Why insecurity persists in Nigeria – Boss Mustapha

Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Mr Boss Mustapha has blamed the incessant insecurity ravaging the country on the shrinking and eroding socio-cultural value system. Mustapha in his remarks at the 4th edition of Security meets Business organised by the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) in Lagos noted that all other […]

Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Mr Boss Mustapha has blamed the incessant insecurity ravaging the country on the shrinking and eroding socio-cultural value system.

Mustapha in his remarks at the 4th edition of Security meets Business organised by the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) in Lagos noted that all other causative factors stem from the eroding socio-cultural value system. He said: “Almost on a daily, weekly and monthly basis, the security agencies kill, maim or arrest large number of criminals and bandits.

“Focusing on terrorism alone, since the very serious crackdowns on the Boko Haram terrorists, several thousands of the fighters have been killed and some of their enclaves have been destroyed. But is it not curious that since the spate of killings of the terrorists and destruction of their enclaves, they keep striking,”

“Certainly, there is a stream or reservoir that is bolstering their ranks. This is evident in the number of suicide missions conducted particularly, by teenagers.

“The question therefore is, how are these entrants into their ranks recruited? They are recruited from our families and communities. The neglected children, the street waifs and drug addicts; they also, conscript the innocent when they forcefully, adopt unwilling persons, and through radicalization,” he lamented.

Mustapha however stated that if Nigerians, at individual and family levels, account for all their children and wards, and take personal interest in their individual development and conduct, they will not be available or willing tools for recruitment to banditry and terrorism.

He also identified debased moral values as a causative factor, which he said brings about disrespect to traditional, religious or civil authority. Mustapha lamented that lack of patriotism, lack of industry and the get-rich-quick syndrome, including putting fate in Ponzi schemes, internet scams and 419 among others have eaten deep into the fabric of the society.