Uchechukwu Okoroafor, Abuja
Nigeria’s insecurity challenge has grown beyond the activities of Boko Haram (the extremist terrorist group) into what is now a hydra-headed monster that is chronic in many areas and exacerbated by rising inflation and worsening unemployment.
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Nigeria is currently dealing with a variety of security issues, including banditry, kidnapping, farmer-herder clashes, livestock rustling, separatist agitations and the continuous insurgency of Boko Haram. Since 2017, the situation has deteriorated substantially, with the majority of the incidents occurring in the rural communities in Nigeria where people are scared to go to farm due to the fear of herdsmen and in the urban centres where people are kidnapped for ransom even in their homes.
Thousands of Nigerians are abducted each year by heavily armed men known as bandits, and unknown gunmen. According to SBM intelligence, in the first six months of 2021, 2,371 Nigerians were reportedly kidnapped while 10,366 Nigerians were killed in 2021. In five years (2016 – 2021), it is estimated that over N5 billion was paid as ransom to kidnappers, indicating that the country’s kidnapping industry is witnessing a boom. According to the 2022 Global Terrorism Index, Nigeria ranks third in the list of countries most impacted by terrorism in Sub-Saharan Africa and is the sixth most impacted country in the world.
Rising poverty, inequality, and inadequacy of employment opportunities, particularly among the youth, are at the centre of Nigeria’s insecurity problem. Thus, increased insecurity in Nigeria has coincided with rising poverty levels, with an estimated 83 million people which is 39% of the total population, living in extreme poverty (less than $2 per day) as at April 2022. This is a significant 18% increase from 70 million people recorded in 2016.
The seeming inability of security operatives to contain the problem has emboldened even more insurgents, bandits and kidnappers.
Despite repeated assurances from the federal government and the security chiefs, many Nigerians are at the mercy of bandits, terrorists and other criminals who are ravaging many parts of the country.
Apart from the destruction of lives and property, the Nigerian economy continues to suffer as rising insecurity dents investors’ appetite to invest in the country.
Terrorism and other forms of insecurity have persisted for more than a decade unabated, despite the billions of naira spent on security annually. Available reports show that Nigeria has one of the highest security spending in Africa, but for many years, that has not translated into improved security.
A 2019 report by the United Nations Development Programme, titled “Measuring the Economic Impact of Violent Extremism in Africa”, revealed the impact of terrorism in African countries, with Nigeria leading in terms of fatalities and economic loss.
According to the report, Nigeria lost $40.828 million in terms of the cost of fatalities and injuries, and lost an estimated $598.8 million in terms of cost of destruction of properties.
Meanwhile insecurity in Nigeria is of various dimensions and situational. In the North East the insecurity is perpetrated by extremist insurgents like Boko Haram and ISWAP, while in the North West and North Central you have the menace of bandits and killer herdsmen. In the South West you have armed robbery, kidnappers, ritualists and killer herdsmen, while in the South East there is the problem of armed robbery, kidnapping, killer herdsmen who also kidnap for ransom, separatist agitators and enforcers of illegal sit at home campaign by the outlawed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB). In the South South or Niger Delta despite the Amnesty Programme provided for Niger Delta militants, militancy still rages in the form of illegal oil bunkering, sea piracy, kidnapping, cultism, armed robbery and all forms of criminalities.
In the South East micro businesses lost an average of N4.618 trillion ($10.495 billion) in one year to the sit-at-home order that the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) imposed on the region, an ICIR investigation had shown, recently.
The enforcement of the sit-at-home order every Monday was an approach IPOB adopted to protest the Federal government’s continuous detention of its leader, Nnamdi Kanu. This and kidnapping, armed robbery and other forms of criminality had been of concern to the leaders in the region, including the state governors.
One governor that has shown uncommon resolve to address the insecurity is the governor of Abia State, Dr Alex Otti. It is not surprising, coming from the private sector where he was a bank chief, he understands the importance of security to the growth of business and attraction of investors both local and foreign.
It is to create an enabling environment for economic growth and posterity in Abia State which is known with the sobriquet ‘Japan of Africa’ that he had launched a new security initiative to keep Abia safe for business, investment and shared prosperity. Aba, the business hub of Abia and indeed the South East has suffered a lot due to insecurity. Aba as a major commercial centre attracts business from all parts of West Africa, but insecurity has hindered its growth. It is therefore commendable the initiative the governor has taken to tackle the insecurity.
Recently, the Abia State governor, Alex Otti, inaugurated a special security operation codenamed ‘Operation Crush’.
Speaking during the event held in Umuahia, Otti said, “Operation Crush is our strong and coordinated response to the lingering challenge of insecurity in parts of the state, which has made life nightmarish for many.
“Operation Crush is a joint task force with membership drawn from various security formations, including operatives of the Nigeria Police Force, the Nigerian Army, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, the Department of State Services and the Nigerian Navy.”
The governor said the launched Operation was to counter kidnapping, armed robbery and other forms of violent crimes.
“Special attention shall be paid to the flashpoints around communities within Umunneochi and Isuikwuato LGAs with a firm determination to identify and clear all criminal hideouts using the superiority of our arms and the operational expertise of the security personnel on this team,” Otti added.
Recalling that kidnappers and armed robbers had made economic and social activities almost impossible for thousands in those communities, Otti said, “We shall no longer share one inch of our territory with criminals and their sponsors.” He said criminals should leave Abia or be ready to be crushed.
“To be clear, while the security agents have been directed to be hard and unforgiving on the criminals, doing whatever is necessary to restore law and order, especially in the already identified flashpoints, they have also been reminded to guard against any form of exuberances that could result in the harassment of innocent citizens,” the governor stated. The Abia State Commissioner of Police, Kenechukwu Onwumelie, commended Otti for his commitment to ensuring security in the state.
The importance of security to economic development cannot be over emphasized. We are therefore solidly behind Governor Alex Otti in his quest to crush criminality and bring development to long suffering people of Abia State.