The worsening insecurity in Nigeria, particularly in states like Kaduna, Katsina, Zamfara, Abuja, and other areas, is growing larger than ever.
Nigerians are grappling with an unprecedented myriad of challenges ranging from rampant cases of banditry to kidnapping for ransom, and a relentless onslaught of criminal activities and other overlapping security challenges.
The country has witnessed the loss of thousands of lives, with millions of people displaced, economic activities disrupted, and the legitimacy and authority of the government undermined.
Experts have said the crises underscore a disconcerting failure of governance, a dire lack of initiatives, patriotism, and political will on the part of the executive, the National Assembly, security agencies, and related establishments.
Stakeholders lamented that terrorism and kidnapping have become a very large enterprise.
They contended that the trend has become more lucrative than politics and government work.
According to a report by SBM Intelligence, a Nigerian political risk analysis firm, between 2011 and 2020, at least $18.34 million (equivalent to N23 billion) was paid to kidnappers as ransom.
Even when ransom payment has been outlawed in 2022, Nigerians have not been thinking twice in the payment of ransom whenever their family members are abducted.
Nigerians who are not so rich resort to crowd funding to secure the freedom of their family members and relatives.
The development has also attracted global attention, with the Economist noting that a “crowd funding effort to pay the ransom was even backed by a former minister.”
According to the paper, more than 3,600 people were kidnapped in 2023, the most ever, adding that it rose sharply after President Bola Tinubu took office, with almost 9,000 Nigerians killed in conflict last year.
Many believe that the trend portends a grave danger for the nation’s security, fearing it may become one of the largest sources of terrorism financing in the country.
On social media, Nigerians carryout crowd funding to prevent kidnap victims from being killed by their captives owing to failure to meet ransom payment deadline.
Meanwhile, some stakeholders in the security sector have urged President Bola Tinubu to support local security personnel to fight insecurity with African science.
A former Field Commander of Amotekun in Osun State, Amitolu Shittu, while recommending the absorption of local security personnel in fight against banditry, insurgency and kidnapping, said deployment of African science in anti-terrorism war would help greatly in ending the menace.
He said, “I will advise Mr. President to make use of the local security. We have experience and we only need recommendations from the Federal Government and encouragement. If Mr. President makes use of local security, I am sure that all those that have been kidnapped by terrorists will be rescued alive and those that don’t want to come back, we shall appeal to them to show understanding.
“Mr. President needs to involve the local security because we have the capacity and I can tell you that African science is in vogue and African science is real. If the methodology of African science is allowed to be used to the fullest, such things about kidnapping and terrorism will become a thing of the past.
“African science is not charming. I don’t believe in charms but I believe in African science. Since creation, it has been with us. If you want to cut my head, I will simply tell you to hold it and you will obey. But if you refuse, you will fall down. African science will be applied, we don’t need a gun. Before the creation of the police, we had hunters who were carrying arms to kill animals in the bush. In Ogun State several years ago, a policeman was shot by armed robbers. The hunters, who were invited, removed the bullets from the victims without using a knife or blade. Without using any surgical tool, but with mere pronunciation, the bullet came out.”
In his submission, a social activist, Michael Ebofin, also advanced the need for locals to be used in fighting terrorism, saying, “Aside from the special way they use in arresting criminals, these local security people know the environment better.”
