We can conquer the challenges of kidnappings and killings going on in Northern Nigeria if security agencies step up.
Just yesterday, I was lamenting the horrible spate of killings, terror attacks, and abductions in the country, while calling for more concerted efforts to combat the continuing menace of nationwide insecurity.
We are again confronted with the ugly news of the abduction of over 200 pupils and students plus a teacher of local primary and junior secondary schools in Kuriga, Chikun Local Government area of Kaduna State. While every effort should be directed towards the safe release of the children, better security measures need to be implemented to avoid future occurrences.
While insecurity has continued to bear down on every sector of our national existence, its negative impact on education will be more devastating for the nation. We are already contending with an army of over 18 million out-of-school children, arising from the closure of schools due to insecurity. Further attacks on schools will only aggravate these numbers, drive more children into the streets, and add to the insecurity situation of the country.
I once again appeal to the government, both state and federal, to explore all possible means to ensure the safe release of the abducted school children and their teachers.
I urge every Nigerian to continue to work and pray for the nation so that we can collectively conquer these unusual challenges. We must ensure that every Nigerian child can pursue their dreams and aspirations in a safe and secure nation.
This is our duty in the New Nigeria which is POssible.
The Benue Burden
Once again, Nigerians are besieged by reports of terror attacks in different parts of the country. While about 50 persons, including a family of seven, were reportedly killed in a militia gang war in the Ukum area of Benue State, over 100 internally displaced persons, mostly women, were reported to have been abducted by terrorists in Borno State.
Aside from the sad and painful loss of precious human lives to these terror attacks, our dear nation has continued to lose its economic and social life to insecurity.
More worrisome is that these attacks now occur almost daily. We must not allow our dear nation to continue this dangerous slide into anarchy. I was equally shocked to read that farmers in Northern Nigeria now pay bandits up to N100,000 for permission to farm or risk being attacked. These are happening at a time when we need more hands on the farms to enable us to produce enough foods for local consumption, stem the galloping food inflation, and build a productive economy and nation for ourselves.
I therefore salute our security agencies, who have continued to make different sacrifices to ensure that insecurity is stamped out in our nation. However, we need to make more efforts to match the enemies of our nation with enough fire power to subdue them and reclaim our nation. Ultimately, I have maintained that lifting people out of poverty through job creation and support for small businesses is the surest way of fighting insecurity in the long run.
The vast lands in the North remain our greatest assets, which if invested in by the government, will productively engage our youths and ultimately reduce crime.
I sincerely commiserate with all the families who have lost their loved ones in these attacks, pray for quick recovery of the injured, and that the abducted ones may be rescued without further harm. May God grant eternal rest to the dead.
Peter Obi: We can conquer security challenges
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