Insecurity in Nigeria: A Dangerous Trend

 By
Raji Rasaq

Nigerians face the threat of insecurity on a daily basis ranging from the kidnapping, banditry, killings, rituals, missing and disappearance of citizens among others. The most dangerous among these have been ineffective handlings and nonchalant attitude of the security personnel.

At the wake of President Buhari's administration in 2015, news of herdsmen and farmers clashes made daily headlines in our media reports. Particularly in the Northern part of the country, these clashes wreaked havoc on local residents including youths and women. The backlash of these was the rising cases of the occupants of the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) across the country.

Unfortunately, the government's efforts in tackling these issues have been dangerously inadequate as killings and loss of lives have continued unabated. For instance, kidnapping has become a money-spinning business for some unscrupulous persons who hide under the cover of the night and dangerous ammunition to prey on their victims for ransom. As a result, local and federal high ways across the country are no more save, as the criminals do not just stop at ransom collection, they also take the lives of the uncooperating victims.

Banditry has also rendered most part of Nigeria's North-West states majorly insecure as the battle for resources such as mining site in some parts of Zamfara, Sokoto and Katsina has become very deadly and ravaging.

Clashes between herdsmen and farmers over water and land have also resorted to a situation where most farmers have deserted their farmlands as reprisals killings and fightings have become the order of the day.

Analysts have expressed fears that insecurity in Nigeria may plunge the country into a second civil war as social-political ethnic threats are on the rise. Again, the danger of food insecurity is becoming very real as most farmers and herdsmen are abandoning their businesses. The polarisation of the country into North and South on the basis of insecurity has never been this a dangerous trend.

To conclude, Nigeria's government has a lot to do to keep the nation as one. There is a need for proper engagement of all sections of the country. The government needs to communicate more to keep people abreast of how insecurity is being tackled.

Political and religious groups too need to send good signals. Comments that keep us apart should be disregarded for us to move on.

Raji Rasaq, head of media monitoring, IPC (rajirasaki2015@gmail.com)