Insecurity in Nigeria: Looking beyond boko haram insurgency

I am determined to protect our democracy, our national unity and our political stability by waging a total war against terrorism” President Goodluck Jonathan.

The unabated waves of terror attacks and series of deadly bomb blasts by the callous, devilish and demonic militant movement, Boko Haram in the Northern part of the country, have continued to heighten and exacerbate the palpable state of insecurity in the land. The incessant Bombings which have claimed many innocent lives, as well as the barbaric and unconscionable criminal abduction of over 200 Chibok School girls plus others, have continued to generate wide spread global concern, outrage and condemnation. While mass protests and advocacy campaigns have continued to be staged in all parts of Nigeria and major cities around the world, calling for the prompt rescue and safe release of the girls, many people believe that with the abominable and unthinkable abduction of these young school girls, the Boko Haram insurgents have clearly crossed the red line!

Against this gloomy backdrop, it is heartening that a coalition of countries including the United States, Britain, France, Canada, China and Israel, have lately intervened to assist Nigeria in rescuing the Chibok School girls and end the Boko Haram insurgency.  With the intervention and assistance of these countries, it is believed that the battle line is now drawn and a final showdown against the Boko Haram is imminent. In spite of reservations being expressed in certain quarters regarding the external support which some have described as a violation of our national pride and sovereignty, I personally believe that the intervention and involvement of these countries, considering their experience, pedigree and track record in counter terrorism around the world, will definitely mark a defining moment and turning point in the efforts at curbing the Boko Haram Insurgency. In this regard, all efforts should be made to capture the leader of the group, Abubakar Shekau, dead or alive, as was the case with Osama Bin Laden, if the Boko Haram insurgency is to be finally curtailed. When eventually captured, Shekau and his cohort of seemingly misguided, mentally deranged and blood thirsty vampires, should be brought to justice for their heinous crimes and atrocities against the Nigerian State and humanity.

  While the President has ordered a total war against terrorism, it must be understood that stopping the Boko Haram insurgency will not entirely stop the complicated security challenges in Nigeria, including the sporadic militancy in the Niger Delta, incessant clashes between Fulani Herdsmen and Farmers in the North, ethnic and religious conflicts, including the ‘cold war’ among ethnic nationalities in the country, as well as all other forms of violent crimes, banditry, ‘area boys’ syndrome, gang conflicts, cult uprisings, kidnappings, abductions, robberies, murder/ ritual killings,  incidents of mob attacks and lynching of suspected criminals[ who, at times, may turn out to be innocent citizens], police brutality and extra judicial killings, and other increasing cases of social vices all of which have culminated in the present Nigerian security crisis.  The defeat of Boko Haram insurgents through sheer military force will only amount to a pyric victory, unless and until the root causes of insecurity are adequately and effectively addressed on a wider scale. Beyond the Boko Haram Insurgency, therefore, in addressing the security challenges in the country on a sustainable basis, government must rapidly tackle the issues of hunger and poverty, ignorance and illiteracy[especially the educational backwardness of the North] as well as the high level of unemployment, especially youth unemployment (which partly explains why youths in the country have become ready tools for all forms of violence and criminality), entrenched systemic  corruption, income inequality, especially the wide disparity in terms of wealth distribution, as well as economic and political reforms, if the goal of ensuring sustainable security, enduring peace and harmony is to be achieved. 

Also, efforts should be bolstered and stepped – up, as part of reforms and re-organisation of the security services, to leverage on the foreign military assistance currently being provided by the US and other countries, in order to have a ready pool of specially trained and well equipped composite anti and counter-terrorist elite force, akin to the US marines, so as to effectively tackle and combat all manner of terrorism and violent crimes in the future, especially after the exit of these foreign countries. There is also the need for the intensification and sustenance of a holistic, synergised regional multilateral approach which, I am aware, has already begun among the neighbouring countries in tackling terrorist activities in the West Africa sub region, considering that we all have a common enemy and a common cause. We should all cooperate fully with one another to put an end to the activities of insurgents and terrorists around the region. 

In conclusion, let me say that the problem of security cannot be addressed or tackled by the Government alone; it is a collective responsibility of the citizenry and requires concerted efforts by all stake holders, if we are to build a secured, just, peaceful, cohesive and egalitarian society of our dream. We all, as citizens, have to be security conscious and vigilant by volunteering and providing relevant, useful, timely necessary information to relevant authorities, in order to curb and combat the spate of violent crimes in the country. I am reasonably confident and quite convinced that the Boko Haram insurgency is a temporary phenomenon and a sad development which has no place in our national history and will soon fizzle out and become a thing of the past.

KAYODE OLUWA