The UK’s Condemnation of Nigeria’s Security Architecture
In a shocking reaction to the security challenges bewildering the country, the United Kingdom recently advised its nationals from traveling to certain areas in Nigeria. The United Kingdom advised its citizens from traveling to the North-Eastern part of Nigeria, because of the insecurity and blood-shedding in the region. The UK also warned its citizens from visiting Zamfara, Kaduna, Katsina and Kano states. The government of the United Kingdom condemned unequivocally and in its strongest terms the poor security in Nigeria.
In August 2018, the Prime Minister of United Kingdom, Ms. Theresa May, visited the country, and top of the agenda when he met with Nigeria’s President, President Muhammadu Buhari, was the security of the country. The Boko Haram plaguing the North-East was discussed extensively between the two country’s heads, and solutions were proffered on how to defeat the monster affecting the economy, and stability of Africa’s most populous nation.
It is disheartening that Nigeria has been fighting multiple wars in the last few years. The present government has presided over the highest shedding of blood in Nigeria, aside from the bloodbath the country experienced during the Nigerian Civil War (1967 -1970). Today, the geography of death is widening. There are senseless killings across the length and breadth of Nigeria. In the North East, there is Boko Haram insurgency, and they have turned the region to an abattoir where lives are slaughtered. There have been some reports, though not confirmed, about the Boko Haram seizing another territory. It is pathetic that the already declared ‘technically defeated Boko Haram terrorists’ are gaining more strength by even launching attacks against the Nigerian soldiers.
In the North-Central part of the country, there has been farmer’s/ herdsmen clashes, and the conflict has been lingering. The crisis has resulted in the death of many people in Benue, Plateau, Taraba, and farmlands have been destroyed due to several clashes. The Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Kpotun Idris, who was even directed by the President to visit the region and return normalcy to the areas failed to carry on with the Presidential order, as he flagrantly disobeyed the instructions. Hundreds of lives have been maimed, but the government is not doing the needful in terms of security.
The North-West is also not safe as armed bandits are also killing citizens in the region. Zamfara state is already turning to a killing field. In the last three weeks, several people have been killed. Two days to Christmas, the armed bandits killed seventeen in Magami, Faru District of Zamfara state. In the South-East, the country is also battling with Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) separatists, and there is still palpable tension in some parts of the region. The South-South and South-West are also not completely secured. Nigeria is fighting many battles, and the citizens are losing their precious lives.
In Nigeria today, the cheapest thing is the cost of life as even the political and leadership class are not exhibiting respect for the sanctity of life. It is the primary responsibility of the government to protect the lives of its citizens, if the government cannot discharge that responsibility then it means such government is a colossal failure.
The Interior Minister, Abdulrahman Dambazzau, is not even showing leadership in winning the war against armed banditry, and terrorism. He is a retired Army General, but he has not proven to be one in the new assignment. The top military brass is also leaving professionalism and political neutrality aside as they are even attending political events. The country’s leadership class must do the needful for a well-secured Nigeria.
United Kingdom has issued the travel advisory to its nationals, which country is next? We must contain this internal war!