The gruesome killing of Lawan Andimi, the chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) of the Michika Local Government Area of Adamawa State who was kidnapped on 4th of January 2020 is a shock to Nigerians and Christians across the world.
Another Pastor, Dennis Bagauri of the Lutheran Church in Mayo-Belwa was last Sunday killed by suspected kidnappers. It has become a matter of concern that the insurgency war is taking another twist with Christians lately becoming targets. The federal government must as a matter of urgency ensure that it devises new tactics to subdue the criminals. Up till now, the FG cannot categorically assure Nigerians that Leah Sharibu who has been in the custody of the insurgents is still alive.
IMPACT NEWS has consistently submitted that the Buhari-led administration is overwhelmed by the barrage of security challenges across the country. We had also suggested that the Federal Government should think outside the box in tackling these challenges. Unfortunately the effort of the government appears to be a drop in the ocean.
The murder of Andimi coupled with other unabated killings across the country is a testament that Nigeria is in dire need of desperate solution to the insecurity challenges. Lately, there have been reports in the news that the Maiduguri-Kano highway, the only safe highway leading to Borno state, have become a den of insurgents who daily attack motorists going in and out of the state.
The insurgents have also continued to wreck untold havoc on Nigerians in that part of the country while the Nigerian Army continued to tell Nigerians and the world that it is winning the war against the insurgents.
It would be unfair to the Federal government if we conclude that it pays only lip services to the welfare of Nigerians especially the security of lives and properties, however the inability, or perhaps the refusal of the government to prosecute the masterminds of the various killings in Benue, Zamfara, Katsina, Nasarawa, Bauchi, Taraba, Kogi, Adamawa, Borno, Yobe, Kaduda, Ekiti and other parts of the country strengthens the morale of these bloodthirsty agents.
We recalled that Nigeria was one of the countries that the United State listed among country who tolerated “severe violations of religious freedom.” We do not totally agree with the US report however the inaction of the Federal government towards the security of lives and properties leaves us with no option but to doubt FG’s complicity in the act.
To curb insecurity, the Federal Government should embrace the AMOTEKUN initiative of the South-West governors and also encourage other parts of the country to come-up with generic initiatives that would reduce the security challenges in various parts of the country.
The quick reaction of the Minister of Justice and the Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, to declare the Western Nigeria Security Network as an illegal institution goes further to pump more air to the distrust already existing in the country with regards to insecurity and the capacity and willingness of the federal government to tackle it.
The federal government owes Nigerians the responsibility to secure lives and properties. President Buhari should not shy away from this sacred duty. He should adopt all available and necessary measures to carry out this responsibility.
