By Yemi Enitan
Let me begin by quoting a line from the Lord’s Prayer: “As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be…”
Security challenges in Nigeria did not begin today. They have persisted through successive administrations and did not originate during President Tinubu’s tenure.
The difference, however, is that the rate of insecurity today is significantly higher than it was 65 years ago.
Do you recall Christopher Anini, the notorious armed robber during the Babangida regime in the 1980s? Were there not many armed robbers before and after him? Can you remember that kidnappers existed in the 1960s and 1980s, though the rate of kidnapping then was far lower than it is today? Ritualists have long been part of our society, and they still exist.
If we ask ourselves what the root causes of insecurity are, we’ll get varied answers. Some may point to economic hardship, others to peer pressure, and some to a lack of contentment.
Let’s reflect again: Is hunger more widespread today than in previous years? Yes. The hunger of yesteryears cannot compare to the hunger of today. And yes, insecurity existed in the past. But can we say insecurity is a direct result of hunger?
Everything evolves as the world changes. The more advanced and civilised we become, the more complex and widespread insecurity becomes. We may never eliminate insecurity, but we can certainly reduce it if we truly commit to doing so.
Take, for example, a scenario where you leave your house open, with money on the table, and step out. Can you confidently say the money will still be there when you return, especially with people passing by?
Now imagine you lock your door and leave the money in the same spot. Chances are, when you return, the money will still be there.
You cannot keep doing the same thing the same way and expect different results. That’s foolishness.
The most viable solution is to establish the State Police. This would strengthen security at the grassroots level.
In summary, Nigeria’s security challenges have worsened over the past 65 years. The solution lies not in blaming the current administration, but in implementing structural reforms, starting with the State Police.
Barrister Yemi Enitan is the Director of Research and Media at the Civil Liberties Organisation (CLO).
