Nigeria, One Country Too Many Security Challenges
AGUNLOYE ADEWUNMI BASHIRU
For many years now, Nigeria as a country has been engulfed with too many security challenges, but in the last five years, the situation has become more chaotic. These challenges cut across the regions, from the Islamists militants in the north -east, armed bandits in the north -west and central, farmers and herders in the north -west and central, street gangs in the south -west, Biafra separatists in the south – east and oil militants in the Niger – Delta region.
Boko Haram and Islamic State of West Africa Province, Fulani herdsmen, gunmen, street gangs among others have carried out series of attacks and killings hundreds of thousands of innocent Nigerians.
This year 2020, many innocent Nigerians lives have been lost, most especially the months of April, June and July where over 200 lives were lost in Katsina, Kaduna, Benue and Borno States among others.
Majority of attacks and killings happened in the month of July whereby gunmen terrorised villages in Kaduna, Katsina and Benue States. Also the notorious Boko Haram terrorist group only last week again engaged in another senseless killing by executed four aid workers and security guard abducted since June 29 this year while travelling between Maiduguri and Mongunu in Borno State north – east Nigeria.
Gunmen attacked Zikpak, Ungwam Masara in Fantsuam chiefdom of Jemmia Local Government, and Masaban Kagiro in Kaura Local Government in Kaduna where nine people were killed. Also on July 9th. gunmen carried out multiple attacks killing many villagers in Chibuka and Kigudu both in Kaura Local Government Area of Southern Kaduna State. Villages of Kandawa, Shekawa and Dan Alhaji all in Katsina State were attacked. Last week 20 people were garrulously killed in Gora Gan, Zango Kataf Local Government in Kaduna State.
In Lagos State, south -west Nigeria and most especially on Lagos Island, Mushin and Somolu Local Government Areas of the state, the incessant strikes of the street gangs can be likened to terror attacks in Borno state and the Fulani herders in Benue state.
Street gangs mayhem on Lagos Island has become frequent occurrence hunting the residents whereby gangs in daylight using weapons such as guns, cutlasses, axes, knives and other light – weapons freely that come with loss of lives of innocent residents and several cases of injuries.
It is disheartening that on Lagos Island, there exists more than three known Police facilities such as the popularly Lion Building (Police Area “A” Command), Nigeria Police, Zone 2 Command, Okesuna Police Station and many others and whenever the gangs start to forment their dastardly act and trouble, notwithstanding the proximity of the Police facilities close to the scene of the crime, the gangs always have a free day without checks while men of the Police Force usually arrived to the crime scene only after the gangs might have departed after carrying out the attacks successfully.
The gangs not only killed but also vandalized shops and engaged in rubbery. This is the same story in Mushin and Somolu areas of Lagos State.
All these are worrisome and call for holistic action from the authorities in Nigeria.
We are leaning towards serious security collapse when recently about 233 Nigeria soldiers voluntarily resigned from the Nigerian Army and many soldiers are being killed by the Boko Haram terrorist in the north –east. The Nigeria Police are lacking in carrying out their statutory responsibility of protecting the lives of citizens.
The Service Chiefs of the Nigerian Armed Forces are found wanting in stemming the tide of the numerous security challenges facing the country and the Federal Government of Nigeria failed to sack them or ask them to resign even after the Nigeria Senate has called for their sack since Tuesday 21, July 2020.
It is only in Nigeria and Africa countries that people stick to position of authorities when it is obvious that they have failed in that position to make meaningful impacts or found wanting in the discharged of their duties.
Now is the time for Nigerian government to rise up to its responsibilities of protecting the lives and properties of its citizens because if the situation remains on checked, there may be total security breakdown in Nigeria. We may be sitting on a gun powder that if explode, it will be disastrous to contain.
Agunloye Adewunmi Bashiru writes this piece from Lagos, Nigeria
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