By Prof MK Othman
I was once a victim of 30-minute banditry. My household and I, and a few others, were held captive for 30 minutes in my house by a bunch of 8-armed men in a hellfire traumatic experience from about 8:30-9:00 pm on June 12, 2018. It was an experience you could not pray for your worst enemies to undergo. Watching a video clip of an abducted victim of banditry is much more disgusting until you put yourself in the shoes of the victims and imagine the harrowing experience. How many people can survive such scenes? Some were lucky to make it, but Sarkin Gobir of Gatawa, Isa Bawa, was not that lucky; he was helplessly and gruesomely murdered in cold blood by his abductors, who may still be at large. Many of us wept after watching the video clip showing his helpless plea to save his life with his hands tied behind his back, pleading in the most piteous tones. He was dressed in blood-soaked clothes, earnestly pleading with people to yield to his abductors' demands, or else his life would be forfeit. Tragically, despite their efforts, people were unable to save him as he was executed.
Granted, the Sarkin Gobir case is one of a few high-profile, perilous, violent crimes; however, there are several other incidents involving lower profiles but resulting in more devastating fatalities across the nation, particularly in the northern regions.
For instance, on April 7, Reuters reported the killing of sixteen people during a clash between local security forces and the Lakurawa insurgents who had raided the villages of Tungan Taura and Tungan Ladan. Kebbi state police spokesperson Nafiu Abubakar was quoted as saying, "The assailants reportedly rustled an unspecified number of cattle, and during a confrontation as they attempted to flee, 16 individuals were killed." In the same month, April, in Plateau state, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) reported the death of 52 people and 22 others injured due to an attack by unknown gunmen. Earlier, some travelers were apprehended by a vigilante group in Irome and burned to death, with only two people escaping.
The number of people killed by violent crimes is significant, and the trend continues unabated, with every right-thinking Nigerian feeling increasingly disturbed. According to a study conducted by www.crisisgroup.org, "Nigeria's North West is experiencing deadly conflict involving numerous armed organizations, including herder-allied groups, vigilantes, criminal gangs, and Boko Haram. The violence has resulted in the deaths of over 8,000 people since 2011 and has displaced more than 200,000, some into neighboring Niger Republic. Despite several security operations and efforts at dialogue, a lasting peace remains elusive."
The most disturbing fear is that violent incidents, as bad as they are, can be replicated elsewhere in the country without notice, as nowhere guarantees relative security. One should not be in the wrong place at the wrong time; otherwise, the outcome can be very different. May God protect us. Must we continue this way? No, we must rack our brains to find a solution. Yes, there is an urgent need to nip it in the Bud.
First, we must accept that death is the ultimate end for every soul, whether prepared or unprepared, in good health or ill; man and woman must die from something – friendly fire, accidental discharge, a bullet from an enemy, disease, hunger, or overnutrition and obesity. Why must you facilitate the killing of a fellow innocent human being for the material world when you must ultimately leave it behind? When faced with a perilous reality that no one can protect you, I cannot help but agree with my good friend, an ace columnist, Dr. Hassan Gimba, and General Danjuma, a statesman who recommended that you defend your lands, property, integrity, and families by facing the brigands head-on and may be lucky to tell the story.
Second, leaders at different levels must remember that leadership comes with a significant responsibility to protect the lives and properties of their subjects. The day of reckoning before the Almighty will come sooner rather than later. How can you defend yourself when you possess the instruments of authority and power but fail to protect your people in their hour of need? Why do we allow bandits to operate with impunity, showing their video clips while observing Eid prayer in a serene environment, unperturbed, pretending not to know? Leadership is about leaving a positive legacy that will continue to write your name in gold. Peace is the bedrock of society upon which developments are erected—there is no development without peace. Those who benefit from the crisis, banditry, insurgency, and violent crimes due to their inactions or actions are creating a Frankenstein monster and unknowingly waiting to be consumed by it. Those who live by the sword die by it.
Third, addressing security challenges in Nigeria requires a holistic approach that combines immediate tactical responses with long-term strategic solutions. We must integrate military, economic, educational, and technological interventions to tackle systemic issues such as unemployment, corruption, and social inequality. Addressing the multifaceted nature of complex insecurity necessitates employing both kinetic and non-kinetic approaches.
Militarily, we must strengthen security infrastructure and intelligence gathering and enhance interagency coordination and collaboration among security forces (military, police, and intelligence agencies) to ensure efficient resource allocation and strategic deployment. We must also empower local communities through community policing initiatives, leveraging their knowledge for intelligence gathering and crime prevention.
Economically, we must empower youth to address the root causes of insecurity, such as unemployment and poverty, which fuel criminality and radicalization, by creating job opportunities.
We need to reform our educational system by integrating security studies and digital literacy into school curricula to foster a culture of civic responsibility and counter extremist ideologies. We must educate our youth about security strategy and crime prevention.
In a non-kinetic approach, we must promote dialogue and reintegration by engaging bandits and insurgents in conditional discussions while ensuring that reintegration programs are accessible for repentant militants and bandits. We also need to reform our legal system and governance. Strengthen the judicial system to expedite trials for terrorism and kidnapping cases while enhancing law enforcement training. There must be accountability in security budgeting and transparency to prevent corruption, alongside the prosecution of officials complicit in criminal activities. Can we decentralize security funding and allocate resources to state and local governments to address regional security disparities? The secrecy surrounding the security vote must be dismantled and made transparent to all relevant parties.
Finally, we must remind ourselves that kidnapping is highly profitable, attracting ordinary individuals and security personnel. A wealth of evidence demonstrates the cooperation and collaboration of state actors in facilitating kidnapping operations, including the provision of weapons, logistical support, and financial gain from ransoms paid to terrorists and bandits. The government must swiftly restructure its security apparatus to identify the corrupt individuals among the security personnel and effectively combat this heinous crime.
In conclusion, the Nigerian government must begin the process of finding a long-term solution to prevent these terrorist attacks. To tackle the issues, the government can implement both rewards and penalties. Considering a gentle approach for kidnappers, bandits, and militants who genuinely wish to repent should be on the table. Nigeria must be prepared to deploy strict measures to secure adequate personnel, tools, and necessary workforce development. Fewer than one million police officers serve in Nigeria, managing over 200 million people across 91 million hectares of the country's geographical area. The population requires more effective and efficient policing by a larger force. Many unemployed graduates, eager to serve Nigeria in any part of the security forces, are roaming our streets. President Tinubu should consider this direction. Massive employment of youth is highly desirable at this moment.
