State Of The Nation: Is Nigeria Back To The Dark Era Of Military Dictatorship And Stone Age Despotism? -By Richard Odusanya

The Challenges of insecurity, insurgency, banditry, Kidnapping, criminal herdsmen, and other issues of criminality ravaging the entire country, is worrisome and the role of our security forces and agencies are issues that need to be emphasized and scrutinized.

The security agencies that should rout the criminals have suddenly become non-existent and incoherent, while the criminal elements in the full glare of the whole world became more vicious and gaining upper hand. The Nigerian government and its security agencies demonstrated the desire and ability to harass, intimidate and use brute force against the citizens who are demanding for a responsive leadership and good governance.

We have a proactive government and security forces when it is against innocent citizens demanding for their fundamental rights and responsive leadership, but a sleeping one when its banditry, insurgency, criminal herdsmen killings and other criminal issues.

Former Head of State, Sani Abacha

The continuous attempt by the Nigerian government and the security forces to clampdown on peaceful protesters for exercising their constitutional rights are a clear case of reference. The case of the Lagos state commissioner of police Mr Hakeem Olusegun Odumosu threatening to deal ruthlessly with any protest, whether peaceful or violent is an aberration and a clear violation of the constitutional rights of the citizens.

There is a continuous attempt by the Nigerian government to clampdown on peaceful protesters for exercising their constitutional rights. The #EndSARS protest was peaceful until the government’s sponsored thugs began to attack the peaceful protesters and subsequently deployed killer soldiers who attacked them and fired live ammunition on the protesters. The Central bank that was unable to track down the funding for serious issues of insecurity, suddenly wakes up with courts judgment freezing the accounts of individuals and corporate organization linked to the #EndSARS protest.

The styles and methods of kidnapping, killings and other criminal issues in Nigeria today is appalling. The easy-to-use interface and methods of kidnapping and resurfacing of science school students both in Kankara and Kagara seem to be a similar pattern. The truth is that those who commit crimes against humanity are financially and handsomely rewarded with a golden handshake, are furthermore emboldened by such gesture from the authorities.

Gen. Muhammadu Buhari

It is so unfortunate, that those who dare to talk about the current situation are vilified and the arrogance of the Nigerian government officials and its agencies that are supposed to serve the needs and interest of Nigerian citizens are doing otherwise. The body language of the government and the fraternity between non-state actors and the bandits may have emboldened the criminals and encouraged kidnapping and criminality as a good and lucrative business venture.

Nigerian government and its sponsored non-state actor, Sheikh Gumi can dialogue with certified criminals who had kidnapped, raped, and killed innocent citizens, whereas Nnamdi Kanu was arrested for his agitation against the marginalization of the indigenous Igbo people, his group, IPOB was not only proscribed, but were man hunted and killed by the Nigerian military, recently in Obigbo, in River state and during the “operation python dance” carried out in the East some years back. There have equally been several arrests, both open and secret torturing, and killings of these IPOB members.

And we say we are the Giant of Africa! Nothing but a sleeping giant. Men of good conscience should arise from their deep slumber and save the sleeping giant.

IT IS ONLY IN OUR DARKEST HOURS THAT WE MAY DISCOVER THE TRUE STRENGTH OF THE BRILLIANT LIGHT WITHIN OURSELVES THAT CAN NEVER, EVER, BE DIMMED.

Odusanya is the convener of AFRICA COVENANT RESCUE INITIATIVE ACRI