Bandits
In the past two months, the violent non state actors siege on Nigeria has not only heightened but has raised further questions about the preparedness and willingness of the federal government to tackle the challenge.
It is disquieting that the federal government has not shown enough evidence of having a handle on the fight against those behind incessant bloodletting going on in parts of the country.
Beyond perfunctory statement of condemnation coming from presidential spokespersons everytime incidence of killing is reported nothing serious has been done to stem the tide.
Of recent, Boko Haram has renewed its violent manifestation in Borno even when the federal government thought it had been defeated with deadly attacks reported in many areas of the state.
This untoward and worrying development has further ricocheted in Plateau, Benue, Niger, Edo and Ondo states among others.
It was a bit worrisome that when the president was away in Paris these attacks intensified, and more worrisome that the president did not deem it fit to return to address the challenge. It would seem this has sent a wrong signal to not only Nigerians but international community about the preparedness of the government to take with utmost seriousness the fight against Fulani herdsmen widely believed to be behind these henoius crimes.
It was only expected that when the National Economic Council on Thursday met that the issue of insecurity would occupy the centre stage but that seemed not to be the case as the NEC deferred talks on state police until its next meeting, amidst the violent attacks and bloodshed in parts of the country.
It was learnt that at the council’s 149th meeting at the Aso Rock Villa the issue of insecurity was on the agenda, but it could not be discussed in detail as it was still far down on the list.
“State police was part of our agenda today, but unfortunately, because of time demands, and after a very long meeting, we have been there for a very long time now, the presentations could not get to that point. So, I assure you that in our next meeting, that issue will be exhaustively discussed,” the governor Diri of Bayelsa explained to state house correspondents after the nearly four-hour meeting.
Although the governor did not specify when the next council meeting will be, NEC meetings are held on the last Thursday of the month.
However, the gathering has been infrequent in the last couple of months. Since its meeting in December, the council has not discussed the much-anticipated reform.
Although all 36 states had submitted reports supporting a decentralised police force, the NEC deferred discussions until January 2025.
The council only sat in February where it said the matter was not discussed.
During the meeting, the governors observed a minute of silence to honour those killed in the recent wave of attacks in Plateau, Benue, Borno and Enugu States.
Meanwhile, the Nigerian Governors’ Forum has emphasised the need for increased recruitment into security agencies and the adoption of technology-driven solutions to tackle killings at the state level.
The forum, led by Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, made this known in a communiqué read by Imo State Governor Hope Uzodinma following their meeting early Thursday morning in Abuja.
He stated that, as an immediate step to address the surge in killings in parts of the country, the Governors have set up a committee to collaborate with security agency heads on a joint strategy.
Since the reported killing of at least 15 people on March 9 in a series of renewed attacks by suspected herdsmen in the Katsina-Ala Local Government Area of Benue State, more lives have been lost in a wave of attacks on various communities.
On April 14, an attack on Zike hamlet, Kimakpa community, within the Kwall District of Irigwe Chiefdom, Bassa Local Government Area, Plateau State, resulted in the deaths of at least 52 individuals, including a family of eight, with many properties torched.
In response, the 36 state governors called for swift action and urged security agencies to confront the security challenges directly.
The Imo governor said, “The forum received a presentation from the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, on an innovative security initiative aimed at strengthening national and subnational capacity for early threat detection and coordinated response.
“The project envisions the phased deployment of advanced technology and infrastructure to improve surveillance, crisis management, and public safety. Governors expressed support for the initiative’s objectives and underscored the importance of technology-driven solutions in addressing evolving security challenges at the state level.
“The forum set up a sub-committee of the Nigeria Governors Forum to work with heads of security agencies on a collaborative approach for immediate solutions.’’
Although NATIONAL WAVES views with grave disappointment that the NEC did not consider insecurity grave enough to be discussed at the Thursday meeting in spite of ongoing bloodletting by Boko Haram, herdsmen and other non state actors, it commends President Tinubu for directing an immediate and comprehensive overhaul of national security strategies, demanding urgent action to end the escalating violence in Borno, Benue, Plateau and Kwara states.
Recall that Tinubu during his meeting with security chiefs at the State House in Abuja said the killing of innocent people in Borno, Benue and Plateau States must cease.
“Enough is enough,” President Tinubu declared as he once again condemned the senseless targeting of innocent Nigerians.
