The spate of renewed killings since the end of 2019 elections has reached worrisome dimensions and Nigerians are getting agitated with the renewed killings and kidnappings by bandits and herdsmen in Zamfara, Kaduna, Borno, Lagos, Katsina, and Anambra states.

There is no doubt that the poverty level of Nigerians is contributing to fueling insecurity in the land. It is my considered opinion that Government of President Muhammadu Buhari must make deliberate efforts in the next four years to combat poverty which is a root cause of insecurity.

But some urgent steps must be taken by all those in charge of security in the country to rise up to the occasion by dealing decisively by all those who have chosen to take the laws into their hands. This is not time for blame trading as we got from the opposition Peoples Democratic Party. The party claimed in the wake of the renewed killings that President Muhammadu Buhari was not concerned about the killings.  This amounts to reducing the serious issue to child’s play by opposition.  This is the time for all well-meaning citizens to join hands with government to end the criminality in all ways possible.

The case of Zamfara State is really disturbing as it is now stretching for several years and one is tempted not to believe the story of banditry, but rather some Boko Haram elements that would have left North East to establish their base in Zamfara. Nobody should be deceived to believe otherwise given the footages released over the weekend by the Nigerian Airforce which succeeded in killing over 25 of such terrorists.

 The steps taken by the Federal Government, ordering foreign miners to vacate mining sites in Zamfara State and its environs within 48 hours was germane as that would provide an opportunity to flush out the criminals from the state. The government also announced the suspension of mining activities in the state so as to curtail armed banditry that has been terrorizing the people of the Zamfara for several years.  These actions are coming on the heels that no fewer than 50 people were killed, last Tuesday, by armed bandits in the state.

The situation in Borno is also still worrisome where Boko Haram has continued to make life unbearable for citizens. Killings in Borno State have showed no respite, as no fewer than five persons were killed while 46 others sustained various degrees of injuries when Improvised Explosive Device, IED, was triggered at popular Muna park in Maiduguri over the weekend. Spokesperson for the National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, in North-East, Mr. Abdulkadir Ibrahim said corpses of the dead had been evacuated while 45 persons injured in the suicide bomb attack are receiving treatment in Maiduguri General Hospital.

In Edo there have been rising cases of cult-related killings which has seen young persons of the age range of 14-30 being dispatched to their early graves. For close to ten years or more killings in the state associated with cultism have continued unabated.

In  Lagos robbery and kidnappings have kept residents of some parts of the mega city sleeping with one eye open.  Acting Director of the Lagos State Fire Service, Mr. Rasaki Musibau and seven others were kidnapped over the weekend, by armed men on the Itoikin-Epe Road in Ikosi-Ejirin Local Council Development Area, LCDA in the state.

In Kaduna, the killings in Birnin Gwari made headlines. Unfortunately, two policemen were among those killed when their station was attacked. The gunmen also attacked nearby Kakangi Village in Birnin Gwari. The bandits reportedly descended on the village and began shooting into the air before setting some houses ablaze. Scores were said to have been killed in the attacks. Most worrisome is the report that most of the bandits appear to be more sophisticatedly armed than the nation’s security personnel chasing them. Bandits were said to be armed with AK-47 guns.  Part of what the issue is now is the source of arms and ammunition of the criminals.  Who are those arming them? Where are their sources of supply? What has been the role of politicians in all of these? These are questions that the nation’s security agencies must be providing answers to. They must dig dipper than just pursuing the symptoms on the streets. They must go for the goons. The barons and financiers of the various conflicts.

The Nigeria Police Force has commenced, in collaboration with the Nigerian military and other security services, “Operation PUFF-ADDER” in Zamfara which is a full-scale security offensive against the bandits aimed at:

– reclaiming every public space under the control of the bandits

– arresting and bringing to book all perpetrators of violence in the affected areas, and their collaborators

– achieving total destruction of all criminal camps and hideouts

– mopping up all illicit weapons fueling the violence and attaining a full restoration of law and order in the affected communities.

It must go beyond the usual and go for the unusual. Boko Haram started as a mustard seed, today it has been nurtured, watered by certain vested interests and it has grown to become the monster ravaging the whole of the North East and now spreading into other parts of the North.

President Muhammadu Buhari must rise up to defend all citizens of this nation and provide cover for innocent people going about their daily businesses. Those determined to violate the rights and freedoms of other law-abiding citizens must be severely dealt with in ways and manner that are devoid of sentiments.

It must be made known loud and clear that Nigeria is a circular state, and nobody can force his religion or belief on others by any means. Nobody should ride on the back of government to perpetrate evil in the land.  Nigeria and Nigerians deserve some peace and development. It is the duty of government to do so, with support of citizens. Nigerians must support the security agencies to rid our communities of bad eggs and criminally minded elements. Refusing to support government may mean exposing your selves and families to danger which may consume anyone on the long run.

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Mr. Dan Owegie is a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Edo State.