Reflecting on Service Chiefs and Insecurity in Nigeria
By Danjuma Katsina
Last week I was at Faskari Local Government Area (LGAs), in Katsina State. Faskari is the Headquarters of Operation Sahel Sanity, recently launched by the Nigerian Army.
Wagini town, in Batsari, is also where the Army’s Special Forces were deployed. There are two more Army camps equally in Katsina.
I can boldly testify that our gallant solders are trying, but they are also suffering. They are living between life and death.
I have seen where they live; so inhuman, and incomparable to their homes. The question is: what went wrong?
Expert on security matters and keen followers of events and happenings that border on security have observed, with disappointment, how life has lost its value in this country.
Casualties of either Boko Haram insurgency and banditry attacks, in recent time, include both civilians and security personnel.
This has become very disturbing to everyone. But even more worrisome is the gross human right abuse perpetrated by soldiers who kill unarmed civilians in areas where they carry out special operations.
The question is: where did we get it wrong? Why is the situation always going from bad to worse? Are the leaderships of our Military and other security agencies united in tackling insecurity in the country?
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And how patriotic are their leaderships, especially in terms of protecting Nigeria’s territorial integrity?
These are the issues Nigerian journalists must investigate, so that those at the helm of affairs, including Mr. President will know.
In an American film I once watched titled, “Law Abiding Citizen (2009),”… Security agents failed to bring down a notorious criminal. So the Marshall summoned the heads of various security departments and told them to look inwards to know whether they were being haunted by an injustice they did somewhere.
Or whether they where pursuing other interests beside the national interest. He asked them to seek divine forgiveness and renew their path of service to their nation. And after they did, they were able to surmount their security challenge within a short time.
Meanwhile, three years ago, the Nigeria Army killed many civilians in Zaria. Among whom where women and children, even babies, which was also proven by the report of the Commission of Enquiry set up by the Kaduna State government.
Up till this moment, justice has not been done in this matter. Is the blood of these little children not haunting the Nigerian military? I dare say, insecurity will not become a foregone conclusion in Nigeria–anytime soon–unless we fathom the chief underlying cause. So, what is this cause?
Danjuma Katsina, writes from Katsina State. He can be reached via: 08035904408, or [email protected]
