Northern Nigeria has recently faced an alarming increase in terrorist attacks across different parts of the region, with the persistent issue of insecurity continuing to plague the area.
While peace had returned to Northern Nigeria in recent months, a surge in violence has again struck the North East, North West, and North Central regions, where bandits and Boko Haram militants have carried out deadly attacks. Many people have lost their lives in these brutal assaults.
The activities of bandits have intensified in the North, with these groups killing people without facing any significant opposition from security agencies.
The pervasive fear of Boko Haram terrorists and bandits has left people unable to tend to their farms, exacerbating the region’s economic hardship.
These terror attacks have plunged Northern Nigerians into extreme poverty, leading to severe food shortages.
In a recent incident, bandits attacked Kaduna State, imposing taxes on farmers and herders and threatening to burn their properties and kill them if they failed to pay.
Despite having politicians, governors, and representatives at both state and federal levels, the government has failed to protect its citizens. Instead, these officials seem more focused on using national resources and public assets to support their families and relatives.
A troubling aspect of these attacks is the sophisticated technology used by bandits and Boko Haram terrorists, such as drones. This raises questions about the presence and effectiveness of government authorities.
The states suffering the most from these expanded attacks include Katsina, Sokoto, Niger, Kebbi, Kaduna, and Zamfara. These are highly populated areas where poverty is rampant.
Katsina State, notably, has produced two presidents: former President Muhammadu Buhari and the late Musa Yar’Adua. Yet, the North West continues to face severe attacks, particularly targeting farmers and merchants.
Just last week, bandits killed over 50 farmers in Katsina State, and the government’s response has been limited to expressing condolences to the victims’ families. How can people live in such conditions when terrorists seem to hold the real power in the North?
The northern region is grappling with poverty, hunger, starvation, inflation, and general hardship, while political leaders remain silent. It appears that the insurgency and its accompanying hardships do not affect them directly.
Why do most terror attacks occur in the North ? Is it due to poor leadership, ignorance, or a lack of education ? Northern Nigeria has produced many presidents, top politicians, and business tycoons, yet the region still lacks basic amenities.
The growing insecurity in the North East, particularly in Borno State, is alarming. The highway between Maiduguri and Damaturu has become perilous, with Boko Haram terrorists frequently kidnapping and killing travelers.
Borno State has 27 local government areas, yet Boko Haram controls two of them: Abadam and Guzamala. This situation raises serious questions about the effectiveness of both the president and the governor.
Boko Haram has been active in the state since 2009, and every elected president has promised to defeat them. However, the terrorists remain a formidable force, suggesting they have overpowered the government.
In the North West, bandits are openly using drones to select their next targets, and the government is aware of this.
These groups wield sophisticated weapons and continue to kill innocent people. Yet, no elected president or governor has seriously questioned the sources of these weapons.
While Nigerian security forces strive to protect lives and property, they receive little support from politicians, especially in the North. Some accuse politicians of benefiting financially from the country’s insecurity, turning it into a source of income for themselves.
On June 22, 2024, bandits attacked and killed a former brigadier general at his residence in Abuja, highlighting the worsening security situation in Nigeria.
The federal and state governments must urgently address this situation to protect the lives of the poor masses. If immediate action is not taken, a state of emergency may be necessary to restore peace.
