Officers need reorientation to face challenges of 21st century - IMSU
The security situation is really alarming; Nigerians are not suicide bombers, so I believe we have been infiltrated by persons who have intentions to disintegrate this nation. If someone makes a pronouncement that “Nigeria may disintegrate before 2015” and we have been witnessing series of bomb blasts, what efforts have we made to trace the makers of the bombs and their origin?
The vehicles that were used for the blast were all registered in this country, who registered them, in what name were they registered and which license office and FRSC office allocated the plate numbers to them? With this, then we can start tracing the bombers. We can politicise some issues, but not security issues. The Federal Government and the state governors should look into this beyond political, ethnicity and religious issue.
The Federal Government can start installing bomb detector or radiation detectors in military and police patrol vans to find bombs. We need to retrain our officers to face the challenges of the 21st century. The military and police personnel are eager to work, but they don’t have the needed tools. The police need to move round neighbourhoods and enlighten the people within their jurisdictions, because most Nigerians don’t watch local televisions and news, they prefer home movies and entertainment stations, so they lack information on the preventive measures on happenings around them.
Ogbu Christian is a 400-level student of the Department of Philosophy, Imo State University (IMSU), Owerri. He is the Students’ Union president.
It is only a political apologist that will not be concerned about the seemingly hopeless level of insecurity in the country.
Nigeria needs intervention, not only divine, but human intervention and the only body or institution through which this can be actualised is the government. As a matter of exigency, the Federal Government which is the de facto custodian of our nation’s security by virtue of section 14(2)(b) of the 1999 Constitution, 2011 as amended, should take productive action or else resign, for the government has all resources necessary for combating the menace, only that political will is missing.
Ibikunle Isaac is a 400-level student of the Faculty of Law, Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife. He is the Students’ Union president.
I believe that insecurity or violence is a universal problem of the whole world, with Nigeria not exempted. And I think that the current conflict is a struggle for survival, because of various interests. But it becomes highly unethical and immoral when it is at the expense of human life.
I strongly advise that those who sponsor or demonstrate these insurgency acts to come out for identification so that the leaders would know what angers them and they could come together in dialogue and put an end to the crises. I believe this is the only way these unidentified people (Boko Haram)’s interest can even be established and achieved, if they really have goals and targets. But without this, the two parties will continue to fight each other to infinity, without knowing why they are fighting and without achieving any goal.
Isiani Kingsley Chukwudi is a 400-level student of the Department of Mass Communication, Institute of Management and Technology (IMT), Enugu. He is the Students’ Union president.
Security is all encompassing, it includes food security, financial security, personal security, national security and so on. But for the purpose of current security challenges bedeviling Nigeria, the national internal security of Nigerians as far as lives and property and indeed, general well-being is concerned is of utmost importance.
More lives are lost in our country through road crashes, maybe transport insecurity, one could say; there is healthcare insecurity, where people die of diseases which could have been prevented if not for lack of commitment and care by our various governments.
I will indict successive governments for causing so many deaths of Nigerians, directly and indirectly, mostly as a result of massive and pervasive corruption, greed, selfishness, lack of political will and conscience and of course, lack of vision and purpose. More importantly, the fundamentalist group, Boko Haram, has continually posed threats to our corporate existence and has already claimed about 1,500 lives this year, let alone thousands of lives that have been cut short since the insurgency started.
So I believe it is high time the Federal Government took decisive measures in tackling this menace as innocent lives are being taken on a daily basis. And although Boko Haram is believed to be politically motivated, I think this is not the time to trade blames as it requires collective effort between the government, well meaning Nigerians and the masses to fight terrorism in Nigeria. The military also needs to adopt a more comprehensive strategy to address the issue of insecurity in the country, address the legitimate concerns of the people of northern Nigeria and protect the rights of all of citizens.
Momodu Daniel Muniru is a 300-level student of the Department of Political Science, Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife. He is the National Secretary of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS).
