Nigeria has seen some security advances in recent years, but the nation cannot be considered completely secure, according to a security expert.
In response to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s third anniversary speech, retired Army Captain Abdullahi Bokaji Adamu, the Country Director of the International Human Rights Commission (IHRC), made this statement in an exclusive interview with DAILY POST.
Remember that President Bola Tinubu had stated that security conditions were getting better in some regions of the nation, pointing out that ongoing military operations and reforms were starting to show results, particularly in areas where troops have stepped up operations against kidnappers, terrorists, and bandits
Adamu responded by saying that both worlds might coexist.
Both claims could be true at the same time. It’s possible that some areas are safer now than they were three years ago, he said.
He pointed out that while certain terrorist and bandit leaders have been neutralized, there is now more military and police presence on a number of roadways that were previously notorious for kidnappings.
“Some previously unreachable communities have seen relative stability,” he continued.
He did, however, emphasize that there are still significant security issues throughout the nation.
However, there is still a great deal of insecurity. In several areas of the North-West and North-Central, ransom kidnappings are still occurring. Attacks by armed groups and bandits are still reported by rural areas, he said.
He went on to say that it is challenging to call the nation completely safe because farmers, herders, and tourists are still threatened in many places.
Therefore, it would be more correct to say that although Nigeria has made some progress in terms of security, the nation is still not completely safe. According to Adamu, security advancements are inconsistent and differ from state to state.
The director of the IHRC stated that contemporary security organizations are capable of gathering intelligence and tracking criminal networks in order to determine whether security authorities can find bandits and put an end to the situation.
“In addition to military air and ground assets, modern security agencies have intelligence gathering capabilities, surveillance technology, informants, and community intelligence networks,” he stated.
Security forces are frequently able to locate bandit camps, routes, funders, and collaborators, he continued.
But he clarified that it is more difficult to totally eradicate banditry.
“Criminal organizations operate in challenging terrain and large woodlands. There are claims of informants in institutions and communities. Weapons and combatants can circulate freely due to lax border controls. While prosecution and conviction rates are frequently insufficient, poverty and unemployment facilitate recruiting, he noted.
Despite these obstacles, Adamu stated that if the proper actions are made, banditry may be greatly decreased.
“Banditry can be drastically reduced to a level where it is no longer a major national threat with stronger political will, better intelligence coordination, improved accountability, and sustained operations,” he stated.
He emphasized that finding criminals is not the only way to combat insecurity.
“Finding bandits is important, but it’s also important to arrest and prosecute them, disrupt their funding sources, stop arms supplies, protect vulnerable communities, and address the social and economic conditions that fuel recruitment,” he continued.
In conclusion, I would argue that while there is evidence of improved security in some areas, there is still a lot of work to be done because kidnappings and bandit attacks continue to occur. Additionally, he stated that although security services can frequently identify bandit networks, putting an end to banditry necessitates a thorough and ongoing national effort rather than merely military action.
Recall that retired Lieutenant General Tukur Yusuf Buratai, the former Chief of Army Staff, stated in a recent interview with TVC that security agencies can track down criminals.
“I don’t believe they are unable to find.” “I don’t think they can find these bandits if they can find regular people or social media influencers,” he stated.
However, he called for ongoing system development and pointed out that there might be operational reasons for delays in responding to criminal activity.
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