IDENTIFYING THE ROOT OF OUR SECURITY PROBLEM

By Babarinde Great

The word insecurity connotes different meaning by different people. In simple term, insecurity is a state of being open to threat or lack of protection. The increasing rate of insecurity in Nigeria is threatening Nigeria as a country and it’s also fuelling the terrorists’ attacks in different part of the country that is why the Fulani Herds men have been able to invade the South West too with their terrorism. Even though most times the government make budgets and security strategies to be carried out, it’s still very obvious that there is no improvement in the security of the nation, instead it is increasing day by day in every part of the nation.

However, the causes of insecurity in Nigeria are numerous. According to the research I carried out, I realised that the main cause of insecurity can be traced back to the early years of Nigeria’s independence in 1960.Some of the youths who were forced to quit their jobs and join the army became unemployed after the civil war and so they fell back to illegal means of earning income while some misused the position of an army to commit atrocities in the society. Most graduates find it difficult to get a job to cater for their needs and family members and so they look out for other means to earn income. This unemployment issue has really caused a lot of havoc since most of them go into robbery or other societal vices. In other words, unemployment is seen as one of the causes of insecurity in the country because most times the people being robbed are under danger of death if the vagabonds are unable to get enough money from them, they might decide to end their since they couldn’t provide what they needed.

Corruption is also one of the major causes of insecurity.High rate of corruption in the country has eaten so deep into every sector in Nigeria. Most politicians fill in their seats of power with their children after their retirement with the children or relative even if they are not qualified. They prefer to put their unqualified children in the positions rather than putting the qualified graduates there. This brings frustration into the minds of young Nigerians and out of retaliation, they resolve into kidnapping of well known politicians and wealthy influential men in the country in other to collect ransom from them.

Materialism is also a key cause of insecurity in Nigeria. Most youths are not satisfied with whatever they have and so in other to acquire more material things they dabble into illegal things like money rituals. Anyone who does money ritual is required to renew it by sacrificing human beings and using their blood for the renewing of money and power.

Religious conflicts also contribute to the insecurity. Intolerance between religious groups has caused terrorism in the country. Data shows that between 2007 to 2012 Boko Hararm wicked atrocities have claimed the lives of people most especially in the northern part of Nigeria. The recent terrorism in Nigeria is the Fulani Herds men who have been kidnapping people and killing people most especially travelers. The presence of insecurity has created fear and trauma in the lives of the people.

The termination of insecurity in Nigeria should be done by all and sundry. Both the government and the people have a role to play in other to restore peace back into the country. All citizens should be security conscious, when you suspect anyone wandering around the community, he or she should be questioned and reported to the security forces. Also, the government should strengthen the security agencies by supplying them their necessary weapons. Government should also create a way of eliminating poverty of Nigeria by creating more job opportunities for young graduates in the country, as we all know that an idle hand is the devil’s workshop. Therefore all hands must be on deck over the issue of security in Nigeria.