THESE days, the issue that is of most concern for many Nigerians residentabroad is the prevalent insecurity at home. They do not only rely on thepower of the internet, but also make frequent calls to their acquaintances at home to ascertain the veracity or otherwise of information that they read, receive or source from other means, concerning the security situation at home. Though they are also particularly wary about the menace of corruption in high places, a sizeable number of these compatriots often express their fears over personal safety if they have to hearken to frequent appeals by the authorities that they return home to contribute their quota to national development. Security, as we all know, is a key element in Abraham Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs.These Nigerians in the diaspora are concerned about the rampancy of kidnapping, which to many of them, was hitherto limited to certain sections of the South. They are concerned about the nation's security agencies, which they contend often caught napping because of certain inadequacies that hamper their effective and efficient operations such as bureaucracy and lack of modern technology.Those compatriots are worried that some citizens, including professionals such doctors and engineers are kidnapped apparently at will, only for their relations to swiftly look for money to secure their freedom from their abductors. They find it inexplicable and incomprehensible how kidnappers often collect ransoms without being trapped by security nets or banks. Our compatriots in foreign lands are equally concerned that the poorly equipped police and other law enforcement agencies are often made to go through undue risks by confronting criminals armed with more sophisticated and modern weapons, thus, their inability to overpower them during confrontations: be it minor or major ones.Those Nigerians abroad are also apprehensive about information flow in the security circle and various levels in the larger society. They wonder how a man would leave a bank after making a handsome withdrawal for commercial transactions, only to be viciously attacked by armed men, after stepping out of the banking hall. These Nigerians are bothered by the fact that it is increasingly becoming difficult to trust government, its agencies and in fact, anyone in the Nigerian society because of the forms and shape of criminality in the country.For example, a woman recently made a trip to London. She was expected to return to Nigeria on a Thursday. But a slight adjustment in flight schedule by an airline delayed her return journey by 24 hours. On the wee hours of Friday, some bandits swooped on her residence in an eyebrow part of Lagos metropolis. Apart from removing all valuables, the criminals pummeled all her relations found in the building in frustration that she had failed to arrive Nigeria that particular day. Then, who could have been the informant for those criminals'Some other people have not been that lucky faced with similar circumstances on the activities of these undesirable elements that employ varying degrees of antics, including strange telephone calls and letters with fictitious names. One of their tactics that is fast-gaining ground is to send text messages to their potential victim seeking a favour. I remember receiving one in which a lady requested I credited her account with a specific amount of money. Hardly had I completed reading the text which included an account number with one of the new generation banks that a female voice called claiming to be a friend of the author of the text. Because I was becoming too curious about the identity of the fellow, she decided to hand over the phone to the lady, a supposed female student in the hostel of a higher institution in the country. The conversation ended in a disappointment on her side because it takes two tangle.There is yet another case which is bound to teach many on the need to be more conscious and vigilant about their security. A young and enterprising Nigerian professional recently came back from the United States, where he was among key participants at an event organised by an international body. To his consternation, he came under a bombardment of text messages from a 'conman' pretending to be an amiable fellow. He wanted part of the huge US dollars he came back with after sweating it out at the annual international conference. Our friend queried the impostor if they had ever crossed each other's path. Of course, the 'smart' guy claimed to know his prospective victim very well and that he should not bother about his own identity and background. He forwarded his 'name' and account number with one of the leading first generation banks. He accompanied his series of text messages with intermittent phone calls, thinking he could weary the man to the point of crediting the bank account with 'salivating' funds.It takes a divine grace for anyone to be able to overcome these and many more antics of such faceless criminals who appear to be cashing on several missing links in our system. I am sure there are many citizens whose have had similar and even worst experiences in the hands of the criminals. It is only in rare cases that those victims approached appropriate quarters for action just because of their seeming loss of confidence in government agencies and us as a people. Then, which way Nigerians' -Oderemi, 08023501874 (SMS only)FEEDBACK: Sanusi: Mallam, don't teach us nonsense:'I read your piece Mr. Oderemi, very interesting. Maybe, most of such people still don't believe that all their actions and inactions at home are on the internet. We all know what is going on back home. Imagine the number of years Nigerians have suffered from a few Northerners claiming the country belongs to them! But, I often ask fellow compatriots resident abroad: what is that guy still doing in that office with all the controversies and negative effects of his policies' Anyway, my brother, I applaud you for speaking out on behalf of fellow Nigerians. But, I believe we are getting nearer the time for him to go.' ['19725377609]...................................'A good write up. Sanusi is just like many other Nigerians who are out of tune with realities in the country. He's out of touch with the real struggle of everyday life of Nigerians.' 'Sonibare [08033702536] in Osogbo....................................'Oderemi, God bless you as regards your article, 'Mallam, don't teach us nonsense,' - [08077932360]...................................But who can stop 'Hurricane' Sanusi' The National Assembly does not have statutory powers to regulate CBN's monetary policies. Our president appears to be scared of the man. But one day, just one day, Sanusi's insult on our sensibilities will be over. ' - Jones Nwogu [08035458384], Aba....................................'The article was lovely and incisive. Just plain good!' - [08023173478]
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