Insecurity has greatly affected the image of the country both domestically and internationally especially in the area of the nation’s quest to attract Foreign Direct Investment (FDI).
Last year, Nigeria was rated 144th position in the 2023 safest countries in the world ranking. The yearly Global Peace Index ranks 163 independent states and territories according to their level of peacefulness.
For more than decades, issue of insecurity in Nigeria has become something of grave concern to all citizens, most of whom continue to wonder how the country arrived at such a dastardly situation where no one is safe; and worse still, rather than abate, the problem is escalating and now almost out of control. Insecurity in Nigeria is a recurring phenomenon that threatens the well-being of its citizens.
After the deadly Boko Haram insurgency which has ravaged the North East was technically defeated, the North-west was plagued into a surge of kidnapping, herder-farmer crisis, and banditry.
The conundrums in Kaduna, Katsina Kebbi, Sokoto and Zamfara states remain vicious which have disrupted socio-economic activities of the people with absence of proven economic drivers.
This has significantly made daily lives very difficult as the poverty has made recruitment into banditry easy, as little as N500 could lure youths to join the criminal gang.
It is disheartening that the situation in the vulnerable local government areas caused untold fear and psychological drift to the people of the affected people.
To end the problem, concerted efforts are needed as the challenge poses a severe threat to the north-west and the entire nation where the states and the country at large is treading dangerously on the edge of the abyss.
These kidnappers and bandits have more guts to continue perpetrating more crime against armless and defenseless people.
They move from house to house, village to village; towns and to the market, with AK-47 rifles openly, purchasing foodstuffs and other items with some even collecting tax from the people.
I appreciate Governor Radda’s administration’s stand for declaring boldly that his administration would not have any forms of truce with them and would ensure liberating his people from any fear and eradicating the menace even if it may cost his life.
True to his assurance, since the beginning of his administration, security remains his top priority as he displayed unwavering commitment to fight the insecurity in his state.
Even before his inauguration, he set up a committee of well-versed senior security personnel who retired from different national security institutions.
The committee has consulted with serving and retired security officers from the state to have a complete understanding of the dynamics of insecurity and the operational security architecture in the state.
Radda’s administration efforts to curtail criminals elements, extrajudicial killing and their audacity of roaming towns and villages at their will, wrecking havoc is appreciable.
The administration has spent over N5.4 billion and N2 billion for the procurement of arms and ammunition including purchase of Armoured Personnel Carriers deployed to the eight prone insecurity areas including Jibia, Safana, Batsari, Danmusa, Kankara, Faskari, Sabuwa, and Dandume.
While addressing the corps, Governor Radda harped on the need for them to be of good conduct and conduct their assignments in a responsible manner. Added that “You are not just protectors, but also role models, mediators and pillars of support. Your uniform is a symbol of hope, assurance and trustworthiness.
In spite of his administration’s financial commitments to end the menace, there is a need to collaborate with neighbouring states and international partners in dismantling transnational criminal networks.
For the benefit of hindsight, the efforts remain an uphill battle; something new has to be tried and the existing laws have to be changed to protect the people of the state along the way. Sometimes you have to try new and creative ways to solve problems of insecurity in the state.
There is a need for further investment in technology and infrastructure, coupled with adequate training and equipping of security operatives to enhance their operational effectiveness and responsiveness.
Let federal, state government and other local and international stakeholders to provide security agencies with modern equipment to track down the criminals. When Dr Radda featured on Channels Television’s Politics Today. Said
Insecurity it has turned out to be a business venture for for the criminals, some people who are in government; some people who are in security outfits, and some people who are responsible for the day-to-day activities of their people. Let the affected states governments remain ruthless to those behind the insecurity.
Crime has nothing do with tribe or religion the individuals behind such actions as kidnappings and killings in the country are motivated by their raw passions and not that of Islam or tribe. They are Muslims but that does not mean their actions represent the ideals of Islam. They action does not mean their tribe and does not mean represent tribes the belong.
As Five states in the North west zone have been hit by an unprecedented wave of fear and uncertainty over insecurity Should fully adopt Islamic law capital punishment for bandits and kidnappers to face capital punishment. As the state are under Sharia Legal. System criminal elements and informant are Muslim so applied Islamic law on them has not violated they right of life even Nigeria outlaws ransom payments, kidnap now punishable by death.
In 2022, Nigerian Senate has passed a bill imposing jail terms of at least 15 years for paying a ransom to free someone who has been kidnapped, and made the crime of abduction punishable by death in cases where victims die.The bill, which amends Nigeria’s terrorism law, mandates the death penalty for convicted kidnappers where the abduction leads to loss of life, and life imprisonment in other cases.
For over the 1445 year-Islamic law prescribes the death pen- alty for four crimes: murder, highway robbery involving homicide (what we would call “felony murder.Why the punishment should be carried in accordance with Islamic legal systems since the states are under Sharia Legal Systems also the criminals are Muslims. the law of Islam made evildoers to account for his crime.
Islam forbids targeting non-combatants by killing or by kidnapping or taking them as hostages, or inflicting any kind of injury on anyone.
Let there be a death sentence warrant on any criminal elements and informant who are convicted. They should be killed publicly in their communities as this would be a deterrent to other underworld elements.
*Dukawa writes from Abuja can be reached at [email protected]
