By Lawan Musa D. Baba Lawan
31/10/2024
The insecurity that nearly destroyed the socioeconomic activities in Northern Nigeria is on the verge of eradication. This crisis affected 17 of the 19 northern states, plunging them into blackout for more than two weeks. Transmission company operations were disrupted by bandit activities in the region. However, as part of President Tinubu's Renewed Hope Agenda, engineers are working tirelessly to restore power to the North.
In response to the ongoing crisis, governors, emirs, and chiefs of the 19 northern states held a two-day meeting to find a concrete solution. The Northern Governors’ and Emirs’ Forum urged lawmakers to reject the recent tax increase proposal from the presidency, arguing that such an increase would add to the region’s social and economic difficulties, heightening discontent.
President Tinubu, as part of his Renewed Hope Agenda, is expected to reconsider his stance after the Northern governors meet with him to address the insecurity that has stifled economic activities across the region.
Northern Nigeria faces a complex range of insecurity issues deeply rooted in socio-economic, political, ethnic, and religious tensions. At the core of this crisis is banditry, a phenomenon that has evolved significantly. Once embedded in societal structures, banditry has now turned more violent, exacerbated by the influx of modern weaponry and the disintegration of traditional social frameworks.
In addition to banditry, Islamist insurgencies like Boko Haram and its offshoot, the Islamic State in West Africa Province (ISWAP), have reshaped the security and socio-political landscape over the past decade. Initially a critique against Western education, these insurgencies have intertwined with local banditry, escalating the region's challenges. Farmer-herder conflicts, driven by climate change and dwindling resources, have added further ethnic and religious dimensions to these tensions. Religious extremism and historical grievances also play a role, intensifying violence.
Arms and drug trafficking across regional borders compounds this insecurity, with cross-border networks facilitating the flow of illegal weapons. This proliferation of weaponry has heightened violence, creating a significant hurdle to peace.
The Nigerian government’s Renewed Hope Agenda combines military and socio-economic strategies, emphasizing community engagement and state cooperation as key to restoring peace. Under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the All Progressive Congress (APC) is actively working to address these issues.
Addressing Northern Nigeria’s security challenges requires a comprehensive approach. This includes a strategy that merges military, political, and socio-economic efforts, emphasizing cross-border cooperation, youth empowerment, and the strengthening of local institutions. Inclusive dialogue and preventive measures are essential for ensuring long-term security.
Insecurity Threats in Northern Nigeria
Northern Nigeria faces diverse security challenges across all three geopolitical zones. These issues include insurgency, terrorism, communal clashes, banditry, kidnapping, and piracy, all fueled by entrenched socio-economic, ethnic, and religious tensions. The Northeast has been severely impacted by the Boko Haram insurgency, leading to a humanitarian crisis. The Northwest grapples with banditry and kidnapping, resulting in lives lost and communities displaced. Meanwhile, the North-Central region faces farmer-herder clashes over land disputes and environmental degradation, further straining communal relations.
The trade in arms and ammunition has become alarmingly profitable, with a single bullet costing between N2,000 to N5,000, and high-caliber weapons fetching prices as high as N5 million. This has driven more individuals to enter the arms trade, especially in the Northwest. Traffickers employ sophisticated networks and methods, such as concealing weapons within vehicle compartments, agricultural cargo, and even using animals to transport arms undetected.
This unchecked arms trade exacerbates insecurity and complicates peace efforts, aggravated by corrupt elements and the global reach of trafficking networks. Addressing this crisis calls for a multifaceted approach that includes tighter security, regional cooperation, and tackling the demand for illegal arms.
Confronting the Challenges
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda offers a holistic framework to address insecurity, focusing on bolstering security forces, community-based security initiatives, and socio-economic development. This approach aims to tackle the root causes of insecurity by addressing poverty, unemployment, social marginalization, and ethnic tensions.
Deliberately appointing Northerners to key security positions, President Tinubu aims to leverage local insight in crafting solutions. Since this administration took office, there has been a marked reduction in organized terrorist attacks. Previously dangerous routes, such as Abuja-Kaduna and Zaria-Kano, are now safe for travel, signaling significant progress in reducing violence.
On the kinetic front, military operations such as Operation Hadin Kai and Operation Safe Haven are targeting insurgents and bandits in Northern Nigeria. Joint task forces comprising military and police units conduct raids, patrols, and targeted operations to curb insurgent and criminal activities. Additionally, border security has been prioritized to prevent the influx of insurgents and illicit goods, with enhanced intelligence gathering playing a key role.
The government is also prioritizing non-kinetic, counterinsurgency strategies to win community trust, which includes humanitarian assistance, reconciliation, and deradicalization programs. Infrastructure development, job creation, and improved education and healthcare services are critical parts of this approach.
In October, a pivotal meeting was held in Kaduna, gathering the 19 Northern governors, emirs, and chiefs to address these issues. The meeting concluded with a call for lawmakers to reject the proposed tax increase and pursue economic and security solutions in collaboration with the presidency.
In conclusion, there is hope that the current insecurity will one day become history for Northern Nigeria and the country as a whole. With sustained effort and cooperation, Nigeria can once again achieve peace and regain its strength.
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Opinion