I came online yesterday to read news of the death of Iniobong Umoren. The young lady who was kidnapped, raped and killed when she went for a ‘job interview’. I was so sad, I lost interest in the Arsenal game I was watching. I have never been this distraught about the death of someone I did not know because she did not deserve this.
All She wanted was a job.
Over the past few weeks, the entire Nigeria has become really unsafe for both men and women but mostly women. Violent crimes like assault, armed robbery, kidnaping, rape and murder are all over the place leaving Nigerians with suffering, sadness and loss.
Nigeria has been fighting terrorism in the North East of Nigeria since 2009 and quite frankly, until the Nigerian Armed Forces fish out and get rid of the moles and saboteurs within their ranks especially the Senior Officers who give out information to Boko Haram and ISWAP, 20 years from now our armed forces rank and file will still be running around chasing Islamic extremists in the Sahel of Northern Nigeria.
Kidnappings have sadly officially become a source of income for bandits especially in the North Central and Middle Belt areas of the Country. On the 20th of April, at least 23 students of Greenfield University were kidnapped at Chikun LGA, Kaduna. The kidnappers have since killed 5 students in order to force the Kaduna State Government to pay a 800m Naira ransom. When kidnappings first emerged the state governments and Police were always too quick and willing to pay ransoms. I knew from then we were digging our own graves. Now it has become a full blown business. Kidnap soft targets, kill one or two, collect a hefty ransom. Rinse and repeat!
With heightened insecurity, we expect our security agencies to rise to the occasion but sadly our security agencies are clearly not equipped, motivated or trained well enough to confront these security challenges on all fronts. They always appear clueless and unable to tell the difference between 6 and half dozen. The Police, Armed Forces, DSS etc have the numbers but numbers do not win a war, motivated men and women do.
Last week, USA, UK, Canada and Australia all placed Nigeria on high security alert level 3. To place this in proper perspective, countries like Afghanistan, Yemen and Iraq are on level 4. This is how bad the insecurity has become. Western Countries advise their citizens to ‘reconsider’ travel plans to Nigeria placing cities like Lagos, Akwa Ibom, Delta under high level of threats due to violent crimes.
But here's the gist, Nigeria has ALWAYS been unsafe. The violence and attacks are getting into the faces of many of us now so we are forced to take note. Last month, the Nigerian Bureau of Statistics released unemployment figures at 33.33% of the population. This translates to over 30 million + Nigerians who do not have any means of livelihood. Go on the streets of Lagos, Abuja, Edo, Akwa Ibom, Ogun and Delta states and see the scores of jobless youths roaming about. This is a disaster waiting to happen.
It is my hope that the Police will rise up to these challenges. Mop up light and locally made arms in and around the major cities of the country and the DSS does its most basic role which is gather enough actionable intelligence to enable the Armed Forces and Police neutralize camps and hideouts of kidnappers.
Crime at its most basic form, is as a result of economic failure. A gainfully employed individual will be less disposed to crime and destructive behavior. Simply put, if you want to solve crime and insecurity, provide the means and environment for gainful employment.
