People from the Northern part of Nigeria have been victims of attacks and killings by bandits, which keep on rising. Similarly, the people have been suffering from kidnappings. Although efforts have been made to curb these maladies, there is a need to step it.
Since President Buhari took over the mantle of leadership in 2015, his administration has claimed, in a number of events, that Boko Haram insurgents have been technically defeated in the Northeastern part of Nigeria. This is far from the truth.
It is expedient to set the records straight that hitherto the emergence of Muhammadu Buhari as President of Nigeria, the Boko Haram insurgents had taken over many local government areas of Borno State, a small chunk of Yobe State and some parts of Adamawa State. Tens of thousands of people have lost their lives and others displaced from their own homes.
When President Buhari came on board, series of attacks and counter-attacks were launched against the terrorists with assistance from other neighbouring countries such as Chad, Cameroon and Niger.
Although there are records of security achievements of the Nigerian Armed Forces in their fight against terrorism, banditry and kidnappings, the current state of the nation’s security shows more needs to be done.
The spate of these brutal acts of terrorism and banditry nowadays is sadly on the rise. The recent gruesome killings of innocent rice farmers at Zabarmari in Borno State, the abduction of 35 commuters along Damaturu-Maiduguri highway, the Abuja-Kaduna road and the abduction of over 300 schoolboys at Kankara in Katsina State are part of a long list of security challenges facing the nation.
New security tactics, sophisticated weapons, adequate funding of security agencies and new effective policies on security are some of the ways to curtail the activities of these criminals.
Kasim Isa Muhammad writes from Potiskum, Yobe State
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