Terrorism, banditry, jail breaks, herdsmen and many more social crimes have absolutely ridiculed Nigeria’s security situation in the last few years. These hideous vices have instigated and spread ruthless violence in all parts of the country. Although these terrible acts were not exactly absent at the beginning of Nigeria’s Democratic years, they were simply not as audacious as they are now.
Current situation
Boko Haram terrorist group continues to wreak havoc on the lives and properties of residents in the northern part of Nigeria. Herdsmen are maliciously killing farmers and destroying their livelihood in the north and some parts of the south. Unknown gunmen continue to impose a sit-at-home order every Monday in the south-eastern region of the country.
At the start of the month of June, gunmen suspected to be members of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) killed 40 Christian worshippers including women and children at St Francis Catholic Church Owo, Ondo State. But fresh on the minds of Nigerians is the attack of Kuje Medium Security Custodial Centre, Abuja, which set free 600 inmates including 15 high profile Boko Haram leaders who reports say spearheaded the attack of Kaduna-Abuja train at Katari, Kaduna. Although Nigerian security forces have recaptured a number of the escapees, a good number of them are at large.
Other prison attacks
There were eight attacks on Nigerian correctional facilities all over the country in 2021 including Owerri custodial center in Imo State on the 5th of April 2022, Bauchi Facility on the 9th of April 2021, Ubiaja correctional facility in Edo State on the 22nd of April 2021, Jos custodial center in Plateau State in July 2021, Kabba medium security custodial center in Kogi State in September 2021, Abolongo custodial center in Oyo State on the 28th of October and Jos medium security custodial center on the 28th of November 2021.
- The recurrence of jailbreaks in 2021 can be linked to the heightened and audacious threat to life being experienced in Nigeria in 2022.
Why this matter
Bringing peace and stability to the Northeast and other significantly troubled parts of the country should be a priority of the Nigerian government because it greatly troubles the lives and livelihood of Nigerians living in the regions. Also, troubled regions pose a great threat to the successful conduct of the 2023 general elections.
What they are saying
- The Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU) released a report where it indicted about 96 financiers of terrorism related crimes in the country between 2020 and 2021. The report also linked 424 associates of the indicted financiers and the participation of about 123 companies and 33 bureaux de change.
- Borno State Governor, Professor Babagana Zulum, has also raised concerns of the exponential growth in sophistication and spread of ISWAP in his state and other parts of the country.