By Law Ibitoye
The spate of insecurity in Nigeria has continued to be worrisome to citizens as the crime goes on unabating. It is worrisome because it is an illicit venture that does no longer have particular set or caliber of people as its “targets or preys” as was the case at the inchoate stage.
But the trend these days is the scenario of “anything” goes in which anybody can become a victim irrespective of gender, age, socio-economic and political status.Travelling to any part of Nigeria these days is a risk as no where is safe. At the beginning of January 2024, the federal government without equivocation told its citizens that the nation’s forests had been taken over by bandits and terrorists. The question is, where do we go from here?
Happenings across the country give credence to the position of the federal government. kidnappings, killings, robberies and other vices have become out of control, and obvious that the nation’s security apparatuses are overwhelmed. A new twist was added to the kidnappings, and killings occurred in Abuja from the tail end of 2023 to the beginning of 2024 which put the residents on edge, ditto other parts of the country. It was no more the issue of kidnappings on the roads or highways but going to estates and other residential homes to abduct and atimes kill their victims.
It takes the grace of God for kidnapped victims to come out alive even after ransom would have been paid. Most of the times victims’ relations incur the wrath of the kidnappers/abductors when there are delays in meeting up with the deadline for their demands. This may lead to the killing of their victim(s) without baiting and caring a hoot. One can imagine this senseless and callous killing of human beings.
Traditional rulers are not spared, on 29th January, 2024 two traditional rulers- Onimojo and Elesun Ekiti ,Oba Samuel Olatunji and Oba Babatunde Ogunsakin were brutally murdered by unknown armed bandits while returning from a meeting in Ikole Local Government Area and another Oba from Koro in Kwara state was gunned down in his palace and his wife and 2 relatives were abducted on 1st February, 2024, a scenario people view as an anathema knowing what the traditional institution stands for. But do they believe in this? Everybody is their prey.
Also, the kidnapped students of The Apostolic Faith Nursery and Primary School, Emure Ekiti the same day the Obas were murdered was highly disturbing and disheartening. It took the grace of God and the frantic efforts of the Federal Government, Governor Oyebanji of Ekiti State, stakeholders and security operatives before the students were let loose from the sharp teeth of the kidnappers on Sunday morning, 4th February.
To curb the menace, there have been suggestions from different quarters for government at all Levels to rise to the occasion, by repositioning the nation’s security machinery and equip the security agencies with modern equipment that can measure up to the ones used by these unscrupulous elements.
Identifying the rising level of unemployment, harsh economy, dwindling purchasing power of the citizenry among others are accountable for the prevailing insecurity in the country, there have been increasing appeals for those in positions of authority to urgently redress the situation.
Provision of adequate security for lives and properties of citizens against internal and external aggressors aside other functions is a fundamental responsibility of the government. This is even contained in Nigeria constitution. It’s a truism that security is expensive, government has no moral justification not to strengthen its security intelligence, prioritize security officials’ welfare and provide them with modern weapons to combat insecurity.
Also, government should make life bearable for the masses by providing them social amenities at little or no cost. In a situation where the masses are over stretched due to poor economic policies of the country, you can’t but contend with the menace of insecurity which can ruin the fortunes of a country, state and individual within a blink of an eye. If truly we are serious in combating insecurity, government should provide job opportunities for those that have no sources of livelihood, provide basic necessities of life, such as good education, affordable cost of health facilities, access to good roads, uninterrupted electricity and low cost of consumables among others. Where all these are lacking, it’s an invitation to social unrest and anarchy.
Moreover, genuine community policing and incorporation of community hunters or local security outfits should not only be encouraged; it should be strengthened and their activities properly monitored. This can only be effective when the traditional rulers are given constitutional powers, being the custodian of culture and traditions in their respective domains. They are familiar with their areas and probably know about eighty percent of people living in the community through district heads in a regular meeting with the traditional rulers. This will send strong warning to marauders/strangers planning to invade such community.
In addition, every community should have data base for her inhabitants, at local government , state and federal levels. These data would help government plan how best to secure our land.
On culprit arrested, government should always allow culprits caught to face the full weight of the law, so as to serve as deterrent to those still rehearsing to go into the ventures. Doing this, government should stop politicizing arrest. And I must conclude that politics should be made less attractive because the genesis of insecurity is from politicians; they are the ones allegedly giving dangerous weapons to jobless youths while campaigning for post and when they get there, luxury of life beclouds their senses of reasoning and forget all the promises they made and in return the thugs they empowered use the weapons to make ends meet at the expense of the innocent citizens.
In conclusion, the security agencies saddled with the security of our environments should live above aboard in the execution of their duties.This will eliminate growing suspicion in many quarters that kidnappings and other societal vices cannot succeed without their connivance.