Confronting terrors of insecurity as threat to Nigeria’s existence
Terror activities in Nigeria have kept on leaving, behind the scene, the panic of insecurity. From all works of life, disruptions to meaningful activities have continued to record strains that would not be isolated from effects of drawbacks to development. That significant growth in Nigeria within the scale of macroscopic relevance may not have been taking tangible form, may not be unconnected with increasing vibrations of terror activities. Development profile a few years over a decade since terror activities took forceful heat, have seen narratives waxing gross with backward reflections. It would therefore be indisputable that the scourge of insecurity from extensive terror activities has left the Country with sordid narratives of degenerating conditions. From Socio-economic records to political dynamics, the narratives have only appeared to reflect ills of worsening deficiencies.
Tackling security challenges have remained an overwhelming subjects with wings of discords which have left the shore of superficial notations. The fight against terrorism is one which has become endless. Divergence of views on the subject of cause and effect relations have themselves been shrouded in controversies.
Tracing the roots of terrorism in the Country has come with disharmonious sensations which reflect a multifaceted dimension with compounding strains, reflecting no one factor can strictly be isolated as the cause. While certain factors have been noted to bear weighty force than others may, it remains that like other social problems, a number of factors have clustered to bring the Country under a scourge that seems not to be surrendering to appeals and the force of state instruments.
The combination of the terror of banditry, recently, to form another wing of terrorism have made narratives more clustered. The extensive patterns of the banditry scourge beyond the limit of the Boko-haram insurgency, brought-in a dimension of terror operations which have taken an aggressive overture, placing the Country on a heat of confusion.
Fighting the scourge has not seem to appear hopeful for many Nigerians, as the records of events have not shown enough grounds of victory on the part of State apparatus for conviction for citizens to get assurance of an imminent end to the storms. The fight by the military and the allied security forces, as state instruments of force, have not left a victory song before the Country. Rather, events that would put citizens under stronger cold of panic have been on tolls. Such would, among others, be those of accounts of onslaught on military base, ambushment of military and security forces. The effrontery to attack military base, dislodge military units and send warning of attacks to these architectures have reflected how emboldened the orientation of terror groups have become.
Most recently on Tuesday, May 10, 2022, soldiers of the 93 battalion, Takun, numbering up to six were killed when suspected terrorists/bandits ambushed a convoy conveying the Commanding Officer of the Battalion while on his way to Jalingo, Taraba. It was reported the soldiers killed during the ambush include one Staff Sergeant, two Sergeants, and three Lance Corporals. It was reported the ambush occured about 6.30am around Tati village. Report revealed that following the ambush, the whereabouts of the Commanding Officer, Lt. Col Okore could not be ascertained, leaving behind a suspicion that he might have been abducted.
Where incessant attacks and ambushment on the military keep taking recurring tolls, then the sensation of effrontery of terror bands have become so engrossed that fear of State instrument of force has been watered. Such flagrant display of offence is an assault on the State and a threat to the peaceful coexistence, which is a sine qua non for the continuous existence of the Federation as a political entity.
As the 2023 General Elections draw near, of topmost fear as a force that threatens the possibility of the election is terror-based insecurity drumbeats. Where insecurity has become a vocal threat to the conduct of a crucial process, as election which is the nerve of change of government – a focal principle of the democratic system – then it could not be too weighty to state that the existence of the Federation is threatened.
The need for the Government to rise in response to the storms of terror-propelled insecurity in this orientation has become of necessity to assume the posture of response which is commensurate to combat the prevailing discomfiture, against the subsisting posture which more or less appears imbecilic before the force of insecurity scourge.
