Nigeria as the touted giant of Africa seems to have lost its place of pride in the comity of nations. One cannot conclude from ignorance that the country was cursed, but from latest happenings, one may not be wrong to say the country is heading to the brink in the hands of undertakers masquerading as leaders.
Nigeria has more of kleptomaniacs in leadership than patriots and nationalists. Undoubtedly, it is a blessed country lacking sincere and committed leaders. Nigerian leaders are more in a rat race for illicit wealth accumulation against the progress of the country. The criminally-minded with the opportunity to handle certain aspects of governance, have ended up displaying their expertise in criminality than positive service.
Remember the atrocities of sacked Central Bank of Nigeria Governor, Godwin Emefiele? What of the sacked Accountant-General of the Federation, Ahmed Idris? Can you recall the several cases of indictment against Sambo Dasuki and GodsWill Akpabio who now presides over the nation’s 10th Senate?
The Senate Committee on Public Accounts is yet to wind-up its investigation on missing N210trillion from NNPCL account under Mele Kyari, now on the run under the guise of medical tourism abroad. NNPCL was a cesspool of corruption that served as an enclave of criminals who mustered the art of stealing, diversion and other criminal activities against the progress of Nigeria. Those criminals were living above their statutory incomes with pride, pomposity and arrogance. They displayed criminally acquired wealth with authority while pretending to be God fearing and philanthropists in the absence of genuine philanthropists.
They always hypocritically channel a minute portion of what they looted to building places of worship, sponsoring prostitutes, pimps and rogues to Holy lands for pilgrimage hoping to appease the Almighty for bountiful reward. How can a responsible and God fearing person steal from the public and expect forgiveness from God? Which God will reward disguised criminology as philanthropy?
Remember Sadiyya Umar Farouk, who never spared even orphans and the most wretched on planet us when serving as Humanitarian Affairs Minister? Halima Shehu, Beta Edu and several other criminals that abused the trust reposed in them by Nigerians, now regretting their atrocities while claiming innocence as an afterthought.
I referred to few cases of criminality against Nigerians because history helps to recall past incidents when the need arises for reference. It also reminds us to avoid mistakes of the past. Indeed, lessons are embedded in history.
According to an ancient quote, history is a vast mirror reflecting our collective triumphs and mistakes. Also Karl Marx a German philosopher, social and political theorist, economist, and revolutionary socialist said: “History repeats itself first as tragedy, secondly as farce.” It is on this premise that I recall a national tragedy that happened in 1984. It was a tragedy that jolted Nigerians and shocked the world. It was a state organized abduction allegedly sponsored by Nigerian Government under Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (late) and Israeli Intelligence agents. The victim was drugged, bundled into a crate, and kidnapped. The victim in question was the Second Republic Transport Minister in Shehu Shagari’s government, Umaru Dikko (late) who had escaped from his alleged atrocities to the United Kingdom as a fugitive. He was kidnapped in London and about to be smuggled back to Nigeria through Gatwick airport to face corruption charges.
Another incident was the first recorded criminal kidnapping for political leverage and publicity which occurred in 1998, when Niger Delta youths abducted eight foreign Chevron and Texaco oil workers. The abductors demanded jobs and an end to ‘criminal’ neglect of oil producing areas as ransom. There was also the chilling kidnap incident that caused national and global outrage. It was the kidnap of 276 secondary school girls-Government Girls Secondary School, Chibok in Borno State in 2014 by Boko Haram insurgents. Unfortunately, till this moment, government has woefully failed to rescue them as majority of the girls are still in captivity as mothers.
