Insecurity: Attending to formations of security threats by defining networks of operational architectures
The collision of myriads of threatening security formations, ravaging the Nigerian society has heightened to become an albatross. Travellers along the Kaduna-Abuja road Friday afternoon, would have no doubt been cut in fear when report that the route has been overtaken by bandits came forth. Former Kaduna Senator, Shehu Sani, in a tweet on Friday had advised Nigerians to take caution while plying Kaduna-Abuja road, giving intelligence that bandits have blocked the the route, shooting sporadically on air. He had tweeted: “I have just got a call that Bandits have blocked the Kaduna Abuja road, in between Jere and Katari village in this broad daylight. Scores of people were kidnapped while many have made a fast u-turn in the face of gunshots.”
Report of tension in Benue State spread to the air again on Friday, following the report of killings of no fewer than 42 persons on Thursday by suspected armed herdsmen in Katsina-Ala and Gwer West Local Government Areas, Local Government Areas (LGAs) of Benue state. It was reported that 36 of the victims whose corpses have been recovered were killed in Katsina-Ala while six others were murdered at Gwer West LGA. It was reported that most of the 36 persons found dead after the attack were butchered like animals which is the observed style by which the mischievous elements gruesomely slaughter their victims. Questions as to whether the victims were students of the College of Education Katsina-Ala or not have become secondary, when thought is given to the fact that lives were involved. Hence, whether students or no students, life is sacrosanct and irreplaceable.
The attack which reportedly left several persons injured and some missing, is trailing a similar last week attack which claimed over 100 lives in four Council Wards of the same Katsina-Ala LGA. Similarly, confirmed reports from Security agencies revealed on Friday that armed bandits invaded also Na’ikko village in Giwa LGA of Kaduna state were attempts by community volunteers to engage the bandits in a gun duel left three dead. Another report had account of armed bandits who invaded Dakyauro village, Sabon Birni, Igabi LGA where they killed four persons after rustling about 25 cows. Also was yet another report of bandit attack at Ungwan Ayaba in Chikun LGA, Kaduna, where a community leader named, Dauda Adamu, was killed by bandits. Same in Kaduna, it was also reported that Armed bandits had invaded farmlands on the outskirts of Gigani village, Kerawa, Igabi LGA and rustled about 14 bulls being used by farmers to plough the land.
The economic and human losses compounding from the menace of banditry, herdsmen attacks and terrorism are strings which are forcefully pushing the Country to her kneels in the face of turbulence. It is paramount for reason to be given to the heightening spate of insecurity threats in the Country. Emphatically, the escapades of nomads which across several communities have displaced many farming settlements and rendered several communities in the web of fear, panic and chaos, is an albatross that has come to vitiate the Country with ravaging economic, socio-political and cultural impacts. It is commonsensical that coexistence can only rationally yield the fruit of development by drawing results from peaceful communal cohabitation under a tranquil setting, when contributory efforts complement together towards growth. Social impacts of the menace of insecurity in the Country, have only yielded a society ridden with sorrows as many continue to have their relatives fall victim of woes of insecurity. The multiplier effects thereof is the collision of aggression and angered disposition to communal living; a syndrome which only would raise strings that are counterproductive to humane atmosphere where citizens cohabit with sensibilities of honesty, loyalty, peace, love, kindness and brotherhood disposition.
It is indisputable that living under such atmosphere would only be a facade where several menaces brewing winds of gruesome attacks leading to killings, maiming, wanton destruction of properties, displacement and attendant strings are giving expression to an anarchic state of nation. It is essential for the Government at all levels to work harmoniously to address the prevailing menaces of insecurity in the Country. Since the subject of insecurity has assumed dimensional patterns with several wings of threat components, it is essential for the Government of the Federation to come to terms with the Federating components (States) to develop a responsive system with overarching structures blending under it, well defined operations which would find profound definitions to respond firmly to each composition of security threat — such as banditry, terrorism, robbery and kidnapping among others — in their peculiar formations. This is important to forcefully and strategically draw a networking system of overarching definitions under which responsive operations would in the collective end result to relegating all arms of insecurity formations across the Federation.
