RE: NOW WE CAN’T EVEN GO TO ABUJA! (II)
With the recent parade of dozens of suspected kidnappers arrested in and around the villages and forests along the Abuja-Kaduna highway, it is our hope and prayer that we have turned the corner on this highly traumatic and embarrassing situation that befell us in recent times; that is incessant kidnapping. We congratulate the police for […]
With the recent parade of dozens of suspected kidnappers arrested in and around the villages and forests along the Abuja-Kaduna highway, it is our hope and prayer that we have turned the corner on this highly traumatic and embarrassing situation that befell us in recent times; that is incessant kidnapping. We congratulate the police for the job well done, and wish them all the best! We look forward to a time when this page will celebrate a full year without kidnapping, not only on this road but all over the country. Amin Ya Allah!
On this final episode on this matter, I will here repeat THE TRIPOD SOLUTION of what I think could be the best way out of this calamity – the Watchtower; The Mobility; and The Transfer.
On Watchtower, this is a simple technology which has been deployed in insecurity situations. Most military barracks in the country have built them after recent Boko Haram attacks. As an emergency measure, manned watchtowers should be built especially near the “flashpoints” of kidnapping activities, more preferably throughout that road, and most preferably all over the country. I am sure many corporate entities and diplomatic missions will rush to assist as part of their Corporate Social Responsibility. The watchtowers, which should be manned 24/7 and well lighted at night, with binoculars and walkie-talkies, could help security people see deep into the hinterland, alerting “ground forces” to strike or prevent.
On Mobility, the patrols on Abuja-Kaduna road – Operation Yaki, Safer Highways etc. – are mostly stationary. Sometimes they claim “there is no fuel” according to the many informants along the road who had cause to report mishaps. I am sure this cannot be believable as there is no way the Police High Command and State Commands assisted by State Governments will deploy patrols without fuel. Although of course “the wearer of the shoe knows exactly where it pinches”, patrols must be mobile for them to deserve the term ‘patrols.’ With watchtowers in place to complement their work, mobile patrols can be very effective.
On Transfer, many people (and we speak for the people) are of the opinion that there should be a massive transfer of all security officers, rank and file manning that road out to, say, Bayelsa, and an equivalent number be brought in from elsewhere (hoping that the new ones will be unfamiliar to the environment hence may be more “straight”). The recent statements of the people of Rijana to the Minister of Interior must not be swept under any dirty carpet. In this season of whistle blowing, one wonders why bankers (and neighbours) of suspected compromised security people are not blowing.
Finally, last week, I had apologised to a few people for not relaying their comments on the original “Now We Can’t Go To Abuja”. Now that we are extending the matter to cover this week, I may as well bring them in:
KACH SAMA [email protected]: “Are you insinuating that people of middle belt are the kidnappers on Abuja-Kaduna road? Well, so far those arrested are mostly from your own North West (or Far North). These are the same people ravaging the Middle Belt using Fulani herdsmen, and they are manipulating Boko Haram for political gain.”
COLUMNIST: “Actually, my brother Kach, I do not in any manner or form insinuate that the good people of the Middle Belt are the kidnappers. Indeed, our own people are the major culprits, and the victims. To quote from another respondent on the original article, “…Taking the write-up on its face value, Bala is telling the world that Nigerians from the North West and North East can’t even travel to Abuja…implying that kidnappers may have succeeded where Orkar and his fellow coupists failed in excising the zones from Nigeria…” So the context is that Orkar didn’t succeed in “excising” us from Nigeria but we have technically now been under a government we toiled, with others, to bring to power.
ABBATI GUMEL [email protected]: This issue of incessant kidnapping in Nigeria is most unfortunate for the development of the county. The country finds itself in this very embarrassing situation because of so many factors – corruption and poverty being the main culprits. The Buhari Administration must continue to address these dual monsters before they do us in. What the Administration has so far done in bringing some security in the country is appreciated, acknowledged and commended, but there is a lot to do in the area of kidnapping which, to say the least, is the most embarrassing insecurity threat. Does it mean that the security outfits lack the manpower, modern tools and facilities to engage the criminals? The ability to recruit, train and retrain is necessary in order to beat the escalating crimes. The earlier the government takes immediate action, the better. State governments where these atrocities are occurring cannot fold their arms and enjoy the security votes on frivolous expenditure. The perpetrators as well as the insiders to these crimes know fully well that looted funds and kidnapping ransoms are being stashed away in houses, farms and other strange hideouts. This has made kidnapping a lucrative business.
JACOB KWAGA [email protected]: “Na Wa O My Brother! May God continue to protect us as we of necessity have to continue to ply that road. We also hope the government will heed the advice given. But out of curiosity, is there a link between those who kidnap on that road and the clamour for restructuring? As a so-called Northern Christian minority, as you know, I sometimes feel like not being wanted. It is not like when we were growing up in the 60s and 70s. Then the sky was the limit for us all, and merit counted. But to a large extent not any more. There is a wedge sown somewhere and the North is struggling with political power. So the starting point is that the north is divided. I beg to stop here. Thanks for a good piece as usual.”
COLUMNIST: “My good friend and brother Prof – Amen to your prayer. You are one of the most balanced persons from that part of the country I have ever had to interact with. I quite understand where you are coming from, and where you are heading. I quite agree that the North is divided – sadly not by you or by me, but by selfish leaders whom we are unfortunate to have. Have we (you and I) ever “fought” based on tribe or tongue in ASUU? No! And you are wanted – just wait until we get there!”
MT USMAN [email protected]: “The Kaduna-Abuja train service is a partial solution to the dilemma facing travellers between these two cities. First, the frequency of service is low, two times either way per day with three coaches at most. More worrying is the distinct possibility of the kidnappers staging “train robbery” somewhere along the rail-line. It’s not a far-fetched idea given the audacity with which they execute their devilish activity. Security agencies practice static patrol with their locations known: kidnappers simply operate between these posts. The need is for mobile patrols in constant communication with one another and with the command base, use of decoys and sustained raiding of the surrounding forests along the highway. Prolonged control of the Kaduna-Abuja highway and indeed all kidnap-prone areas across the country is an indictment of not just the security agencies but of government itself, which we trust to do the needful.”
In sha Allah we shall soon sing ‘Now We Can Go To Abuja Again!’