The aforementioned abductions arguably watered the current spate of abductions for ransom in several parts of the country. According to reports, kidnapping and banditry in Nigeria has evolved into a multi-billion dollar illicit enterprise run by highly organized criminal cartel with some allegedly occupying elective positions in governments. Marauding armed groups, including the highly sophisticated Fulani bandits, armed herders and tribal militias, highway murderers, ethno-religious jingoists, and insurgents such as Boko Haram, Wulo-wulo, Lakurawa, ISWAP, Malamawa and Ansaru all engage in mass abductions to extort humongous amounts as ransom. Latest case for study is that occurrence at the prestigious National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS) located in a very hostile community in Plateau State.
Armed tribal militias made two desperate attempts to penetrate the heavily fortified fence of the institute to commit crime but repelled by superior fire that neutralized one of the criminals. Neighboring National Institute for Veterinary Research, Vom, had witnessed such criminal actions severally. So was the case with other federal government establishments within the hostile communities.
Abductions, previously localized in the North-west and North-east regions, kidnapping for ransom is now a nationwide menace. Previously safer parts of Nigeria are now at the mercy of kidnappers, armed robbers and bandits.
The Nigerian security situation is pathetic but not prayerful because it originated from insincere leadership enveloped in corruption. Some criminally minded youths, criminal leaders, bandits, ethno-religious militants, extremists and separatists among other deviants have resorted to the use of illegally acquired arms to perpetuate criminal acts and shielded by their communities. Kidnapping for ransom ranks high in their criminal enterprise, although there is no accurate statistics of the total amount so far paid to kidnappers to secure the release of loved ones in the last 16 years. But security experts monitoring ransom payments estimated that the criminal cartels have received over N3trillion.
Tragically, the more funds receipted by the criminals, the more they acquire sophisticated arms for ‘business’ to flourish. In parts of the core north where the business booms the more, the bandits target high profile abductions and mass abductions of helpless rural dwellers, and often display on social media platforms their acquired sophisticated weapons and heaps of cash paid as ransom.
Aside the above stated criminal cartels, to some greedy Nigerians, kidnapping has become the latest easiest way to make cool money with less stress. Low level kidnapping is today a new normal in Nigeria. Low level kidnapping is today a new normal in Nigeria courtesy of ineffective and insincere governance.
Family members now kidnap one another, student union members kidnap their lecturers, employers kidnap their employees; politicians sponsor the kidnapping of their opponents all for ransom. It has gotten so worse that friends organize the kidnap of their friends for ransom. What is really wrong with Nigeria? The country has been tagged the kidnapping capital of the world and religious groups are insisting that the situation is a sign of the end of time. According to them, they Holy Books say when we see wickedness becoming so rampant in this degree we should know that the end of the world is approaching.
Kidnapping leaves an emotional and psychological impact on victims. Survivors experience stress reactions including denial, impaired memory, shock, numbness, anxiety, guilt, depression, anger, and a sense of hopelessness. Such reactions are understandable and very normal. These are typical responses and generally decrease after a period of time. It is common for people’s reactions to vary from one individual to another.
According to a research report, kidnapped survivors often develop in unconscious bond to their captors and experience grief if their captors are harmed. They may also feel guilty for developing a bond. This is typically referred to as the Stockholm syndrome.
Kidnap survivors may also have feelings of guilt for surviving while others may not. It is important for survivors to recognize that these are usual human reactions to being held captive. But the question is why would a fellow human being be held captive just because it has become an easy and fast way of making cool bucks? Although stealing public funds is easier with the pen. Such money is not only evil, but deadly. Kidnappers and pen bandits should be made to suffer the consequences of their evil enterprise. Pen bandits destroying Nigeria through public service should face harsh punishments than seizure of illicit properties and imprisonment. Amputation should accompany imprisonment and seizure for easy identification by the cheated public.
But not until government shows determination to fight corruption and other criminal acts with hard punishments, we can only continue scratching the surface than rooting out the source. All those found guilty of corrupt practices should be made to face the music squarely. There should be no mercy or hiding place for the rogues. In most cases, pen bandits are more deadly than kidnappers and other criminal elements. There only difference is in the mode of operation.
Muhammad is a commentator on national issues
