By Emmanuella Oghenetega
Insecurity in Nigeria, especially as it concerns the recent escalation in the North has been an insurmountable problem that the Government has shown that it is incapacitated, in giving a permanent solution.
Citizenries cannot help but wonder why there seems to be an increase in the banditry attacks and moreso, even more frequent since the announcement by the President of the United State, Donald Trump.
If you recall, Donald Trump in recent times threatened to carry out attacks in Nigeria in response to purported anti-Christian genocidal attacks, saying he has instructed the recently renamed Department of War to “prepare for possible action”. This statement sparked global reactions, and speculations from Nigerian citizens.
Although a delegation led by the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, was sent by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and met with Senior Officials across the US Congress, the White House Faith Office, the State Department, the National Security Council, and the Department of War; with the task to seek ways to strengthen security partnerships between the two countries and open new avenues for cooperation to protect Nigerian citizens, these, kidnappings have continued.
The Pointernewspaper sought to get the reaction of Stakeholders in the society, as to what fellow Nigerians are saying; where some made comparisons to the nefarious activities of the Boko Haram sect; a group alleged to have been reportedly used by some local politicians as a political militia to gain votes and intimidate opponents, highlighting the deep intersection of the group’s origins with local power struggles and which refers to itself as “Jama‘atu Ahl as-Sunnah li-Da‘awati wal-Jihad” and escalated into a full-scale insurgency in 2009.
Emmanuel Omokiniovo, a social commentator and political activist in Nigeria, in his reaction to the recent Banditry, suggested that the recent attacks were political, “just like the Boko Haram ”
According to him, although Nigeria has faced insecurity problems, the attacks seems to have only increased since the announcement by President Trump, saying that “these kidnappings only seemed to have escalated after the announcement by Trump, could it be that the Government in trying to boost confidence of Nigerians in the security, orchestrated these attacks, because there are so many questions.
“Because how possible is it that these miscreants decided to release the kidnapped victims just like that. Where are the people that were arrested? Why was no arrest made? If they can release these one’s then why was the case different with Venerable Edwin Achi, the Anglican priest from the Kaduna State, who was kidnapped by terrorists and other individuals who were kidnapped?”
“The Nigerian Government needs to be sincere, they can not continue to treat us like we are fools. They should stop playing games with the lives of the Citizens, and tell us exactly what is going on, make arrest, parade these criminals and ensure they are rightly brought to book, not all these they are doing, we are not fools.”
The CSP Benjamin Hundyin, Force Public Relations Officer, Force Headquarters, speaking via a telephone Interview, on the efforts put in place to tighten security, said, “As you can see, the people that were kidnapped in Kwara have been released, as you can also see the IGP was in Kebbi State to have a meeting with security commanders towards ensuring that the people that were kidnapped are released, he was also in Niger State to ensure that the students that were kidnapped are also released, so the IGP is not resting, he’s not taking it likely, he has visited these places and charged the officers to be up and doing and we’re working, we are getting closer to arresting the kidnappers and we’re also doing advocacy. We are telling community members to also join hands with the police, to say something when suspicious gatherings are seen.”
Asked on his take on why the kidnapping increased only after the statement by US President, Donald Trump, with others viewing it of being politically orchestrated, he said, “Well I don’t make comments on political matters, I only make comments on security matters, so I decline answering that question, put it in your report that I declined to answer that question. Our own is that we are doing everything possible to ensure that kidnappers are arrested and that subsequent kidnappings are forstopped through information from members of the public that would help us prevent the attacks.”
Asked to disclose what victims may have revealed to be the reason for their kidnap, his response was; “Well investigation is still ongoing, and for that reason there is a limit to the information that i can give about the case. We don’t talk about ongoing investigation so that we do not jeopardise investigation, so I can not give any further details until investigations have been concluded and then a statement can be issued to tell you all of our findings.”
The Police PRO Kwara State, also speaking via a telephone interview, on the efforts been made by the Kwara State Police Force to tighten security, said, “We are working tirelessly to make sure that we get rid of these miscreants. We were not having cases of kidnapping or banditry in the past. All these is something that just started all of a sudden and then I would say it would be as a result of inflow of these criminal elements from neighboring states, but we will not allow them to continue to perpetrate heinous crimes in the state. And as a result, the police alongside, other security agencies are working tirelessly, to make sure that we meet to discuss issues bothering especially on kidnapping banditry and cattle rustling.
“And then have been able to achieve success in this regard, because there are cases of kidnapping that we have had in the past, we were able to rescue victims involved and also make arrests and investigate those arrested or in connection with kidnapping incidents and we have several that have been charged to court and even been remanded in our Correctional Facility.”
Commenting on the increase in kidnapping since Trump’s announcement especially in kwara and Kogi, she revealed that, “We have more visibility policy, we have several of our police personels that have been deployed to these black spots or troubled areas and affected communities, and we have special teams like the SWAT, the Special Weapon and Tactics Squad, we have the SIS, the IRT, those who will be in charge of gathering intelligence report, all of these put together, and the military has also done their deployment, and we are also working collaboratively with the local vigilante, because these are the people that know the terrain even more than police personnels, so we are working collaboratively with them.
“And so we are able to achieve success, couple with the fact that we have cooperation of communities who always gives the necessary information that we need to work. You know, we always say if you see something, you say something. Well the good people of kwara have been cooperating, when it comes to that aspect and that is why it has made policing a bit easier for us.”
Also speaking the Country Director of ActionAid Nigeria, stated that “Linking the recent surge in kidnappings to any single political statement whether from President Trump or anyone else oversimplifies a far deeper, longstanding crisis.
“Nigeria’s insecurity has been years in the making. It is the result of structural weaknesses, intelligence gaps, the unchecked growth of armed groups, and the persistent failure to invest in community protection and school safety.
“What we are witnessing today in Kwara and Kebbi did not begin with any comment from abroad. These attacks are part of a long pattern of deliberate violence against children and educational institutions stretching back from Chibok to Dapchi and now to these devastating tragedies. Our focus should not be on external rhetoric, but on the urgent need for internal accountability and decisive action.
“Whether or not anyone abroad makes a statement, the Nigerian government has an constitutional, moral, and humanitarian obligation to protect its citizens.
“We cannot outsource blame. We cannot allow our national security to be so fragile that a single remark from outside the country triggers chaos.
“The real issue is this: armed groups have become emboldened because our systems have failed to deter them. Until we strengthen intelligence coordination, secure our schools, reinforce local policing structures, and ensure swift prosecution of perpetrators, these tragedies will continue.
“So, to be clear, I do not attribute these kidnappings to Trump’s statement. I attribute them to the long-standing security lapses that we have refused to confront with the urgency they demand.
“Right now, the priority is rescuing the abducted children, securing every school in Nigeria, and restoring the confidence of families who are living in fear.
“The President and all security agencies must act immediately and decisively. Our children deserve safety not excuses, not debates, and certainly not political distractions.”
