Following the recent spate of insecurity in the country ranging from vicious attacks on local communities to kidnappings by bandits and criminal groups across regions, the Housing Development Advocacy Network (HDAN), has said it’s important that Governments at all levels adopt a multipronged approach in tackling the nation’s security challenges.
HDAN’s executive director, Festus Adebayo, said despite governments’ acclaimed attempts, Nigeria’s security situation is deteriorating, hence, the continuous massacre and abduction of innocent citizens across the country.
“The recent attack and gruesome killing of worshippers at the catholic church in Owo, Ondo State, confirmed the country’s poor security situation. Notably, the remarkable surge in violent attacks across the country is a clear indication that no region is safe anymore.
“While the long-term security nightmare seems unending, the effectiveness of the government’s response is important to determine the safety and sustainability of Nigerians most especially in this trying time. Besides immediate efforts to contain the dastard acts, it will be even more urgent to address bottlenecks that hinder the effectiveness of the nation’s security architecture.
“We can’t continue to advocate for housing when the citizens whom we are advocating for are being killed like chickens on a daily basis. We won’t fold our arms and watch the continuous shedding of innocent blood”, Adebayo said.
According to him, to effectively tackle the security problems confronting the nation, the federal government must work with state governments to solve the immediate challenge of inter-state border porosity.
“Consistent efforts to recruit, train, and station suitably equipped security personnel in the regions can improve monitoring and halt the stream of weaponry entering the regions and states of the federation.
“Furthermore, eliminating corruption is critical because border patrol is somewhat a lucrative business for security troops. The current military reaction, especially the one related to the recent attack on Samuel Kanu, Prelate of the Methodist Church of Nigeria must also be sustained through strategic collaboration with the Nigerian police force’s counterterrorism section, while drone surveillance and anti-banditry bombardment must be maintained and strengthened”, he stressed.
The HDAN boss emphasised the need for creation of a bilateral joint task forces between Nigeria and other neighbouring countries to function as trans-borders security forces adequately resourced and administered through both countries’ immigration and customs services, ading that “the unified task force should be accompanied with rapid and precise action to prevent large-scale terrorist and bandit movements across national borders.”
To create resilient communities against terrorism, Adebayo added that the federal and state governments must work together with established religious and traditional institutions to stem the ugly trend.
