Addressing the Issue of Insecurity: Further Steps to Consider, by Adekunle Adekoya

The past week has been a harrowing experience, marked by a relentless wave of terror that has left the nation reeling, with the week ending today being a stark reminder of the chaos that has engulfed the country.

The week began with the gruesome killing of three Federal Road Safety Commission officers in Kebbi State, an incident that set the tone for the carnage that was to follow, including a clash between soldiers, policemen, and youths in Emede community, Isoko South Local Government Area of Delta State, which resulted in loss of life and destruction of property.

In a shocking twist, 50 elders from Zamfara State were kidnapped while on a mission to broker peace with a notorious gang leader, only to be abducted by another terror kingpin, Jammo, highlighting the complexity of the security situation in the region.

Meanwhile, a rescue operation in Ngoshe led to the release of 416 captives, with 11 more being freed later, offering a glimmer of hope in an otherwise bleak landscape.

However, Wednesday's attack on a school in Iluke Bunu, Kabba/Bunu Local Government Area, which left the vice principal and two others dead, sent shockwaves across the nation, underscoring the need for urgent action to address the security crisis.

The attack could have been worse if not for the proactive measures taken by the DPO in charge of the area, who prevented further loss of life, but the incident still served as a stark reminder of the government's struggles to secure lives and property.

The repeated terrorist attacks have sparked widespread conversations, with many asking what more can be done to address the crisis, and whether the government is doing all it can to utilize its resources and powers to combat the threat.

As an institution, the government is expected to have exclusive use of coercive power, including armed force, with countries like Nigeria having armed forces on land, air, and water, but the recent experience in Nigeria suggests that non-state actors are competing effectively with the government in terms of firepower and influence.

Nigeria's history of intervening in regional conflicts, such as in Liberia and Sierra Leone, and its ability to extradite suspects like Nnamdi Kanu, raises questions about its capacity to deal with internal security threats like Boko Haram and kidnapping, prompting concerns about whether all available resources are being utilized.

The ease with which ransom demands are made and paid using mobile lines, without being tracked, is a puzzle, given the availability of location-tracking technology like Google Earth and Google Location Services, which can be used to pinpoint the source of calls.

The use of technology in modern conflict, as seen in the US/Israel-Iran conflict, highlights the potential for integrating location software into the battle against terrorists and bandits, but it remains to be seen whether Nigeria is leveraging such capabilities.

Late General Sani Abacha's words, that if insurgency lasts more than 24 hours, those in authority must know about it, still resonate, and there have been reports of troops being ordered to hold back from pursuing bandits, as well as negotiators and others benefiting from ransom payments.

These allegations suggest a cyclical industry of kidnapping, ransom, and release, with some individuals and groups profiting from the crisis, and there have been cases of people being arrested and tried for colluding with bandits, including informants, suppliers, and even family members of terrorists.

The case of the Sarkin Fulani in Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State, whose son was involved in kidnapping and later implicated him, highlights the need for collective action to address the crisis, and the Ooni of Ife has suggested looking to cultural solutions, while Afenifere has called for self-defence in the South-West region.

Ultimately, finding sustainable solutions to the problem is crucial, as the status quo is untenable, and the nation cannot continue to hope that the problem will resolve itself, as the search for answers continues.