Over the past few months, there has been a reign of terror in the North Central States by intransigent terrorists determined to render the entire region desolate. Recent findings revealed that the resurgence of banditry, kidnapping, and insurgency in the six states within the zone, including the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), has claimed over 1,200 lives. This has significantly crippled activities in agriculture, tourism, and the hospitality industry, among others in the region. In fact, farmers have become endangered (as they are the targeted victims), schools shut down and about 45 million Nigerians have suffered greatly as more people escape to neighbouring regions in search of peace. The criminal elements made highways along the axis a snare for abductions, and nearly turned the food basket of the nation, Benue State, to a massive graveyard with their ceaseless killings of the residents therein. Not even the seat of power was spared as there were reported incidents of security breaches in the Federal Capital Territory with bewildering statistics of kidnapping and murder.

A major implication of the heightened insecurity in the North-Central geopolitical zone is a shortfall in food production countrywide. Also, the internally generated revenue of the affected states has been greatly depleted due to a decline in economic activities. Equally worrisome, is the staggering number of children that are now out-of-school and displaced residents. The sole beneficiaries of the uprising are the criminals and their cronies who have been feeding fat on ransom paid by abductees’ relatives and levies collected from gold and lithium mining. Indeed, violent crimes such as terrorism, banditry, and kidnapping have become a thriving industry for murderous sociopaths.

Having held sway in the northeast for well over a decade, the insurgents decided to test the waters in the centre of the North. Perhaps, their decision may have been influenced by the soft, and almost empathetic, counter-terrorism strategy of the immediate past administration. The situation in North-Central nosedived to the extent that even some military officers keeping watch over the region have fallen to the swords of the men of the underworld. In August, about 36 Army personnel were killed in Niger State and a helicopter belonging to the Nigerian Air Force on an evacuation mission in the State was reportedly shot down by insurgents.

Reacting to the ravaging security challenge, the Director of Civil Liberty Organisation (CLO), North Central, Comrade Steve Aluko–Daniel, admonished the government to bear its pangs and go all out against the terrorists. Also, security experts have recommended community policing and a more robust synergy among established Armed Forces, Police, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), and other security agencies. Other critical stakeholders have called for the strengthening of military operations, such as Operation Rainbow in Plateau State, to restore peace and order in the region.

Whilst there is convergence of opinions that military action be adopted, however, Governor Mohammed Umar Bago of Niger State (a state that is incidentally the hotbed of banditry) believes that negotiation should first be explored before exploring other measures. Not only does this suggestion appear to offer a soft landing for vile murderers, but a similar strategy adopted by the Federal Government (such as Operation Safe Haven) has woefully defeated the intended objective of rehabilitating the insurgents as the terrorism still rages on in the North.

Nothing can be more pretentious than to imply that a group of people levying war against the State, and who ordinarily should be standing trial for treason, should be given a pat on the back and told to “go and sin no more” without any atom of consideration for the victims of their atrocities. What then is the essence of justice? It is clear that unless the wings of these criminals are completely clipped, they will definitely extend their reign of terror to other parts of the federation. The carnage at St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church, Owo, Ondo State, in 2022 indicates what is in stock for the nation if the insurgency is not nipped in the bud.

A cursory appraisal of the situation gives the impression that there may never be an end to terrorism in Nigeria. However, the truth is that terrorism has thrived mainly due to a lack of political will to curb it frontally. Fortunately, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in his Action Plan tagged: “Renewed Hope 2023,” acknowledged that: “The fundamental responsibility of the government is to protect the lives and property of its citizens.” Consequently, he pledged to: “mobilise the totality of our national security, military, and law enforcement assets to protect all Nigerians from danger and from the fear of danger.” President Tinubu should live up to this undertaking by ensuring that security saboteurs spread across the country are decimated.

The newly appointed service chiefs have equally reiterated the position of the current government to fight terrorism and similar vices to a standstill. Lieutenant General Taoreed Lagbaja, the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), assured Nigerians that the army is working to improve the capability of various support elements towards combating insurgency across the country. He affirmed confidence in the capability of the military to successfully combat the complex, multifaceted, and unpredictable security threats bedevilling our country, alongside other security agencies. True to his words, the military has commenced deploying considerable force in fighting both bandits and insurgents in the North-Central region. Due to the ongoing onslaught, bandits are fleeing the forests and releasing abductees. It is gathered that some of the farmers abducted about five months ago around Kaffin Korro, Munya and some parts of Shiroro are being released. This aggressive measure is commendable and should be sustained until terrorism and banditry are wiped out and normalcy is restored to the affected communities. The establishment of the Schools Protection Squad (SPS) by the Police Force aimed at enhancing security and safety in educational institutions across Nigeria is also laudable.

While the security and welfare of the people remain the primary purpose of government, however, as rightly noted by the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, “The security and stability of our nation is the sacred and collective responsibility of all Nigerians.” That is to say, security is everybody’s business. In this regard, traditional rulers, vigilante groups, and the locals should complement the efforts of security outfits by providing relevant intelligence. Also, state governments should ensure proper disbursement of security votes and provide the necessary support to security agencies. For Nigeria to be completely rid of terrorism and banditry, all hands must be on deck!

•PHOTO: [FILES] Security personnel stand guard in the Kukawa Village in the Kanam Local Government Area of the Plateau state on April 12, 2022 after resident’s houses were burnt down during an attack by bandits. – (Photo by AFP)

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