Table of Contents
- Security Challenges in Nigeria
- Government Response to Insecurity
- Agreed Solutions by Political Leaders
- Issues in a Modern State
- Embarrassment to Nigeria
Human rights attorney Femi Falana has stated that Nigeria’s inability to tackle internal security issues and inconsistent policies has rendered the nation susceptible to external criticism and threats, including recent remarks made by United States President Donald Trump.
Falana made this assertion on Wednesday while responding to questions during Channels Television’s Politics Today program.
The prominent lawyer expressed that Nigeria is “in trouble” because successive administrations have overlooked agreed-upon solutions to ongoing national issues, particularly insecurity and conflicts between farmers and herders.
Referencing political analyst Professor Jibrin Ibrahim, Falana pointed out that the narrative of “Christian genocide” in Nigeria has been allowed to proliferate unchecked in international forums due to the government’s ineffective response.
He stated: “According to Professor Jibrin Ibrahim, a respected intellectual, this campaign of Christian genocide in Nigeria has been ongoing for eight years without any challenge from the government. Individuals travel to the US and return, propagating this narrative about Christian genocide in Nigeria without any opposition.
“Have we examined the solutions that have been proposed and accepted by political leaders in Nigeria to tackle some of these issues?
“When Governor Simon Lalong, now a Senator, was the chair of the Northern Governors’ Forum and the late Governor Rotimi Akeredolu was the chair of the Southern Governors’ Forum—at different gatherings, these two organizations reached a consensus to ban open grazing in Nigeria.
“On my way to Abuja yesterday, I observed cattle on the streets of Abuja along the airport road. Nigeria is the only country in the world where this occurs.
“What solutions have these leaders proposed? There should be ranches established across various regions of the country, where enclosures are created for animals to graze. People will plant grass, and some will provide water.
“How can you have a modern state, anywhere in the world, that permits criminal gangs to abduct citizens without any effort to identify and locate them? Family members or victims of kidnapping are compelled to risk substantial amounts of money to pay ransoms to bandits. How can the government allow this?
“They utilize the victims' phones to contact family members, and the distraught family members turn to the police or security agencies for assistance.
“Today, technology has advanced to the point where any phone call can be traced to a specific location. So what do you expect security personnel to do? It’s not to leave family members searching for money to pay ransoms. It’s to raid the criminals' hideouts and ensure the rescue of kidnapping victims. Unless this is done, the crime becomes highly profitable, and that is why we are in trouble.
“We must address this issue. Why have we subjected ourselves to this embarrassment as a nation, being treated as a colony of the United States of America? We cannot even challenge Mr. Trump. How dare he? Where does this hypocrisy originate from?”
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the main security challenges faced by Nigeria?
Nigeria faces various security challenges, including internal conflicts, kidnapping for ransom, and farmer-herder clashes, which have been exacerbated by government inaction and policy inconsistencies.
How has the government responded to these security issues?
The government has been criticized for failing to implement agreed-upon solutions and for allowing damaging narratives, such as the "Christian genocide" claim, to proliferate without adequate rebuttal or action.
What solutions have been proposed by Nigerian political leaders?
Political leaders have proposed solutions such as banning open grazing and establishing ranches to contain livestock, which would help mitigate conflicts between farmers and herders.
Eze Chidiebere Paul
I'm dedicated to creating high-quality content that informs, inspires, and delights. If you have any questions or suggestions, don't hesitate to get in touch. Happy reading!
