Prominent public commentator Mahdi Shehu has launched a blistering critique of Northern Nigeria, describing the region as a "land of the living dead" due to widespread passivity in the face of acute insecurity and economic hardship.

In a stark assessment shared via his official X (formerly Twitter) handle on Saturday, Shehu painted a grim portrait of a population physically alive but psychologically paralyzed by trauma and fear.

Shehu asserted that severe hardship and relentless insecurity have left citizens confused, fearful, and incapable of confronting their daily realities. This pervasive fear, he noted, has systematically stripped the populace of its collective will to demand accountability or push for meaningful structural change.

"The current inhabitants of Northern Nigeria are alive but dead," Shehu wrote, adding that citizens have become "spineless, visionless, planless" and reduced to a "priceless laughing stock."

The activist directed heavy criticism toward the region`s leadership structure, citing a total absence of credible direction. He accused the political elite of being deeply compromised and faulted traditional institutions for acting out of cowardice rather than protecting their communities.

According to Shehu, this systemic failure across all tiers of leadership has left regular citizens completely isolated and vulnerable to exploitation.

Concluding his remarks with a provocative assessment of the region`s religious institutions, Shehu claimed that spiritual leaders have abandoned their moral duties to the public.
 
"RIP Northern Nigeria," Shehu declared. "Imams and priests are not available for burial because most of them are standing on a mandate."