Despite the billions of naira spent on security by the Jonathan administration, the adverse effects of bombings in the North as well as kidnapping in the South East and South South geo-political zones respectively have continued unabated. In this piece, CHRIS OGBOR highlights suggestions to curb this menace
It is distressing to note that barely five months after Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan assumed the position of President and Commander-In-Chief of Nigeria’s Armed Forces following? former president Musa Yar’Adua’s demise on 5th May 2010, thousands of innocent Nigerians have lost their lives through bombings, violent protests, ritual killings and kidnapping.
Verily, the intractable security challenge in the country has reached the point that the Jonathan administration no longer celebrates democracy day and independence anniversary in open arena such as the Eagle’s Square, Abuja where these occasions used to take place on May 29 and October 1 of every year.?
Rather, and for the fear of unknown gunmen and suicide bombers, these ceremonies are now held in the presidential villa (Aso Rock) under tight security. Worse-yet, most worshippers, especially Christians, do not close their two eyes while praying in churches because of the fear of evil men who could storm their places of worship to bomb them out of existence.
For instance, there were bomb explosions near the Eagle’s Square, Abuja where Nigerians including foreign dignitaries were celebrating our golden jubilee anniversary on 1st October 2010. Nigerians including members of the National Youth Service Corps also lost their lives as a result of the violent protests that occurred in the North after the April 2011 presidential election.
When will our nation borrow a leaf from other countries such as Ghana and South Africa that do not experience political unrest during and after general elections? Why is our case different? Why is Mr. President not upholding Section 14(2b) of the Constitution which stipulates: ‘’The security and welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose of government.’’ Why the incessant killings of innocent Nigerians despite the enormous money spent on security. Why President Goodluck Jonathan why?
It would be recalled that suicide bombers, perceived as members of an Islamic sect, known as Boko Haram, stormed Abuja in broad day light on 16th June and 26th August 2011 and destroyed lives and property worth several millions of naira at the police force headquarters and the United Nations (UN) building respectively. UN Secretary-General, Ban Ki-Moon, his deputy Asha-Rose Migiro, UN Under Secretary for Safety & Security, Gregory Starr and Zimbabwean Prime Minister, Morgan Tsvangirai, made scathing remarks on Nigeria as a result of the dastardly act.
Nowadays, most Nigerians find it difficult to visit public places of merriment, move and associate freely during festive periods such as Christmas, Easter and Eid-el-Fitri (Sallah) because of the intractable security challenge in the country.
The blood-bath at Madala near Suleja in Niger State on Christmas Day (25-12-11) which claimed the lives of over 40 worshippers at Saint Theresa Catholic church and the killing of some worshippers at ECWA church in Piri, Potiskum LGA, Yobe State on this year’s Christmas Day (25-12-12) by nefarious suicide bombers are still in the forefront of the thoughts of Nigerians.
It would also be recalled that the office of ThisDay Newspaper in Abuja and that of the Sun Newspaper in Kaduna were simultaneously bombed on Thursday 26th April 2012, while thirteen worshippers, including Professors Jerome Ayodele and Andrew Leo Ogbonyomi were killed in coordinated attacks at Bayero University, Kano on Sunday 29th April 2012.
Sadly, while Nigerians were mourning the death of 153 people through Dana Air plane disaster in Lagos on Sunday 3rd June 2012, two churches were bombed, killing fourteen worshippers. Moreover, twenty worshippers, including pregnant women and children, were killed by gunmen at the Deeper Life Bible Church, Okene in Kogi State on Monday 6th August 2012.
If the truth must be said, the destruction of lives under President Jonathan administration is so alarming to the extent that the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Azubuike Ihejirika on Monday 5th December 2012, disclosed that the activities of the Boko Haram sect have so far claimed three thousand lives.?
Apart from last month’s bombing of the chaplain at the military barrack in Jaji, Kaduna State, the bombing of Rimi police station, the kidnapping of a French citizen, Mr. Francis Colump in Katsina as well as the suicide carbombing of Airtel and MTN offices in Kano a fortnight ago, the abduction of the mother of the former Managing Director of World Bank and current Nigeria’s Finance Minister, Professor Kanene Okonjo three weeks ago, caused international embarrassment and heaped indelible opprobrium on the country.
Meanwhile, mixed reactions have been trailing the security challenge in the country and suggestions from prominent persons have been proffered to move the nation forward. Dissatisfied with the handling of the security problem, spokesman of Northern chapter of Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Mr. Sunday Oibe, lamented: ‘’Now on daily basis, soldiers, police and other security personnel are being killed by Boko Haram members and the president has the effrontery to tell us that these murderers are members of our family and he cannot mobilise the army to deal with them.’’
A former Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Dahiru? Musdapher, in his reaction on the security challenge, said: ’’More than ever before in the history of Nigeria, the scourge of terrorism poses great challenges to the Nigerian state. Our slide into anarchy has assumed dangerous dimensions, perhaps beyond the capacity of our security agencies to deal with the menace effectively.’’
He also described Boko Haram insurgency, political violence, corruption, nepotism, tribalism, indiscipline, abductions, armed robbery, murder and extortion, bombings of places of worship and innocent Nigerians as indicators of a failed state. In his words, ‘’These social upheavals clearly threaten the survival of the Nigeria nation and we all have a duty to rise and stem the tide.’’
It suffices to recall here that the late National Security Adviser (NSA), Retired General Andrew Owoye Azazi attributed the insecurity challenge to the zoning policy of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) while the Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Mohammed Abubakar, linked it with the poor funding of police.
However, well-meaning Nigerians suggest that sincere and non-selective fight against corruption, capital punishment to all offenders, provision of employment for our teeming youths and exemplary leadership by political office holders, will drastically reduce the security challenge in the country.