By AKOR SYLVESTER-Abuja
The issue of persistent insecurity in the country, the failure of government to tackle the hydra-headed monster headlong and the threat to human lives, have raised concern amongst Nigerians and even non Nigerians that are doing business in the country.
While some argued that the security agents in the country lack the tactics, technology and required equipment to confront the criminals and their sponsors, others are of the opinion that the government in power and some other politicians are beneficiaries of criminality that continued to post threat to the stability of the country. For almost two decades, the security situation in Nigeria has remained unabated, and reasonable progress, to many Nigerians, has not been made.
This is as Nigerians have expressed worry over the inability of the Federal government to name and prosecute the sponsors of terrorism, banditry and kidnapping in the county. This situation has prompted the reactions of notable Nigerians and groups.
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in this regard, identified the franchisation of terrorism, the complicity of some critical elements/institutions and the deficit of the political will to deal with all, as factors responsible for the country’s predicament as a result of insecurity.
It said until the rulling class decides to face the reality on ground and stop chasing shadows, by putting politics aside and go after the criminals, Nigerians will continue to suffer the same fate.
The Head of Information and Public Affairs of NLC, Comrade Benson Upah who spoke to Daily Champion in Abuja, wondered why the government that claims that it’s fighting insecurity, is unable to name sponsors of terrorism, kidnapping and banditry in the country.
He said: “Now that we are all paying a price, either directly or indirectly, something will give way: either the terrorism industry or we as a nation”.
He therefore urged the federal government to take the issue of insecurity seriously in order to protect lives and the lives and properties of Nigerians.
Reacting to this development also, the former Deputy Governor of Kogi State and a chieftain of African Democratic Congress (ADC) Elder Simon Achuba attributed the persistent insecurity in the country to corruption and poor handling of the nation’s resources, stating until the right things are done, the situation will remain the same.
He further tasked the government in power to strengthen the electoral process and ensure that the right people chosen by the people themselves are voted to power to manage the affairs of the country.
According to him: “There are reasons why insecurity remain unabated in the country. One of it is corruption. There is nothing corruption cannot kill. Corruption is the reason for insecurity. Corruption is the reason for unemployment. Corruption is the reason for inflation. Corruption is the reason for division and conflicts everywhere. If a country is corrupt, it will not do things justly. The issue is, if there is no corruption, why will a government not name those who are her enemies, if that government is aware of them. It means the. government on its own, is compromising.
“After God, is there anything greater than government? Why would government know those who are behind her problems and will not name them. It shows government has an interest. It can not pretend that it doesn’t know the enemies of the people. Government on its own pronounced that it has identified the sponsors of terrorism. and others in the country, then what is holding it from naming them. And even when it refused to name them, Saudi Arabia, the US have name them. Then, what have they done to those people. How have they handled them? So, if I know I am committing crime and I am sure that there is no consequences for that, I will continue in it. Understand that it is this same corruption that has made our military unequipped, not having the capacity to face the hoodlums.
“Technology today can keep Nigeria under a serious vigilance, that anywhere you are in the bush, you can be tracked. Why can’t we put our resources in that direction. Protection of lives and properties is the foremost responsibility of government. That is making sure that the people are secured. Why is Nigeria not taking that step in making sure that, that responsibility is accomplished?. It is because of corruption. Closely related to that is bad governance. Corruption makes the electoral process somehow crooked.
“Today, on the corridor of power, those who manage the affairs of Nigeria, 20 percent of them are not clean. If this category of people are in charge, what do you expect? It is crime. And so insecurity is of their own interest, if some of them are not even participants. Because that is what brought them to power and they will definitely sustain it. So, we need a holistic approach to the issue of insecurity in the country. And the sure way to this, is electing leaders who have the love of the country at heart. When a leader that does not have the interest of the country at heart is is in charge of the management of the country, he will go about his personal interest, and that is what is happening in Nigeria. Stealing has been accepted as a way of life. People who steal will now come to the national television to boast of their wealth, whereas they don’t have any known source known to the country that gives them this money, yet they are not arrested, they are not prosecuted. It is a serious, but solution will come, but if it doesn’t come, with the way we are going, revolution would change the situation”.
On his part, a retired Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), who preferred to remain anonymous blamed the issue of insecurity in the country on the activities of saboteurs in government.
He said government on its own is making efforts to tackle the problems, but insisting that, there are people in government that are frustrating the efforts of government because of the benefits they derive from the situation.
The retired police officer also advocated for proper funding of police and other security agents, noting that without sincere empowerment of the force, the issue of insecurity will be difficult to handle.
He said: “The security situation in the country calls for concern, especially that it affects the generality of the people. Judging from my experience as a retired police officer, the government is trying but their are saboteurs that are pulling the hands of progress down. This is happening because there are some persons that are gaining from the insecurity.
“Everyday you will hear of how much government is putting into fighting insecurity in the country, but this money is not going to the right channel, which is the security agents, the people who are the footsoldiers. When the security agents who are at the forefront of the war against insecurity are not getting their allowances, their spirit to fight would drop. Imagine a situation where security agents are sent to troubled area to battle the crisis but denied the feeding money and other allowances, they will not be dedicated. The disturbing aspect of the whole thing is that government is aware that the money is not getting to the right people, and nothing is done about it. Why are those people stealing the security money not punished to serve as deterrent to others. Is it that there are “big men” that are benefiting from this rots? These are the questions that are begging for answers. People are no longer prepared to put their lives to fighting insecurity, because when they die, their families will not be taken care of.
“Another point is that, sufiscated arms to confront insurgence are not there. The weapons that the criminals are carrying are more than the ones that our security agents are carrying. Tell me, in this situation, how can they win the war against insecurity. Government should rise up to its responsibility of equipping it’s security agents. Again, the right people should be put in the right place in the fight against insecurity. Government should also fund the police enough to combat crime in the country. The welfare of the citizenry should also be the top priority of government. Government should hands off involvement in criminal act. Because some government officials are directly or indirectly involved in the insecurity situation in the country, it will be difficult for them to name their partners in the crime.
Speaking also, the Head of Ikwu clan in Iyano community in Ibaji Local Government Area of Kogi State, Chief Boniface Akor, said the youths in the community have a role to play in the issue of insecurity in the country. According to him, “the youths know all the corners and hidden places in the communities and can trace the bad ones to anywhere they are hiding to commit crime”.
He urged the present government to consider recruiting more local Vigilantees and forest guides to assist the other security agents in fighting crime and criminality in the society, while commending the security agents in their efforts to curb the ugly situation in the country.