FIGHTING INSURGENCY IN NIGERIA FOR THE GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT OF THE COUNTRY

WRITER: OLAYINKA ALAYA

TOPIC: FIGHTING INSURGENCY IN NIGERIA FOR THE GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT OF THE COUNTRY

 

It is pertinent to note that at this moment of the nationhood, the issue of security has become a problematic issue in Nigeria, especially with the activities of the dreaded Boko Haram sects which could be traced back to the year two thousand and nine.

In fact, the type of insecurity sweeping through Nigeria today can be termed a dimension of terrorism. It is worthy to note that members of the Boko Haram sect may bear Muslim names, indeed, they may be fundamentalists but they definitely are not fighting the cause of Islam. Islam as a religion condemned gruesome killings of innocent lives or any human being as such person that kills innocent life will be subjected to hell fire by Allah.

Insecurity facing Nigeria today goes beyond the acts that involve destruction of lives and property accompanied by bombings by the Boko Haram sect. There is kidnapping, arson, food insecurity, hoodlums who terrorize innocent Nigerians, through such acts as rape, robbery.

One of the cardinal duties of a legal government is to ensure the security of lives and property. Once a government fails to ensure this cardinal duty, such government is said to fail. Many foreign heads of government or Presidents had resigned because they failed to ensure security of their people. Recently, the Prime Minister of South Korea, Chung Hong Won resigned as a result of the Ferry containing students that capsized.

Series of bombings have been taking place in different places in Nigeria with the recent bombings that took place in Nyanya, a suburb of Abuja where many people lost their lives, while several sustained injuries. Many Nigerians may want to know the reason why those in charge of the country's security starting from the President, the National Security Adviser, Minister of Defense, Chief of Defense Staff, down to the Security Chiefs of various security forces have not been able to address the situation.

Recently, over two hundred School girls were kidnapped by the Boko Haram sect in Chibok with no sign of their whereabouts. The situation has led to protests in all parts of the country, especially in Abuja, Lagos, Borno, Kwara, Osun and some parts of the country with young and old women and men carrying placards with different inscriptions such as "BringBackOurGirls", "This is terrorism, not Islam", "Rescue Our Girls", " The Girls don't deserve this", "Protect Our Schools", "Protect Our borders if not Seal them". This portends serious danger to the country called the giant of Africa.

The Leader of the terrorist sect, Boko Haram, Abubakar Shekau, in a video claimed responsibility for the seizure of the girls and threatened to sell off the abducted girls. He said the girls were captured because they were seeking Western education.

This questionable act of darkness had thrown the country of over one hundred and seventy million people into confusion and sorrow. It however raises questions on why it takes all the security forces of Nigeria long to rescue the girls. Indeed, this issue calls for the support of the international bodies, the Five World most powerful countries to come to the aide of Nigeria not by saying it on the media but by action in order to rescue the missing girls and put an end to the activities of the terrorists.

Our government should demonstrate and show high spirit with sense of responsibility to address the issue of insecurity bedeviling the nation because it is only through peace and tranquility that growth and development can exist.

Therefore, Let us join hands to fight these common challenges. It is in our interest as a country to be peaceful and prosper. We have no other country to call our own.

       Politicians and all Nigerians should always put Nigeria first, forget their differences when the issue of security of Nigeria is at stake.

Perhaps, our politicians can learn some lessons from America. Whenever election is around the corner, they identify themselves as Democrats and Republicans. But as soon as election is over, they will identify themselves as Americans.

Nigerian politicians will always be politicians, but they should not be destructive. They shouldn't religionize politics or play politics with our security. They should put the wellbeing and lives of the people first in all they do.

The government should not be daunted by this situation and the violence being unleashed on the country. Nigeria is a great country, if we come together as one, God will fight for us and all our problems would be a forgone issue.