New year, new security challenges in Nigeria

PAUL ARHEWE
(Published 03/01/2012)

Christmas Day bombing in Niger state

Those of us who are alive to witness and partake in the celebrations that ushered in the New Year, especially against the backdrop of the enormous security challenges facing our country Nigeria, would definitely be grateful even when the country is still in a lugubrious disposition following the last Christmas Day bombings amid other senseless serial killings and maiming that characterised 2011.

While as a country we may be optimistic that the New Year comes with a miraculous salve that would immune it from the not too pleasant security malaise Nigeria experienced last year, the reality is that the New Year indeed comes with more new challenges for the country; especially in the area of securing the lives and properties of the people. It then behooves President Goodluck Jonathan to take charge and revamp the country's security apparatus by discarding ineffective and wane hands, or allow the situation to crumble his government in the New Year
The country's security network that should be a soothing factor and beacon of hope to the already traumatised and fear engrossed Nigerians, is even seeking for protection from the conscienceless Boko Haram sect. The National Security Adviser (NSA) General Owoye Azazi last week, to the bewilderment of the public, said it is difficult to effectively police a large country like Nigeria. It is absolutely difficult to man every point of the country when there are security problems. Like I have said before, there is need for security awareness.

There is need for public participation so that there must be cooperation between security and the society for us to make progress. Such defeatist statement is one that helps to attest to the hopelessness in relying on a feeble security network to safeguard the populace amid rising crimes; the more reason why citizenry participation through information dissemination is required for a successful policing of the country. Nigeria is currently inundated by myriad of crimes that is threatening to tear down its existence. Perpetrators of crimes like armed robbery, kidnapping, terrorism and bombings, raping, cultism, cybercrimes; among others are consolidating and adopting more advanced approaches in their infamous activities while our security network is still relying on anachronistic and colonial era strategy in combating these 21st century menace.
The coordinated Christmas Day bombings in St. Theresa Catholic church, Madalla in Niger state and another at Mountain of Fire Church, in Jos Plateau and other attacks in Damaturu in Yobe and Adamawa states that claimed about 40 lives is indeed one too many in a chain of attacks where human carnages have continued to mount following the non-curtailed activities of the Islamist sect. Though, previously the sect group attacks have left many, including Muslims and northerners as victims, without handpicking a particular religion or ethnic group as its targets.
The Christmas Day bombing has taken a new pattern; targeting Christian worshippers. Boko Haram has shown to the world that the predilection for bloodletting is beyond the political struggle that some people before now think that is their raison tre, but one that has expanded to sheer hatred, religious intolerance and the desire to see this country burn down into ashes. Can Nigeria survive a religious war? History has shown that it is difficult for any nation to survive the bitter leftovers of religious war. We are still one country after the civil war of between 1967 and January 1970, which was a purely sectarian strife.

Religious war cuts deeper into ethnic divides. The country may not survive a religious war. A reprisal attack last week in Sapele, Delta State, where some Muslims were injured in an Arabic school, is an indication that government needs to step up its strategy in curbing the excesses of Boko Haram to prevent the spring up of other counter groups that would definitely pose a bigger task for our security forces to handle.

While the Sultan of Sokoto and many prominent Islamic leaders and scholars have openly condemned the inhuman and atrocious act targeted at innocent Christian worshippers, more need to be done by the apex Muslim body in the country and Islamist leaders in putting a stop to these incessant killings.

Usually the sect camouflaged their callous activities professing to be fighting the cause of Islam. While far reaching campaigns and orientation by the highest Islamist body in the country is germane to winning the battle, the Muslim body should totally disassociate itself and help security forces in fishing out these faceless sect members and their sponsors. Information dissemination at the appropriate time is inevitable in ensuring a well secured Nigeria. Happy New Year!