Insecurity, A Monster Waiting To Devour Nigeria

AGUNLOYE ADEWUNMI BASHIRU

On Thursday 22nd of April, 2021 Nigeria woke up to the news of bandits raiding of Greenfield University in Kaduna where 23 students were kidnapped, one staff killed and 800 million naira is being demanded as ransom. Also the attack of army base in Niger where military vehicle burnt another moved away while one soldier and civilian declared missing.

While Nigerian are still awaiting for their release from the den of the kidnappers shock news was reported on Friday 23rd, April 2021 that three of the students were killed by the bandits. This killing is heart -breaking.

Out of the 193 countries recognised as member states of the United Nations, Nigeria is the most troubled country in the world as far as insecurity is concerned.

No country whether in Europe, America, North America, Asia and Africa are being hit by a myriad of challenges associated with insecurity such as insurgency, and kidnapping all joined together.

In Nigeria and to be precise across the six geo- political zone of the country, insecurity associated with banditry and kidnapping aside from terrorists attacks by the notorious Boko Haram and Islamic States West Africa Province (ISWAP) have been domineering societal vices for over five years now with no sign of putting an end to this impasse by the Federal Government of Nigeria.

No country in the world has recorded the cases of kidnappings as Nigeria by numbers. Between January 2020 and April 2021 alone with over 500 kidnapping cases that involved more than 2000 kidnapped persons that included more than 800 students abducted.

The kidnapping for ransom in Nigeria has now become an open business and all spectrums of the Nigerian society are victims of the kidnappers from traditional rulers, religious leaders, politicians, university dons, students and many other have been victims, while several million of naira have been paid as ransom and many lives lost to this impasse.

It is not an exaggeration to say that bandits and kidnappers in Nigeria are more powerful than the Nigerian Police which is an agency of the Federal Government of Nigeria because it is not on record that the Nigeria Police or any other security apparatus of government are able to apprehend any bandit or kidnapper when perpetrating their barbaric activities.

Last week, bandits struck in a usual manner and operation again killing about 83 people in a multiple attacks which happened in three Local Government Areas of Zamfara State. Also in Kajuru Local Government of Kaduna State, two nurses were abducted from a General Hospital and one person killed in an attack of a private university, Greenfield University, Kaduna. Also bandits same day strike a military camp at Zazzaga Community in Munya Local Government in Niger State where two persons which included a solder and a civilian were declared missing. While four person including traditional rulers were killed in two Local Government of Benue State.

Many cases of kidnappings and killings have been reported across the country in Nigeria. Traveling intra and inter state has now become problem because people are now afraid of traveling as a result of menace of kidnappings along the roads.

It sound ridiculous to hear the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Ibrahim Attahiru informing the Nigerian Senate that Nigeria’s security challenges that include insurgency, banditry, kidnapping can’t be overcome without the required equipment, weapons and armoured fighting vehicles and funds even when the Nigerian Government through the Military last year reported that many equipment, weapons and armoured fighting vehicles were procured to the tune of several million of dollars.

Even though the Nigerian Army in April this year said it took delivery of new hardware including Chinese – Made VT- 4 main battle tanks, some South Korean -Made Kia Light Tactical Vehicle (KLTV) armoured personnel carriers and SH5 self -propelled artillery units.

The question begging for immediate answer is where are the equipment and weapons claimed to have been purchased by the military?

Where are the funds said to have been released since the inception of this present administration to the Nigerian military for procurement of weapons and other fighting equipment?

Why are the bandits, kidnappers and herdsmen not apprehend and brought to book?

With what is happening now in Nigeria, It is now obviously shown that the Nigerian Government or the Military have been overwhelmed in their war against Insecurity. It is glaring that the government including the military are not sincere in the fight against insecurity that includes insurgency, kidnapping, banditry and many other security challenges being facing in Nigeria.

Agunloye Adewunmi Bashiru can be reach at bagunloye@gmail.com