The escalating insecurity in Nigeria, exemplified by recent kidnapping incidents, notably the abduction of students in Kaduna, has sparked significant alarm. The nation is contending with a surge in kidnappings, where innocent civilians are targeted by criminals seeking ransom or engaging in self-kidnapping for financial gain.
Recent reports have unveiled a troubling pattern, such as the abduction of over 280 pupils and teachers from Government Secondary School and LEA Primary School in Kuriga, Kaduna State by bandits on the 7th of March, 2024.
Security Analyst Dr. Kabiru Adamu has attributed the deteriorating security situation and resurgence in Nigeria to the absence of effective measures to prevent insecurity.
In a live interview with Arise News, he highlighted the failure to fully implement three key programs aimed at addressing insecurity: the Safe School Initiative, Safe School Declaration, and National Policies on Safe Schools and their implementation guidelines.
“When the Chibok incident happen in 2024, since then, we have had three major program aimed at improving insecurity in schools, the safe school initiative, safe school declaration and then the national policies on the safe schools and its implementation guideline, none of these three major policies have been fully implemented to make schools less vulnerable to these types of attack.
Second point is the presence of these perpetrators, the non-state actors, the gunmen who have found kidnapping students a lucrative ventures.
Third point is the inability take into account or hold responsible those mandated constitutionally to protect our schools, there are agencies of government whose responsibility it is to do that and over time, incident after incident, we have not seen them taking any level of responsibility, unfortunately that these things continue to occur”
Dr. Kabiru emphasized the failure of responsible agencies to protect schools adequately, and the lack of accountability in utilizing budget allocations for security agencies due to corruption.
Regarding ransom payments, Kabiru expressed concern that paying ransom could encourage criminals and lead to more abductions unless accompanied by improved security measures. He criticized the government for urging citizens not to pay ransom without enhancing protection measures.
“Payment of ransom will incentivize the criminals, it will make them go after more people, so that they can collect the money.
The paradox is there, as long as we can’t see government increase protection, then I don’t think it’s fair for government to tell us not to pay ransom”
Looking ahead, Dr. Kabiru emphasized the need for accountability among mandated security providers and highlighted the role of state governments in ensuring security. He called for concrete actions following the president’s directive for security agencies to rescue the abducted individuals, stressing the importance of detailed military directives and operational plans to address such crises effectively.
