There’s nothing to write about the security situation in Nigeria that has not been written. And there’s nothing left to be said that has not been said.
What cannot be disputed is that there are many important things still left undone. It is in the area of strategic, if you like, proactive, actions that the federal government has failed. There are also many questions begging for answers. For instance, why would terrorists riding on motorcycles invade villages, attack defenseless citizens in broad daylight and kidnap dozens and escape without being apprehended by security forces?
How is that possible? How could that scenario be a regular occurrence in the northern theater of war? Why is it commonplace for our troops to be ambushed and killed by armed bandits and terrorists? How is it possible for rag-tag enemy forces to invade our cities, hit soft targets, and inflict heavy damage without resistance if there are no fifth columnists in the Nigerian army, who are working for the enemy?
The terror war appears to be dragging towards a stalemate because our armed forces seem unable to defeat the terrorists and the bandits.
When you see an abnormal situation like this, where the weaker force is proving difficult for the stronger, better-organized force to defeat, know that some people are profiting from the war and the terrible human suffering associated with it.
If the Boko Haram war and the growing banditry do not enrich certain individuals or promote the interests of a group, it would have ended a long time ago.
There are many interests that this war is serving. Those in charge of arms and ammunition procurements in
the Nigerian army and the military contractors are doing good business with this war, and to end it would hurt their interests.
The fanatics and their local affiliates in Nigeria, who are promoting the global jihadist agenda of ISIS and the Islamic State, are the backbone of the terror war and would do everything possible to keep it going.
Some northern politicians, who see Political Islam as an ideology to rally support for elective office, would not want this war to end.
There’s also the new objective of promoters of the global dominance of Islam as a sacred political philosophy. These elements combine to keep this war going.
It’s not correct to assume that President Muhammadu Buhari is unwilling to crush the terrorists. Obviously, he has done all he could, but sadly, his best is not enough. He is being sabotaged from within by a powerful network of Boko Haram sympathisers who have infiltrated the Nigerian government. Even former President Goodluck Jonathan had complained that the terrorists are not spirits. He knew from security reports that some elements within the government were working for the enemy.
President Buhari probably knows this fact even if he doesn’t publicly admit it. But because the traitors in government are benefitting from this war, they don’t want it to end.
Therefore, the urgent step to take is to look within and fish out the saboteurs. That’s the beginning of the hard road to victory. Our Intelligence operatives must first be screened to ensure that nobody in this vital agency has compromised. Then, modern equipment must be provided for operations.
Nowadays, the terror war has no boundaries; nations cooperate to rid the world of the greatest menace of the 21st century. Nigeria is in alliance with its neighbours on this difficult war, but we should now begin to seek help from superpowers because it’s clear that only a multilateral approach can win this war.
We need to enlist the direct support of developed nations because of the scope of this campaign. Terror organisations join forces to enhance operational capacity; we, too, must join forces with stronger nations who have the military capabilities to destroy powerful terrorist organisations like Boko Haram.
Let me point out at this juncture that Nigeria’s security challenges go beyond terrorism, banditry, and kidnapping for ransom. It has encompassed other critical areas like crude oil theft, money laundering, corruption, and political sabotage.
Each of the aforementioned areas poses a mortal threat to our corporate existence as a nation. For instance, it is estimated that 400,000 barrels of crude oil is stolen daily from our oil wells. God! How is that even possible?
Nigeria is bleeding profusely and nothing drastic is being done to stop it. Oil theft is a major security challenge because our economic life is at risk.It is a brand of terrorism. Like corruption,it takes a direct hit at the lifeblood of the Nigerian state.
We cannot survive for too long unless something is done urgently to address these infractions.
While terrorists hit at hard targets, oil thieves and corrupt elements hit at soft targets in our economic life. We cannot afford to allow our nation to recline into failure and total collapse in the hands of unpatriotic Nigerians whose gains bring us pains.Whether it is terrorism, economic corruption, mismanagement of resources, banditry or oil theft, they are the same. They achieve the same evil objective of destroying our country.
Nigerian farmlands have been taken over, virtually by terrorists, forcing farmers to abandon the farming communities. The consequences have been astronomical rise in food prices because of artificial scarcity induced by the ensuing security problem.
Food prices have gone off the roof. When food crisis is added to the myraid of problems facing Nigeria, including disunity, communal clashes, etc., you know we’re in very precarious situation.We need a prompt response from people who know exactly how to engender a comprehensive turnaround of situations like this.
Nigeria must survive.All those who are jostling for power in 2023,I mean the Presidential candidates, have not told us how to address these problems. None of the candidates has given us a hint of his understanding of the dire situation we are in and how to resolve it.
What we hear are sweeping statements about issues that do not throw up specific solutions, or give a glimmer of hope that our future rulers are up to the task.
We definitely cannot afford another four years of this paralysis.
Ayodeji is a life coach, pastor and activist. He can be reached on 09059243004(WhatsApp only), and ladibest16@gmail.com.
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