THAT Nigeria is gradually sliding into anarchy, while the security agencies are losing grip is well illustrated by the spate of bombings and loss of innocent lives now almost on a daily basis. Penultimate Sunday's attack on churches in Kaduna State marked another milestone in the violence that has bedeviled the country since 2009 and which has escalated since the advent of the incumbent central government. The reprisals engendered, with its attendant civil disorder, certainly portend danger for the nation as an entity. The situation now demands the kind of urgency that the sack of two top cabinet officials, the National Security Adviser and the Minister of Defence at the weekend, seemed appropriate. But this does little to demonstrate the administration's ability to tackle the nation's security challenge, which now looks suspect.Churches in Kaduna State were again the scene of suicide bombing, which left scores of people dead and several others wounded. The affected churches include Christ the King Catholic Church and ECWA Goodnews Church in Zaria and Shalom Pentecostal Church, Trikania in Kaduna city. Last Easter Day, Living Faith Church (Winners Chapel) and All Nations Christian Assembly were bombed. This latest incident, a climax of sorts, sparked off retaliatory attacks by Christian youths in the state.State and Federal Government officials quickly denounced it. Indeed, the Kaduna State Governor, Patrick Yakowa, who appealed for calm, immediately imposed a 24-hour curfew on the state. The rationale, according to him, was to forestall further breakdown of law and order as well as protect lives and properties. President Goodluck Jonathan said he was saddened by the incident and its continuing nature despite efforts made by government to arrest the menace of suicide bombing by extremist groups in the North. As an aftermath, the president went a step ahead to relieve the Defence Minister, Alhaji Bello Mohammed and the National Security Adviser, retired General Alexander Owoye Azazi of their positions in what government sources described as politically expedient.The nature of the bombing seems to up the stake over previous actions and inclines towards dangerous grounds of reprisal. The consequent exodus from the affected areas, of non-indigenes tends to create a new hegemony and spatial control by the terrorist sect. Only recently, 30 youth organisations in the South-East met to discuss possible payback measures while the South-West-based Odua People's Congress (OPC) warned against any attack by the Islamic sect in its own enclave.These developments are not healthy for the polity and without doubt, tilt the country towards the precipice.From observations and analysis of the way in which government has engaged with the insurgency of Boko Haram, it can be inferred that the efforts and methods employed have been largely disconcerted. The NSA can advise the president, but other specialised agencies of government are to lead the fight. There appeared to be no coordinated effort and for that matter, no single command within the security forces engaged with the fight against the activities of Boko Haram. This has engendered a security dilemma with a possible absence of mutual confidence amongst sister security organisations. The possibility of fifth columnist within the forces is not to be ruled out. As the incidents in Zaria points out, an army post within the vicinity of the church was dismantled a day before the bomb attack. Is this a mere coincidence' Professionalism is called for in dealing with the current problem and the failure so far is a manifestation of systemic collapseAbinitio, occupying space and population by the security forces could have whittled down the influence and spatial maneuverability of the insurgents, who in the current situation are a bunch of irregulars. Although, the Federal Government appears to be fully tasked to curtail the problem, its best is not enough. Indeed it can and should do better. Thinking resources are required to supersede the crisis. The exigency of the times demands a retooling of strategy. An appeal to the people who are at the receiving end of the terrorist activities is an important first step. Islam, as faithfuls have all unanimously asserted, does not support violence; so also is Christianity. In addition, the government needs to go beyond military approach to harness the cultural potentials of the country. Traditional institutions, closer to the people at the grassroots, should educate and activate traditional mechanisms of security. Also, external resources should be harnessed in dealing with the problem. This should be done in ways that does not undermine national sovereignty.The terrorist groups in the country, especially Boko Haram as revealed by Algerian government sources sometime ago, do have links with Al-Qaeda in the Maghreb (AQM) and this latter group is part of the global terrorism network. Therefore, Nigerians expect to see a new structure to tackle decisively the scourge of terrorism already taking its toll on the national psyche.
Click here to read full news..
