Threats of terrorism in Nigeria, by Yabagi Musa Ibrahim

Nigeria has mostly been on national and international news for numerous crimes like 419, bribery and electoral malpractices. Today, however, the case is different as security issues have become not only worrisome but highly challenging to our nationhood. The North Eastern part of Nigeria, where the terrorists mostly carry out their inhuman and deadly activities, has witnessed and is still witnessing huge and tremendous attacks from the insurgents.
Atrocities including killings, rapping, kidnappings, abduction of women and children are the bizarre outcomes of the menace of the dreaded terrorists tagged Boko Haram. Those that live in Maiduguri and other parts of Borno State live in fear. The thought of who would be the nest victim of the insurgents never fails to occupy the minds of the teeming populace of Borno State.
I have lost count of the number of villages that were seized by the insurgents in the recent time. Thousands of lives were lost on daily basis and many family members are disintegrated. Those who flee to Maiduguri, the state capital, during the attack by Boko Haram are reduced to mere beggars as they engage in street begging for survival. Many families are disentangled as a result. Children and women roam about in search of refuge. I sometimes wonder how terrible it is to be turned into refugee in one’s home town.
I believe this is why hope should not be lost in the government and the security agents. Pitiable as it looks, people are meant to believe that the government is still finding an effective way or measure to tackle the insurgency or horror in the North East.
The frequency of President Goodluck Jonathan’s promises to tackle the over four years insurgency in the North is yet to yield any positive result. Kashim Shettima, the Governor of Borno State, once exclaimed that the insurgents are more sophisticated than the Nigeria military and that the Federal Government is not taking the security issues in the North seriously. This singular comment almost cost Shettima some national fortunes as the President threatened to pull out the troops from the North for one month.
I believe Boko Haram is not stronger than the military. The reality is that the government is not ready to tackle the menace of the insurgents. Otherwise, how can the military, professionally trained, shiver any time the insurgents strike? Where does the problem lie? Is the Nigerian government not rich enough to upgrade the equipment of the Armed Forces and motivate the soldiers without borrowing some money?
That means the sponsors of Boko Haram must be very rich since the Nigerian government has to borrow $1 billion (about N165 billion) to tackle some security issues in the country.
Jonathan’s administration need be reminded that it is the first responsibility of the government to protect the lives and property of its citizens, irrespective of party differences. No section of the federation should be neglected, marginalized or sidelined on the basis of party differences. As a student of the University of Maiduguri, I hardly sleep in the night as the fear that the insurgents may attack the school anytime always lingers in my mind. I therefore urge all Nigerians to pray for Nigeria, especially the North East.
Yabagi is of the Department of Mass Communication, University of Maiduguri, Borno State.