INSECURITY AND ITS DIVERSE IMPLICATIONS
IN OUR NATIONAL LIFE

The current threat to life, business and the society called Nigeria is alarming. A nation so blessed; yet suffer amidst variant challenges which have drastically caused a reduction in her growth and development. In the north, ‘Boko Aram’, a sect that have developed in recent times and have defiled all security enforcement marshaled against them by state and federal government. The police and the military seemly cannot curb this group of persons who have gradually crept into different areas in the northern part of the country. Their terrorists attacks on life and property has grossly increased. Surprisingly, they live amongst us. They can be a spotted with current technologies available at our door steps.

The prevailing kidnapping in the South-East and South-South has been ongoing for months now. The recent kidnapping of corps members (government pikin) made the kidnapping business take a new turn. Law enforcement officers even go as far as negotiating on behalf of families or representatives of the kidnapped. For instance, the kidnappers of the corps members requested One Hundred Million Naira (100 million) for the release of the corps members, which was renegotiated to Ten Million Naira (10 million). This is one of the heights of indiscipline and internal terrorism any nation can witness. Can this peril be stopped? Yes it can, but we all must be responsive to our security needs.

The South-West is characterized with gangsterism, cultism and different nefarious activities. Recently in Ijede, Lagos state an Honorable member of the house was killed. Armed robbery has become the in-thing even at broad day light. Most small scale businesses dare not work late in the night because of the fear of being attacked and robbed by men of the ‘underworld’. Even the highways are no long safe to ply, as this group can easily block the high ways to perpetuate their usual act.

The Police Headquarter in Abuja on the 16th of June, 2011 was attacked by a suicide bomber at 11am precisely. This is the first of its kind in Nigeria. The obvious fact was that there were no evidences of the incident at the entrances and car park where the brown old Mercedes Benz that the bomber brought in was parked. Where are we really heading with all this insecurity in this country? Even those meant to provide security are themselves insecure, who else is safe.

The implications of this menace include but not limited to these alone:

1. Creates fear and panic in the society
2. Reduces our economic activity, thereby causing a reduction in the gross earnings of the economy
3. Drives potentials and existing investors
4. Creates persistent unemployment in prevalent areas

We all must be responsible; as a change agent, we must continue to improve and get things done better. Installation of CCTV, especially those with video analytics can be utilized. This device can be installed in ubiquitous areas. The PTZ cameras or the Megapixels cameras, which are not out of reach to a country or a people that desire to improve the security of life and properties can be purchase and installed by professional security companies of installers. Images captured by these devices can be made public; this will grossly reduce people’s involvement in this evil. The security of our national life must be reclaimed before it worsen to something unbearable.