Image Source: African Courier
With the country grappling with worsening insecurity, KOLA ALHASSAN examines the situation as fear and apprehension hang over the nation like the Sword of Damocles following bomb attacks, kidnapping and banditry.
For Nigeria’s litany of woes, insecurity remains the kernel. Bloodshed, kidnapping, killing, among others, have become a daily affair. Citizens now live in fear of the unknown. There is tension and apprehension in the land.
On Monday night of March 28,2022, tragedy befell the country again,making it one of the darkest days in nation’s history. Travellers aboard a train from Abuja to Kaduna were attacked by terrorists. Some were kidnapped, some seriously maimed, some killed.
Promising and delectable Dr Chinelo Megafu Nwando died after sustaining injuries from the attack.
She trained as a dental surgeon and was a medical dentist at Kaduna State Dental Centre. Circumstances surrounding her death were agonising and deeply touching. She had died in a pool of her own blood.
In February, Editor of a national newspaper, Abdulfatah Oladeinde, had a raw ordeal in the hands of kidnappers.
He was tortured, maimed and almost killed.
His abductors demanded N10 million before reducing it to N5 million. Having spent six days in their enclave, the editor was between the devil and the deep blue sea before Lady Luck smiled on him and he escaped.
“I suffered the worst moments of my life from these young men who spoke language that I did not understand because if they had spoken Hausa, I would have heard what they were saying,” he recounted.
Not everyone rode their luck like Oladeinde did.
On July 9, 2016, Eunice Olawale a Christian female preacher was murdered in cold blood by men suspected to be religious fanatics while evangelising in Abuja.
(Image Source: Independent)
Leah Sharibu, the 16-year old student at Chibok Girls Secondary School is still in kidnappers’ dens, six years down the line.
Speaking to IkejaBird during the week on the worsening insecurity in the country, a senior journalist who craved anonymity, said: ” We cannot travel by road, air or rail and not everywhere is a coastline for water way travel. The way we are going, Nigeria is heading for a revolution or implosion. The latter would be too disastrous though.”
A student at University of Ilorin (UNILORIN), based in Lagos, Ayo Adesina bemoaned the killings and abductions that have become the order of the day. According to her, she does not go home during short break for fear of the unknown on the highway.
“It is terrible the way killings and abductions have become the norm in our country. In fact, when we have short semester break in school, I don’t travel. It is unsafe to travel on our highways,” she said.
A resident of Oke Odan, Ogun State,Mrs Ronke Sanusi, said people in their community don’t stay late outside. She said everyone stays indoor as from 7pm because Fulani herdsmen are always seen around.
“We don’t want to take chances here. Nobody keeps late night. As from 7pm, everyone stays indoor. Fulani herdsmen are always seen around here. Even, some people whose identity you can’t explain. This place is a border town,” she said.
For a Muslim clergyman, Abass Shodipo, there is tension in the country.
He noted that everyone now has to be security-conscious. He slams government for seemingly paying lip service to insecurity.
“We have to be security-conscious. There is much tension in the country. No place is safe. A couple of weeks ago, a friend to my sister was almost kidnapped by a Bolt driver. It seems government is unconcerned. The situation is disheartening,” he said.
With the nation as hotbed of security crisis, citizens are disillusioned, but seemingly praying for a deus ex machina since this administration has been at sea regarding tackling insecurity, despite its promises before assuming power in 2015.