Other countries also face security challenges, but I believe the difference between them and our country is how they manage the threats; how knowledgeable and prepared they are; how they deploy resources against the threats; how effective they are; how patriotic and how united the people are against threats of insecurity.
According to section 14(2)(b) of Chapter 2 of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1991 (as amended); 14 (2) (b), the security and welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose of government. This implies that the government(s) is ultimately responsible for the security of lives, property, etc of the people of Nigeria.
What the current trend of violence is imprinting on the psyche of Nigerians is that the government security apparatus is incapable of guaranteeing the safety and security of its people. This would, therefore, impact on the general security of the people as the situation promotes fear, while at the same time limiting the peoples’ ability to develop economically.
I, therefore, recommend that our security agencies in the country should be more proactive and not reactive. They shouldn’t wait for a bomb to go off or a community to be kidnapped before acting, because I believe with the intelligence gathered all over Nigeria, it is enough to single out the perpetrators of these acts and bring them to justice.
Marshal-Umukoro Obatarhe is a 300-level student of the Department of Private Law, Delta State University (DELSU), Oleh Campus. He is the Students’ Union president.
Nigeria is certainly under-policedc - UNILORINTHE current security issue in the country is heartbreaking.
It is disheartening that educated elites are mostly involved in these acts, but I wouldn’t blame them, because most of them are graduates and due to frustration of unemployment and under economic development, they get hooked up in this mess. I think government needs to overhaul the security apparatus in the country because the way this sect has been operating without much success on the part of the security agencies give rise for great concern.
Also, there is need for recruitment of fresh blood into the Nigeria Police Force, because the current strength of about 357,000 is grossly below the UN benchmark of one policeman to 400 civilians. With an estimated population of 150 million, Nigeria is certainly under-policed. With adequate hands, training and tools for operational efficiency, then police would be able to curb security issues in Nigeria.
Hassan Modupe Oluwakemi is a 400-level student of the Department of Library and Information Science, University of Ilorin (UNILORIN). She is the Students’ Union vice president.
Excuse of Boko Haram having political dimension does not hold water - UI
The security issue in the country has gone from bad to worse, perhaps the worst yet is still lurking. It seems the country has been lost to Boko Haram that feeds fat on human flesh and blood and seeks to terrorise us into submission.
The insurgency of Boko Haram grows in strength on daily basis under the helpless watch of the government and it seems that our leaders have been robbed of their most basic function of protecting our lives and properties.
While we grapple with the horror of a bomb blast at Nyanya that claimed lives and destroyed properties, another tragedy implanted by Boko Haram struck with the abduction of over 200 of our future mothers and leaders from their secondary school at Chibok, Borno State and perhaps turned into sex slaves by Boko Haram. Funny enough, this happened in a state on which emergency rule has been imposed for about 10 months now. Yet while the local and the international community was focused on bringing back the abducted girls, another bombing occurred at the same Nyanya. Then, we should know at this juncture that there is more to Boko Haram than meets the eye.
With this development, we only have two options: it is either the commander-in-chief faces this matter squarely, treats the insurgents as enemies of the state, crushes their sponsors and collaborators, declares a larger scale war and ruthlessly avenges the blood of our brothers spilled and protect the secularity of the state or submits to the demands of the sect and hands over government to them. The excuse of Boko Haram having political dimension to it does not hold water here, unless the president wants us to believe that he also benefits from this continuous blood spillage. It is time to match ruthlessness with commensurate ruthlessness. If the president cannot utilise any of these options to bringing an end to this reign of terror, then he should toe the path of honour like his contemporaries in saner climes would; the meaning is obvious.
Babatunde Badmus is a 400-level student of the Department of Theatre Arts, University of Ibadan (UI). He is the Students’ Union president.
Killing of innocent Nigerians is alarming - LAUTECH
There is high level insecurity in Nigeria as of today, at all levels of government as a result of lapses on the part of government officials.
A typical instance was the recent bomb blast in Abuja; it shows how insecure the Nigerian society is.
