Security Challenge In Nigeria: A Sober Reflection Of The Season

Started by The InfoStrides, Nov 22, 2012, 12:05 PM

The InfoStrides

A suicide bomb attacker recently invaded St Ritarsquo's Catholic Church in Kaduna was an indication of security lapses across the country. Kaduna is one of the States that has severely suffered   multiple bomb attacks since the emergence of Jonathan's administration in Nigeria. These so-called infamous and callous bombers have decided to take human lives as nothing to their wicked doctrines and never wish Nigeria well in all ramifications. For  Boko Haram members to declare to the Federal Government to  appoint Mohammed Buhari, the CPC presidential candidate for the 2011 election and Mohammed Sherif as a delegation to Saudi Arabia is an indication of failed leadership system which some political elements have decided to make Jonathan 's government ungovernable and intractable at all levels.

It is sad that government security agencies are over-stretched and overlapped which makes suicide attackers to increase their callous arsenals on hapless and innocent Nigerians especially the Christian community in the northern region. Over 100 thousands of people have lost their precious lives to the insurgence of Boko Haram and property worth billions of Naira destroyed and while 75 percent of non northerners are displaced and disorganized. It is dawn on Nigerians that many of these so-called fundamentalists are spirited and calculated in carrying out their dastardly acts on Christians and Muslims.The worst is that economic security is no longer guaranteed in Northern region while foreign investors are sacred  and NYSC members are not wishing themselves to be posted in that region. The fear of serving in the northern or attending universities or polytechnics is beginning of being lynched by the Boko Haram members. The Yuletide season is fast approaching which needed the attention of the government to beef up security operatives across the nation against any internal or external aggression. This disheartening system of security system despite several changes being made in top security heads, yet the insecurity system is still very poor when compared to international communities.

The problem with the security structure is that our security agencies are poorly outfitted and trained. Though most of our security agencies are well -trained to international standards and have recorded huge successes time without number. It is the right of every Nigerian to be vertically and horizontally protected. Boko Haram members are sponsored by highly influenced Nigerians while their arms and ammunition are imported on a daily basis without qualms. How do these weapons come into Nigeria without the knowledge of our security agencies? One of the statements credited by President Jonathan sometimes ago that Boko Haram were members of his government and he was economically to the truth. Jonathan has failed to track down the perpetrators of this act while innocent Christians are dying in thousands without immediate solution. The unity of the country is presently threatened by unscrupulous and dodgy Nigerians who want to capture the leadership of the country by force not by the choice of the electorates.

Even our so-called Joint Military Task Force (JTF) being sent to the northern region to protect its citizens is now victims of Boko Haram bombers together with police officers and journalists. To the extent that these suicide bombers used expensive automobiles to carry out their nefarious activities without considering the adverse effects on the nation. Most of these northern metropolitan cities are under the siege of Boko Haram planters who intend to plunge the country into another civil war of 1967 of Ojukwu and Gowon. The amalgamation of the Northern and Southern protectorate in 1914 by the British government under Sir Lord Lugard equally created this fathom of distrust in the Nigeria's present democratic system and nothing more. Protection of lives and property should be the priority of any formidable government that has the minds of the people knowing well that the population of Nigeria is over 160 million people and the security operatives are not enough to secure lives with the high level of corruption in the system. Even the stakeholders meeting being set up by the Jonathan-led government has not yielded any positive result. Boko Haram members are highly intelligent people and the northerners are highly educated in terms of the legal profession and other reputable ones. 2015 is no longer far while Christmas and New Year is fast approaching which the citizens must be adequately protected especially the Christians. The bodies of PFN and CAN must not keep mute as far as December is at the door step while prayers must be offered by highly anointed servants of God. Every church premise has grossly affected by the Boko Haram uprising. Even our so-called federal lawmakers are not serious about proffering solutions to security threats while the 2012 budget was anchored on security without any dividends of governance in the system.

It all started from OPC to Niger- Delta militants and to MASSOB which resulting into kidnappings and the Niger-Delta region was fighting for the emancipation of their people and nothing else. Boko Haram insurgence is a political one for greedy leaders of the soil.

Finally it is a wake up call for President Goodluck Jonathan to strengthen the security system in this period of the ember season to avoid killings of innocent worshippers and by passers in the northern region.

By Godday Odidi
Public Affairs Analyst, Lagos


Fasinu Tolulope

Talking about Nigeria security as at now only God we can call upon.

Fasinu Tolulope