Nigeria is underestimating its enemies

Last week, I was glad to see the news of our resilient and skilled pilot who did not only survive a plane crash, but also applied survival mechanisms and unmatched experience to escape from the people who shot down his plane.

Nevertheless, I have been in serious thought over the issue. I have been wondering how on earth the bandits acquired the expertise and machinery to shoot down an alpha jet. Should we still be calling these people bandits?

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These criminals have technically taken over the North- West.

They are getting stronger by the day and they must be dealt with immediately.

In some of the school abductions, the kidnappers overran security check points with superior fire power. Recently, a picture emerged of slain police officers including a Divisional Police Officer, who were killed while fighting to protect the lives of citizens.

The criminals have turned our schools and roads into death zones, where people are scared to go to.

For some reasons which I do not understand, kidnappers use sim cards for communications during negotiations and even demand airtime as part of payment for ransom, yet they are untraceable by security personnel. What exactly is happening?

We need to apply the safe school declaration mechanism including introducing subjects that will teach early warning signals to students. We need to also revive the boys and girls scout groups in schools to teach students security techniques and how to be on the alert. Local vigilantes must be supported and trained to defend themselves and villages against these criminals. Security personnel should use technology to tackle these criminals so that Nigeria can have peace.

Musa Gambo,

Maiduguri, Borno State.