Killing of innocent Nigerians is quite alarming, which the government must proffer a drastic solution to, so as to curb enormous massacre of youths and other innocent Nigerians.
The government should tackle the issue of Boko haram with high level of seriousness and I strongly believe that the president will help us to resuscitate our country from verge of collapse due to insecurity.
Areo Ajibola is a 400-level student of the Department of Animal Production and Health, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), Ogbomosho. He is the Students’ Union president.
There is need to get right leaders into right positions - TASUED
Today, it is news of a bomb blast, the next, it is kidnapping of girls, yet again, you hear of assassination and day after, mass murder and suicide bombing. Everyday in Nigeria, the news seems to be getting from bad to worse as the security situation deteriorates further.
The causes of insecurity in Nigeria includes bad leadership, political unrest, ethno-religious crisis, communal violence, corruption, illiteracy, poverty, unemployment and many more reasons responsible for the state of the country.
Boko Haram is no more news in the country. Uneducated Northerners came up with the ideology that education is bad. I believe this menace can be tackled by getting the youths involved in seminars which are hinged on social, technological, economical and political solutions to national challenges. Also, there is need to get the right leaders into the right positions. There should be job opportunities for graduates because an idle hand is said to be the devil’s workshop; the government should make education affordable for the masses and there should be reduction of corruption to the barest minimum.
Bakare Hafiz is a 400-level student of the Department of Accounting, Tai Solarin University of Education (TASUED), Ijagun Ijebu-Ode. He is the Speaker, Student Union Government.
If dialogue can solve the problem of Niger Delta... - FEDPOFFAThe issue of Boko Haram is one of the major problems facing the nation and requires a diplomatic approach to tackle it. When the issue of Niger Delta militancy arose, the president took time to attend to the problem and till today, it has become a thing of the past.
So with the issue of Boko Haram, which is affecting both the nation’s economy and well being of Nigerians, the only approach I can suggest as a way forward is constructive approach with diplomacy. The first step to this challenge is consultation. The president should consult every arm of his government, especially the North, to identify the source of the problem and recommend the solution to it.
I believe that the aim and objective of Boko Haram is to make this country ungovernable and it is only those who know the source of the problem can provide solution to it. Politics should be left out of this, as there is need to brainstorm with the concerned stakeholders, especially in the North. If dialogue can solve the problem of Niger Delta, then I don’t think confrontation or military approach is the best solution to the problem of security in this nation.
Adedeji Festus Olusegun is a HND II student of the Department of Mechanical Engineering, Federal Polytechnic, Offa (FEDOFFA). He is the Students’ Union president.
Our resources are not secure - FUNNAB
In terms of security in the country, we are trying to some extent. But we are not addressing the issue critically, that is we are not hitting the nail on the head.
Our resources are not secured: oil bunkering, money laundering, kidnapping, piracy, poverty, illiteracy and all of these centres on the fact that there is leadership problem as far as the issue is concerned.
Our so-called rulers, claiming to be leaders, are less concerned with the state of insecurity in this nation. It so sad that after each disaster that occurs in this nation, all we get from our government is that, “we are on top of the situation” yet, this has never brought any change to the situation at hand.
I believe if the government tackles the issue of unemployment which is a major cause of insecurity in this nation, then there would be development, as this would proffer long-term solutions, because when you build the youth, you are simply building the nation.
Let there be new, corruption free leaders who will come up with better modalities on how they can encourage literacy and also look for means to encourage, small scale business for employment. There is nothing stopping us from having security satellite launched in the space to be able to trace any hide-out for evil perpetrators and so on. We have the money to do all of these but where are these?
They should stop buying bullet-proof cars, personal aircraft at the expense of our treasury. Security agencies should be transformed with maximum discipline, without fear of favoritism.
Our law enforcement agencies should stand for what they swore allegiance to and things will get better.
Awosanya Kehinde is a final year student of the Department of Water Resources Management and Agromenthology (Hydrology Option), Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB). He is the Students’ Union president.
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