Nigerians lose confidence in govt, adopt survival strategies to cope with insecurity 

A growing number of Nigerians in different parts of country suffering insecurity may have lost confidence in the assurances of government, and the ability of security agencies to secure them from terrorists and bandits, and consequently, now resort to survival strategies to cope with the situation.

With the threat spreading far beyond the epicenters in the Northeast and Northwest to the North central, communities are seeking ways to live safely with the situation without depending on government for their safety.

The incessant attacks by bandits and insurgencies – Ansaru, Boko Haram, and Islamic State West Africa Province – have defied solution by three administrations, which has left the country desolate and helpless.

Right from 2009 when Boko Haram came into the front burner with its regime of terror – killings, abductions and displacement of communities, Nigeria has witnessed the death of innocence, and in the years after the emergence of Boko Haram doctrinal schism has split the group into splinters, wreaking havoc across many communities in the Northeast.

From 2014, a new dimension of terror emerged in form of banditry, initially it started as cattle rustling before it morphed into full terror, sacking communities, imposing  their own taxation, exerting from the people protection money, and making social and economic life a form of hell for the people in Northwest and North Central part of country, mainly Zamfara, Sokoto, Katsina, Kebbi, Benue, Plateau, Niger, Kwara and Kogi States.

Life under terror: North Central

Kogi state has lately borne the brunt of terror unleashed by bandits, robbing a large chunks of the people off their social and economic life. From Kabba to Egbe, down to Bunnu, a stretch of massive lands that comprise five local governments, the people live in fear, their agrarian life disrupted because of fear of further attacks by bandits.

The case of Egbe town, an agrarian community with a nationally famous  ECWA Hospital, is instructive. The community like any other in Kogi has had a long association with the Fulani herdsmen, who had over decades settled in their midst living peacefully, especially in forestry suburbs, but as from 2015  gun-totting variety of Fulani came in calmly, initially peaceful. The indigenes were happy because they could buy their goods at twice the market price. Then, they began to flirt with their women both married and unmarried using money as inducements.

In no time, they began to extend their settlements close to the town, and started kidnapping people for ransom with connivance of some indigenes, who receive ‘cut’ from the kidnap business. Reliable sources informed this medium that as at today, these bandits have more than 20 children from their unions with indigenous women. Some they are married to. Last week, they murdered three indigenes, such that by 7pm the town turns ghostly as people remain indoors.

A community leader in Egbe, Samuel Kayode told Business Hallmark that  “Before our very eyes, the bandits are gradually creating fear in us, taking our women, disrupting our way of life, and dictating the pace of our life without government coming to our aid. For how long are we going to be at the mercy of these foreign Fulani  we called bandits?”

Now, Business Hallmark learnt that the town has formed vigilantes to combat the threat.

Egbe experience is symptomatic of what happens in different parts of Kogi from Kabba – Obajana axis to Dekina area. Indigenes hardly stay outdoors beyond 7pm totally subscribing bubbly social life.

Farmers go to farms in groups and in fear, as many have been attacked and abducted. Some months ago, a lieutenant colonel was abducted around Obajana as he was coming from Mopa-Muro LGA, he reportedly spent 12 days in captivity and was only released when ransom was paid.

Last week, local militias in Aiyetoro Gbede Kabba Bunu LGA, who organized themselves to protect their Communities against bandits collaborated with

troops of the 12 Brigade, Nigerian Army, operating under Operation Accord III, in collaboration with Other Hybrid Forces (OHF),  achieved a major breakthrough in their efforts to rid Kogi State of banditry and criminal activities. They were able to capture Babangida Kachalla, bandits commander.

Self Help Defense

Only last week residents of Shagari and Bimasa communities in Sokoto State on Thursday launched counterattacks against bandits, rescuing kidnapped relatives and reportedly killing at least 15 of the attackers.

Sources told Business Hallmark  that the villagers, armed with locally made weapons, tracked the bandits into the forest after a series of raids on their communities in Shagari and Tureta Local Government Areas.

Some threatened to take up arms in self-defence if adequate security measures were not deployed. They also called for the deployment of more security personnel to restore calm and protect rural communities from further raids.

Professor Ambali Igwe  a sociologist who specializes in criminology told Business Hallmark that ” In different parts of the country, it’s like a situation of war. Many communities from the southeast to North central to Northwest, especially rural communities are in a Hobbesian state where life is short.

People in these troubled communities have lost faith in government. If you look at what is happening now, this thing is gradually spreading toward the southwest that is historically immune from this virus. Kwara and Kogi are gradually being taken over by bandits, and the government is treating this with kid gloves.