Buhari, service chiefs and insecurity in Nigeria

Nigerians were completely certain that Mr President, as a retired general, a war veteran and only army officer who commanded three of the then four divisions for the Nigerian Army, has what it takes to tackle the country’s security challenges. Based on this, voters  in 2015  had  great  expectation that Mr President was well  positioned […]

Nigerians were completely certain that Mr President, as a retired general, a war veteran and only army officer who commanded three of the then four divisions for the Nigerian Army, has what it takes to tackle the country’s security challenges.

Based on this, voters  in 2015  had  great  expectation that Mr President was well  positioned to deal decisively with all forms of threats to the nation.

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• Kankara kidnapping and matters arising

Nigerians have been complaining that the current service chiefs  have reached they limits and new ones should be tried  but the president  is adamant.

It is very clear  that  the Buhari administration and its security apparatus are not on top of the situation.

People in the northern part of the country are now completely at the mercy of armed gangs who roam towns and villages at will, wreaking havoc.

Early this month, the Sultan of Sokoto and other well-meaning Nigerians lamented the high rate of insecurity, particularly in the  North,  as the bandits are fast overrunning the region.

The latest incident of abduction  in Kankara is an indication that the government and security agencies have not learnt from the unfortunate incidents of the Chibok and Dapchi schoolgirls abduction.

The rising tide of insecurity across northern Nigeria comes amid the government’s faltering strategy to combat a decade-long insurgency that has metastasised into one of the country’s most challenging issues.

I believe strongly that the government and the citizens should evolve strategies in tackling the menace.

It  behoves on every Nigerian to rise to the occasion to support the security agencies toward  securing Nigeria.

Every Nigerian is a major stakeholder and therefore owes it a duty to ensure Nigeria is saved from the quagmire of insecurity.

Nigerians clamour for change  but we do not want to change themselves.  In the North, villagers give information to Boko Haram, kidnappers and bandits.

In the South, families and friends protect drug dealers, yahoo boys. People in high places intercede on behalf of criminals.

Finally President Buhari must listen to the voice of reason by changing his service chiefs especially with the prevailing situation in the country.

Abba Dukawa ([email protected])