Dipo Kehinde/
At first glance, what catches the eye is not the rifle lying beside the lifeless body in the picture here. It is the bright yellow-dyed hair.
In another setting, it could have belonged to a young man chasing fashion trends, music, or social media fame. But here, it frames the face of a suspected bandit killed during the failed attack on the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), Kuru.
The image is a sobering reminder that criminality has increasingly adopted the language and aesthetics of youth culture. Hairstyles, tattoos, designer clothing and other fashion statements, once symbols of self-expression, are sometimes seen among those drawn into violent crime. The hair itself is not evidence of criminality, nor should it be used to stereotype anyone. Millions of law-abiding young people dye their hair for purely personal or stylistic reasons.
What is striking in this case is the tragic irony. A man who appeared to care about his appearance ended up lifeless beside a weapon of violence. The carefully coloured hair could not disguise the devastating consequences of a life allegedly devoted to armed attacks.
The photograph also speaks to a broader national challenge. Many violent criminal groups recruit young people who, beneath the bravado, are often products of poverty, failed opportunities, extremist influence, or organised criminal networks. Some cultivate intimidating or distinctive appearances as part of a group identity, but those outward symbols ultimately offer no protection from the consequences of violence.
The image from NIPSS therefore tells two stories. One is the professionalism of the security operatives who successfully repelled the attack and prevented what could have been a far greater tragedy. The other is the waste of a young life that might have followed a different path.
The yellow hair is memorable. But the lasting lesson should not be about fashion. It should be about the futility of choosing the gun over a meaningful future.
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