attributed to the handiwork of fifth columnists, insiders who deliberately create chaos to weaken a government and make it vulnerable to collapse. As Nigeria marches toward its next election, we should remain vigilant for similar schemes.
What is a Fifth Column?
A fifth column refers to a group of individuals who secretly work from within to undermine or betray their own country, organization, or cause—often in favor of an external adversary. These individuals, known as fifth columnists, operate covertly, engaging in espionage, sabotage, propaganda, and subversion to destabilize their target from within.
Origin of the Term
The phrase fifth column originated during the Spanish Civil War (1936–1939). Nationalist General Emilio Mola, one of the key leaders of the coup against the Spanish Republic, famously declared that as his four columns of troops advanced toward Madrid, a “fifth column”—insurgents and sympathizers inside the city—would rise to assist them. Though the true extent of their impact is debated, the phrase quickly became synonymous with internal betrayal.
Historical and Modern Use
Since its coinage, the concept of a fifth column has been applied to various conflicts and political situations. During World War II, both the Allied and Axis powers feared infiltration, leading to paranoia and, in some cases, unjust persecution (such as the internment of Japanese Americans in the U.S.).
Today, the term has broadened to describe internal threats in politics, business, and governance. It includes not just political operatives undermining democratic institutions but also corporate insiders leaking sensitive information or advisers steering leaders into disastrous decisions.
In the digital age, fifth columnists need not be physical infiltrators; they can be online actors spreading disinformation, sowing discord, and weakening institutions from within. A recent example is the unverified story circulating that Vice President Shettima has bitterly complained that President Tinubu has sidelined him, replacing him with his son. The story has no attribution, and the source remains unknown—but the motive behind it is clear.
The phrase fifth column remains a potent reminder of the dangers of internal betrayal—whether in war, politics, or corporate affairs.
