The definition of insanity is doing same thing over and over and expecting a different result. Another unspeakable crime just occurred in Ore Junction. Mrs. Funke Olakunrin, 58-year-old daughter of Afenifere leader, Mr. Reuben Fasoranti was killed during attempted kidnapping. It is alleged that the perpetrators are Fulani Herdsmen. The fact of the matter is that a horrible and senseless crime has taken place once again in Nigeria irrespective of whom the perpetrator or perpetrators are.
The insecurity in Nigeria today is alarming. People are being kidnapped, maimed and killed around the country. The northern states of Nigeria that has been spared from kidnapping is now awash with kidnappers and brutal killings if requested ransome are not paid by the relatives of the kidnapped victim. The Fulani herdsman values their cows more than human life. They do not hesitate to chop off hands or head of anybody who dare to tell them that they cannot graze on their land. The whole situation is now compounded by the fact that the Herdsmen now realize that they can now make millions of Naira by kidnapping their fellow Nigerians.
The president is now promising to send the military and the police to major roads along ore junction and to major Lagos highways. The military will go there and did what they did in Kaduna to Abuja highway which resulted in another ineffective response. Nigerian military can only afford to stay there for a while before being re-deployment to other hot spots.
The problem with security in Nigeria is over centralization of Nigeria police force. Centralized police force overseen by the Inspector General of Police is just ineffective because they are not trusted by the locals and they do not quite know the people they are protecting. Nigeria needs layers of security agencies in-order to provide adequate security throughout the nation. State, Local Government Area police must be established if Nigerian government is serious about security. Each town should also be allowed to establish local police force if they wish and can afford it. The federal government can keep federal police force if they wish so they can help state and local government police force when necessary since they are likely to have more superior weapons. A criminal cannot elude Local government Area, state and federal police force. Nigeria has practiced centralized policing for decades, but the result is rampant insecurity throughout the country.
The executive and the legislative arm need to move fast on the issue of establishment of State and Local government police force. Centralized police structure Nigeria has now is unsustainable. Former deputy senate president, Mr. Ekweremadu has a very good proposal on the modalities for establishing state and local police force. Kidnapping and various criminal activities that has spread to all parts of Nigeria is depressing foreign investment. Nigeria cannot move forward until security issue is addressed. Nigerians in diaspora are getting scared of coming home which will mean less foreign exchange for Nigerian economy. Nigeria do not have to re-invent the wheel. Local policing is the way advanced western countries such as United States, Britain, France etc.have effectively addressed their security problems. It is not perfect but it is far better than what we have now.