Trouble in our neighborhood right now — Opinion — Headline News – News from Nigeria and the world

Two weeks ago, on Thursday, March 14, 2024, soldiers from the 181st Amphibious Battalion of the Nigerian Army went on patrol in the Okuma community in Delta State, where a gang conflict had broken out with Okoroba's neighbors.

Okuma belongs to Ughelli South and Okoroba belongs to Bomadi Council. The struggle is not just over barren land. This is a fight over money, as those who manage the land have access to vast sums of money from oil companies, states and the federal government.

The soldiers were there to maintain peace between the two communities and find a more peaceful way to resolve the conflict.

They did not know that death itself was waiting for them. Because it was a peace mission and the military was not in attack mode. They were there to show the flag and fully reveal themselves so that anyone considering a conflict could change their mind. That was a fatal error.

The soldiers and their commanders were conspicuous by their movements, which is why they fell into an ambush by suspected thugs. Yesterday, Wednesday, March 27, military authorities buried the brave soldiers with full honors at the National Cemetery in Abuja. They were buried to join other heroes who have lost their lives in recent years, mostly in internal operations.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, in a statement after the soldier's killing, vowed to arrest the perpetrators to face the wrath of the law. Nigerians are waiting for justice to take its course.

In recent years, Nigeria has become a dangerous country. Traveling on Nigerian roads was no longer fun. Night travel is now a journey into the unknown.

Robbers, kidnappers and ritual participants are moving across our country and this is a dangerous adventure. In the past, parents sent their children far away to attend various federal universities. The Air Force Secondary School in Jos attracted students from all over Nigeria. The Federal Government University in Sokoto was attractive to Lagos parents who were willing to hand over their children to travel to the edge of Nigeria.

During the holidays, the children travel to Lagos by car, train and plane. Today, we no longer feel safe. Danger lurks everywhere, in the dark and even in broad daylight, ready to strike.
For Governor Uba Sani of Kaduna State, the recent important victory against terrorists was a matter of joy.

Last week, he announced to jubilant compatriots that 187 children had been rescued from a terrorist den. A few weeks ago, terrorists invaded the LGEA Teachers Elementary School in Kuliga city, Chikun region, and detained the children and teachers. “I spoke to the president several times while the school children were in confinement,” Governor Sani said. “He shared our pain, comforted us and worked around the clock to ensure the safe return of our children.”

What His Excellency did not reveal to us is whether a ransom was paid to the kidnappers. However, while praising his army, he declared: “The Nigerian military also deserves special praise for demonstrating that through courage, determination and dedication, it can undermine criminal elements and restore safety to communities.”

It is becoming increasingly clear that the new wars facing our military and police may no longer be prosecuted in the familiar realm of hardware and supplies. Perhaps the massacre of soldiers at the Creek could have been avoided if the military had adequate intelligence assets in the Delta.

Given the success rate of kidnappings, especially in the north, where dozens or even hundreds of people are taken at a time, it is clear that intelligence assets are not working well.

How do you transport 187 unwilling hostages into a community and still manage to escape? Those in charge of Nigeria's security are increasingly using intelligence and modern methods of policing and military warfare. It is necessary to spend a lot of resources.

The kidnapping business has become a multi-billion naira empire across our country. The huge profits and minimal risks may also have attracted international investors to businesses that act as supporters of Boko Haram, ISIS, and other international terrorist organizations.

They are putting money into training terrorists, suicide bombers, and other professions. Working with them are bankers, executives, food dealers, drug traffickers, gun dealers, hidden agents, power brokers, moneybags, and influence peddlers.

We cannot continue this war against society. They say there is a food shortage because terrorists are focused on forcing farmers off their farms. After all, we all pay the price for this laxity in our security networks.

Last week, a car was stolen from Ado-Ekiti. Within four days, the gang members who stole the car were arrested. The Ekiti State Police Command, commanded by Chief Adeniran Akinwale, was able to arrest the suspect because he made a phone call.

In this modern era, strong investments in science, phone tracking (used by Akinwale and his men), drones, facial recognition computers, facial reading devices, voice prints, fingerprints, laser weapons, etc. will help. Protect life and property.

We live in a modern world, so how can we be sure that a kidnapper will call us over and over and never be tracked down?

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has directed that no one will be allowed to withdraw more than 20,000 naira per day from Automated Teller Machines (ATMs), yet millions of dollars are still being paid to kidnappers without trace. It is. If these criminals ignore all this and operate openly, what is the use of BVNs and National Identification Numbers (NINs)?

(File) Shake Gummy

Some believe that other methods may serve national security better than science. One of these people is Sheikh Ahmad Abubakar Gumi, a retired army captain, military doctor, and now a prominent Muslim cleric.

He argues that the federal government should negotiate with suspected kidnappers and bandits to dissuade them from lucrative deals.

Gumi has also taken personal risks in the past when negotiating with bandits to free hostages.

“If the country could pardon coup leaders who committed treason during the military regime, bandits would also be able to enjoy similar amnesty under democratic rule,” he argued.

Well, the federal government has invited Gummi to give officials some tips on how to deal with kidnappers and their bandit relatives. This may not have been a complete pastoral visit, as the Ministry of National Security is said to be seriously interested in Mr. Kumi's many tricks.

Explaining the visit, Information Minister Mohamed Idriss Malagi said Gumi was invited because “no one is above the law.” No one should be prevented by the law.

Nigeria's constitution vests most coercive powers in the federal government, with the president as commander in chief. All soldiers carry weapons according to his orders. But in reality, every governor is actually expected to maintain law and order within the state.

All governors, as chief security officers of their states, should be accountable to the residents of their states, including the loafers on the streets. Governors will be required to provide security agencies with necessary equipment such as voice recognition computers. This is necessary because no neighborhood or family is safe from new epidemics of crime and crime.

Last week, the Lagos State Police Command arrested two young men in their early 20s. They planned the kidnapping themselves and demanded a ransom of $100,000 from the parents. Afterwards, I checked into my cozy hotel room, expecting a surprise.

He who sows winds will reap whirlwinds. There is trouble in the neighborhood, and she wears a seductive outfit of innocence.

Source: guardian.ng