Nigeria has earned a notorious reputation for unchecked violence and murderous mayhem, perpetuated by non-state actors who seem to operate with impunity.
The latest report from the Observatory of Religious Freedom in Africa (ORFA) paints a grim picture: 55,910 civilians killed between October 2019 and September 2023, with 81 percent of these deaths occurring on land, mostly at the hands of Fulani Ethnic Militia, Boko Haram, ISWAP, and other groups.
The North-Central region has borne the brunt of this violence, with 3,007 incidents of extreme violence, resulting in 2,010 killings, 700 abductions, and 297 incidents of killings and kidnappings.
The report highlights the government’s failure to address this scourge, focusing instead on the North-East and North-West, leaving other zones vulnerable to intrusion and massacres.
President Bola Tinubu, National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu, and the Service Chiefs must take decisive action to end this siege.
Although the researchers concentrated on the North-Central and Southern Kaduna regions, they expressed concern that the government had primarily focused its efforts on addressing violence in the North-East and North-West, leaving other areas vulnerable to attacks and massacres.
Nigerians across the country are caught in the crossfire of various threats, including Islamic insurgents, secessionists, bandits, violent herdsmen, and other criminals. The nation is surrounded by violent groups, leaving citizens in constant fear.
Recent data from Beacon Security and Intelligence highlights this dire situation. Their report shows that in the first quarter of the year, 2,583 people were killed and 2,164 were abducted, with over 80 percent of the killings and 94 percent of the abductions occurring in the North.
Despite claims by Ribadu that incidents of killings and abductions had decreased, Beacon Security and Intelligence’s data reveals an average of 28 killings and 24 kidnappings per day.
This illustrates the severe challenges Nigerians face amidst socioeconomic difficulties exacerbated by the policies of the Tinubu administration.
The Nigerian government has not done its primary responsibility to safeguard the lives and properties of law-abiding citizens from marauding violent groups and individuals. This dereliction of duty has had far-reaching consequences, including food insecurity, displacement from homelands, malnutrition, a surge in out-of-school children, and gross underdevelopment.
The country’s ranking in the 2024 Fragile States Index is a stark reminder of this. Nigeria is positioned 15th, scoring a dismal 96.6, alongside war-torn nations like Libya, Guinea, Zimbabwe, Niger, and Cameroon. The root of insecurity in Nigeria lies in poverty, unemployment, and lack of education, which create fertile breeding grounds for extremism and violence. It is futile to rely solely on military or police responses to address these symptoms without tackling the underlying causes. The government must adopt a holistic approach that prioritises education, economic empowerment, and social welfare to mitigate the drivers of insecurity.
Until then, Nigeria will continue to languish in the ranks of fragile states, and its citizens will remain vulnerable to violence and displacement. The government must act now to address the root causes of insecurity and fulfil its primal duty to protect its citizens. The time for excuses is over; it is time for action.
In the long term, the Tinubu administration should invest in comprehensive social programmes to alleviate poverty and provide opportunities for the youth. This should be coupled with an emphasis on education, particularly in conflict-prone areas, to counter radical ideologies and provide alternatives to those who might otherwise be drawn into criminal activities.
Those who perpetrate violence should be punished. The current reign of impunity emboldens criminals, as they believe they can act without consequences. Swift and fair trials, coupled with stringent penalties, will serve as a deterrent to those who might consider taking up arms against innocent citizens.
Nigeria needs to address the porous nature of its borders by strengthening partnerships with neighbouring countries and international organisations to combat cross-border terrorism and arms smuggling. Enhanced intelligence sharing and joint military operations are crucial for reducing the flow of weapons and insurgents into the country. Seeking additional support from global partners for technology, training, and funding will further bolster Nigeria’s security agencies.
Citizens should actively report information to security agencies to support effective intelligence gathering.
The government must prioritise its fundamental duty: protecting the lives and property of its citizens. The issue of a single police force contributes to the problem; thus, President Tinubu should initiate the process of establishing state police forces. While the path to a secure Nigeria is challenging, it is achievable.
It is unacceptable for civilians to suffer while perpetrators of violence remain unpunished. The government needs to develop a comprehensive plan to tackle violence, ensure accountability, and provide justice and support to victims and their families.
The time for rhetoric is over; Nigeria needs action. The international community is watching, and the people demand justice. We call on the Federal Government to take immediate and decisive action to end this bloodshed and restore peace to Nigeria’s killing fields.