Raging Insecurity and Government’s Feebleness
Istifanus Bello, an employee of Dangote Industries is the latest victim of kidnappers, running riot across our country. Bello was killed by his abductors in Ogun State this week. Kidnappers have been holding our nation by the jugular for too long. Mrs Iyuadoo Tor-Agbidye, a radio journalist with Benue State Government was a bit lucky. She was abducted last week but miraculously escaped from the devils. Three residents of Ever Winning Avenue, in Isheri Osun area of Lagos State are still with their abductors. They were taken away on Tuesday. Margret Emefiele, the wife of our Central Bank’s governor; former ministers of Environment, Mrs. Felicia Mallam and her husband, and the former foreign affairs minister, Bagndu Hirse were also recently adducted. So many other Nigerians without “big names” are abducted daily across our country and forced to pay ransom. Some are even killed in the process.
Let’s switch to the menace of herdsmen. Some parts of Abia State were invaded by herdsmen last week, with yet to be certified number of people killed. Communities in Abia and Enugu have been repeatedly attacked by herdsmen in the last 18 months. Over 102 villagers in Godogodo and Gidan Waya communities in Jema’a Local Government Area of Kaduna State have been killed by Fulani herdsmen. Hundreds of people have been killed in Agatu, Benue State by the same herdsmen. Security agents are still struggling to unravel the mass killing in Zamfara State by mystery gunmen.
These are just a few of the gory tales of mass killings and abductions across our nation in the last 18 months. Our initial problem was Boko Haram. Now, kidnappers, armed robbers and Fulani herdsmen are ravaging our nation. There is hardly any state immune to one or more of these evils. Nigerians are living in fear. We are daily assaulted by well-coordinated gangs of kidnappers, armed robbers and herdsmen. Unfortunately, the response to these killings by the government and its security agents has been feeble. Just as the Human Rights Writers Associations of Nigeria noted recently, “the ever widening scope and sophistication of mass killings in Zamfara and other states by armed Fulani attackers and other armed freelance hoodlums engaged in serial kidnappings for ransoms are symptoms of a failed governance capacity in the polity.”
I am scandalised that kidnapping now carries death penalty in many states, yet, we have not seen a single kidnapper convicted and executed anywhere in this country. We have not seen any herdsman convicted for his atrocity. All we hear from governments at all levels is mere rhetoric.
Back to Kaduna, the situation in the southern part of this state is pathetic. Over 50,000 houses have been burnt in 25 communities, 102 killed and 215 injured in the last six months by the herdsmen. About 10,000 people have been displaced and over 30,000 hectares of land destroyed. No wonder the President of Christian Association of Nigeria, Dr. Samson Ayokunle said the situation in this area amounted to “ethnic and religious cleans- ing.” According to Ayokunle, Christians in Southern Kaduna are facing the dangers of annihilation, extinction and genocide. “Many of them can no longer live in their communities, 32 people were recently given mass burial. Whoever is killed, whether Christian or Muslim, deserve not to be killed in this country”, he lamented. The situation in Southern Kaduna may degenerate, with Christian youths threatening to resort to self-defence against future attacks. They premised their threat on the alleged complacency and complicity of the security agencies and politicians in the state.
Governor Nasir el-elrufai is yet to show genuine commitments to the plight of the residents of this troubled area. This talk about paying compensation to some foreign herdsmen by the Kaduna State Government to avert future attacks is all bosh. The Senator representing Southern Kaduna senatorial district, Dr. Danjuma La’ah was apt when he declared this week that “after governor El-Rufai’s term in office, it should be possible to prosecute him for being an accessory to mass murder, since he has refused to reveal his findings to the rightful authority for actions to stop the evil that is spreading to many states today.”
Whether it’s the menace of kidnapping, armed robbery or rampaging herdsmen, the truth is that our security agents can no longer protect lives and property, not only because they are ill-equipped, but also because of the high level of ineptitude in these organisations. Commitment to the protection of lives must be restored. The truth be told; the police and the Department of State Security require total overhaul, if we genuinely need appropriate response to these security challenges. These agencies are under the federal government and the Buhari administration must respond appropriately to save hapless Nigerians.
We all need to remind Buhari that one of the things he vowed to fight on assumption of office on May 29 last year was impunity in all aspects of our nation’s life, insecurity inclusive. Tackling insecurity goes beyond the menace of Boko Haram. These security agencies are under the Executive. Unfortunately, in the last 18 months of the Buhari administration, the laws of our land are being flouted with impunity. Clearly, kidnappers, armed robbers and herdsmen have been emboldened by the inaction of Buhari and our security agencies. This is the height of impunity. Our president should order the police and DSS to deal decisively with this menace. These agencies are under the Executive.
Impunity arises from a failure by states to meet their obligations to investigate violations; to take appropriate measures in respect of the perpetrators, particularly in the area of justice, by ensuring that those suspected of criminal responsibility are prosecuted, tried. To provide victims with effective remedies and to ensure that they receive reparation for the injuries suffered; to ensure the inalienable right to know the truth about violations; and to take other necessary steps to prevent a recurrence of violations. Kidnappers, armed robbers and herdsmen are terrorising ill-fated Nigerians with impunity. I hope this will be brought to the attention of our dear President.