At times, when there are issues bothering on national security, those in government may tell us the problem. On other occasions, we are not told what is being done and what is to be done. Sometimes, accusing fingers are pointed to members of the opposition party. Alternatively, no one is blamed for acts of omission or commission.
But someone has to be blamed for not doing enough to prevent a problem, and for taking actions after the problem had become very bad. If our leaders had paid greater attention not only to what they did while occupying prestigious offices, but also to when they did it, the insecurity in our country would not have degenerated to the abysmal level we find it. Today, many lives would have been saved.
I woke up on 8 April 2021 to read headline news on the front pages of many dailies that: “Over 6 Million Illegal Weapons in Circulation Across Nigeria.” The alarm was reportedly raised by our former Head of State, General Abdulsalami Abubakar. The proliferation of Small and Light Weapons (SALW) in the hands of civilians is of serious concern to the elder statesman. Bothered by the worsening insecurity, the former Head of State says that over 80,000 citizens have died due to insecurity. While 3 million Nigerians are resident in Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps.
Some state governors even tell us that their state commissioners of police and other security agencies are not under their control. But when their political opponents have a misunderstanding with them, they deploy the police
A very baffling story. But this is no news to many Nigerians. It would have been news, if we have been told that certain steps have been taken to mop up all the arms from those civilians who are carrying these weapons illegally. And that IDP camps would be de-established across the country because peace and order have been restored.
Sometime ago, the Zamfara State Government was quoted by a media outfit that in less than ten years (2011 and 2019), 2619 people were killed while 1190 were abducted by bandits. Within the same period, more than 100,000 persons were displayed, 14378 cattle rustled, and the sum of N970 million paid as ransom to bandits. If people are being murdered almost daily, properties are destroyed and we have state governors occupying exalted offices as chief security officers of their states, then this leaves much to be desired.
Some state governors often tell us the problems of insecurity; they look at the problems without proffering solutions. Some state governors even tell us that their state commissioners of police and other security agencies are not under their control. But when their political opponents have a misunderstanding with them, they deploy the police and all available security agencies within their states to deal with their “enemies.”
There was never a time in the history of the country when elected and appointed Nigerians were not in positions of authority at local, state and federal levels respectively. Often, all ministries, departments and agencies of governments are occupied by prominent Nigerians. With this network of office holders, I ask: Whose duty is it to ensure that illegal weapons are not smuggled across our borders into the country?
We have seen on television sets on many occasions when illegally imported weapons have been seized. Are these seizures part of the millions of illegal weapons in the country? I do not know. Who is responsible for ensuring that weapons are not produced illegally and sold to criminals in the country? I think it is the police. Or, will someone say it is the military? Your guess is as good as mine. But when the number of illegal weapons was one million in the country and only one person was killed, can we say with all sense of patriotism that those who were in authority did not know? If they knew, what did they do?
As I was pondering on some of these unanswered questions, Imo State was in the news. The crime took place on Easter Monday when most Nigerians were on holidays. Imo State police headquarters was burnt by yet – to – be identified criminals. What is their objective for committing this crime? Secession or restructuring? Cars worth millions of Naira were set ablaze.
Almost one thousand eight hundred inmates from the Imo State correctional centre were released. The criminals claimed that the inmates were released because of the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ, according to reports. The governor was quoted as saying that it was done by members of the opposition party. The opposition denied such allegations. As I write no one has reported that the criminals have been arrested. Some of the inmates have reported back to the correctional centre, while more than one thousand five hundred inmates are gallivanting all over town.
From the level of insecurity in the country, it seems that the country needs to carry out a new threat assessment of our national security. Today, the threats facing Nigeria are multifaceted such that democracy is threatened, while human security is compromised. I say that human security is compromised because most state governments can barely guarantee safety of lives and properties. The welfare of people is grossly impaired.
Democracy cannot thrive in the face of poverty and insecurity. I urge all institutions of government charged with the responsibilities of securing lives and properties to fight for Nigerians and defend our country. The threats we face today from Imo State is similar to that of Boko Haram in the North East of Nigeria – attack on the police and government installations. These threats constitute danger to our land, people, political, economic and social systems; in essence, the very survival of our country. Thank you.
