For many Nigerians, the reality of life is the difficulty to escape the reality – a life of insecurity.
Daily life in Nigeria is gradually becoming a war in itself as many defenseless Nigerians are attacked or massacred by bandits, herdsmen, terrorists, and other enemies of state.
The crisis on our hands is as a result of the excessive bitterness of years of deprivation and traumatized psyche. It is a consequence of disappointed expectations; a consequence of decades of deliberate weakening of the Nigerian state and its agencies that triggered acts of corruption and hindered economic growth.
The spiral of violence is blind. Violence has spread to every state in Nigeria with tragic consequences. The average Nigerian’s life is brutish and has no value placed on it, especially by the ruling and looting elite. We live in a country where the commonality of crime and mutuality of corruption have made a reasonable differentiation between political leaders and security agencies a difficult, if not futile exercise.
Nigeria bleeds every day, and there does not seem to be a sense of moral urgency activated in dealing with the many incidents of violence chipping away the edges of our national soul.
As ungoverned spaces abound, the news that the terrorist group, Boko Haram, and other insurgents, have been “effectively” defeated or decimated, is as satisfying as using an okada (motorcycle) to tow a trailer. In other words, it is a good case of art imitating real life.
The Nigerian security forces seem fixated with killing Abubakar Shekau, yet he puts out videos of barbarous acts perpetrated against the soul of Nigeria. We can recall that Shekau not only sees himself as a reincarnate of Osama bin Laden but also rides on the wave of moral panic ISIS is generating all over the place.
There have been shallow promises of improvement in security and protection of lives and property by the government. What is clear is that, most times, the quality of our security forces is exposed to ridicule when confronted by bandits and insurgents. The government can do better than its current lifeless responses to the ongoing massacre and displacement of Nigerians. At best, government’s quick fixes and fleeting measures are devoid of genuine interest in addressing the situation.
A destructive means cannot bring about a constructive end. Time is now to show the much needed commitment to resolve the Nigerian security crisis with a sense of realism. Like the Maitatsine uprising was crushed, a balanced state of affairs should necessitate a revenge of equal brutality against these non-state actors. They should be fair game for a wholesome visit of state terror.
