By Chesa Chesa
A vital strategy to checkmate spiralling insecurity in Nigeria is to improve collaboration between security agencies and civilians to ensure communities feel safe enough to proffer important information/intelligence on existing and emerging threats.
This is one of the submissions of the bimonthly report (January-February) produced by Nextier, a public policy and multi-competency firm that addresses complex socio-economic developmental challenges.
Nextier’s group of researchers warned that “Nigeria may be overrun by insecurity if the government does not act swiftly and tactfully to resolve the rising insurgency and bandit activities, fuelled by ailing social, security, political and economic conditions”.
The report found out that acts of thuggery, gunmen attacks and banditry continue to characterise various regions in Nigeria, even up to the 2023 elections, as these threats have not been solved successfully despite combative efforts by Nigeria’s security agencies.
Besides, “certain political, economic and social factors expose individuals to radicalisation and fuel war or semblance of it in the country, whereas remedying the fast-growing problem requires thoughtful policy mapping and execution”, it stated.
On banditry, the report noted that the government’s response has consisted of raids, killings, and the capture of bandits and some of their prominent leaders.
“About 10 military operations have been launched to combat banditry in the Northwest alone, yet the unrest has remained unresolved”, the report noted, while advising that apart from increasing policing in areas with recurring incidents of bandit attacks, improvements and be made by strengthening the liaison between local vigilantes and security forces for practical actions and results.
“The is a need to intensify efforts to search and mop-up arms in circulation to reduce the circulation of weapons among bandit groups.
Government and development agencies should increase non-combative efforts in banditry-prone communities”, Nextier recommended.
It also noted that security agents have been worst-hit by recurring gunmen attacks across the country, but particularly in the Southeast and where secessionist fervour and actions have negatively impacted people’s productivity and academic activities and limited the region’s investment potential.
“Necessary amendments are desperately needed to enshrine local government autonomy and the devolution of policing power to the sub-national governments for more effective policing.
“A dedicated surveillance team can be established with devices and cameras posted in public spaces to monitor activity and identify offenders in the face of a stretched-thin staff and general insecurity.
This approach can be achieved through the use of telecommunications technology”, while ” identifying hotspots of criminal gunman attacks and prioritising policing in such areas”, Nextier advised.
The report also touched on thuggery, which it noted as a common feature in every electoral cycle in Nigeria, which clogs its democracy like it happened in the 2023 general elections when thugs remained a tool for politicians to advance their aspirations.
“The Southwest recorded the highest violent occurrences, with ten incidents and 13 casualties. These politically motivated attacks mainly occurred in Lagos, a city described as the ‘Centre of Excellence’, the report stated while adding however, that “some thuggery incidents, especially during the elections, were met with police action.
“For instance, operatives of the Nigerian Army gunned down a ballot box snatcher in Dekina, Kogi State. Officials were also accused of conniving with politicians to rig the elections.”
Nextier recommended that “there is a pressing need for the government to act on unemployment rates, as most individuals engaged in thuggery are not gainfully employed.
“Increased security presence in hotspot areas could limit and curb the occurrences of thuggery.
Deterrence through strict punishment of perpetrators could reduce acts of thuggery.”
