SSS: Robbery biggest problem, not terrorism

[DT]

The State Security Service (SSS) has said that armed robbery rather than terrorism is the biggest security challenge confronting the country.  SSS's spokesperson, Marilyn Ogar, who said this at the Al-Habibiyyah Islamic Society's annual women's forum in Abuja at the weekend, explained that armed robbery is the number one challenge, followed by kidnapping because they happen virtually every day in all parts of the country.

She said the general belief that terrorism is the greatest threat to national security is wrong. There is no state in Nigeria that reports nil armed robbery cases but many states are free from terrorism, she added.

Ogar said also there is connection between poverty and terrorism in the country.

"When the fight against terrorism started, we had picked a few of these people whom today we have been able to turn around. One of them did say that the father is late and the mother is blind," she said.

"So, every morning he had the responsibility of taking his mother out and unfortunately this group identified him and they called him and they gave a paltry N20,000 and he took this N20,000, took the mother home and said to the mother: 'I have settled you I am going to fight for my life alone.'

"But the very first time he went out as a suicide bomber he was arrested. It is not fault of his; it's what society has been able to give to him."

Ogar said instead of people allowing fear of terrorism to destabilise the home and the society, women should intensify their efforts in raising children who would grow to love their fellow human beings.

Earlier in a keynote address, wife of the Vice President, Hajiya Amina Sambo, said the security challenges in the country were threatening the values of the people.

Represented by the wife of Head of Service of the Federation, Hajiya Maryam Sali, Hajiya Amina said also that Muslims should not be associated with terrorism as Islam forbids killing of innocent people.

Daily Trust