The Nigerian Government has refuted insinuations in some quarters that the insecurity situation in the country has overwhelmed the authorities.
The country’s Information and Culture Minister, Alhaji Lai Mohammed disclosed this on Tuesday at a press conference in Lagos South-West Nigeria.
The Minister said it was no longer news that the nation is facing security challenges.
However, he made it clear that there is the will and capacity to deal with the situation.
“I have read comments saying the Federal Government is overwhelmed and doesn’t have a clue as to how to tackle the challenges. Some have even gone as far as suggesting a truncation of the democratic order, a clearly treasonable stance.
Well, I am here today to assure all Nigerians that while the government acknowledges the security challenges we face at this time, from terrorism to kidnapping, banditry and farmer-herder conflict, it is definitely not overwhelmed and indeed it has the wherewithal, as you will see in the days ahead, to confront the challenges headlong and restore law and order, peace and security”, the Minister said.
Avoiding collateral damage
Mohammed said one of the most difficult things to do, for a democratically-elected government, was to use the instruments of
coercion against its own people.
“For example, while the nation’s military have superior firepower over the rag tag band of Boko Haram and ISWA, the terrorists most often than not operate among the populace, either in our villages or towns, hence the military, in tackling them, is usually careful to avoid collateral damage.
The same applies to the kidnappers who abduct our school children.
Usually, the location of the kidnappers is not unknown to the security forces, but they still have to exercise caution in order not to hurt the same children they are trying to rescue.
Despite these inhibitions, the security forces have the wherewithal to decisively tackle the challenges”, he said.
Attack on security personnel
The Minister decried a growing dangerous trend which is the practice of launching deadly attacks against the nation’s security personnel.
“Soldiers as well as police, customs and other security agents have been killed and maimed in some parts of the country in this growing trend of targeting security forces.
I want to say, unequivocally, that any attack on our security men and women is an attack on the state and a declaration of war against the nation.
It follows, therefore, that this will be countered with overwhelming force.
When those whose responsibility it is to protect us are themselves being subjected to mindless attacks, it can only be for one reason only; to instil fear and evoke a sense of pervasive insecurity among the people.
Whether known or unknown gunmen; those engaged in this dastardly act will pay dearly for their actions”, he added.
Security challenges
The Minister said the government realizes that the security challenges facing Nigeria today are systemic, hence has in addition to kinetic efforts, also embarked on various non-kinetic measures to most effectively tackle the challenges.
He affirmed that the resolutions of the recently held Town Hall meeting in Kaduna as a non-kinetic approach have been taken to the National Economic Council, chaired by His Excellency the Vice President, and which also includes all the state governors.
According to him, “as a prelude to adopting the recommendations, the NEC has directed all state governors to organize state-wide consultation on them, and then revert to the Council in its next meeting.”
Prosecution of suspects
Mohammed also disclosed that the Federal Government is set to prosecute 400 suspects arrested for allegedly funding terrorism.
“This is unprecedented and it is a testament to the government’s determination to decisively tackle terrorism and other violent crimes.
While the government continues with these efforts to restore peace and security continues, I want to appeal to all of us to play our part in lowering the palpable tension in the polity as a result of the security challenges. The first step is to tone down the rhetoric.
While the media must continue to carry out its primary responsibility to inform, criticize and stimulate debate, it must also realize that it can only carry out this responsibility in an atmosphere of peace and security.”
Role of media
The Minister however appealed to the media to play its part in dousing the pervasive tension.
He said lending media platforms to uncompromising separatists and die-hard pessimists about the survival of the nation can only overheat the polity and aggravate the security challenges.
“This is not a call for censorship. It is a call for responsibility, in the national interest.
For the avoidance of doubt, the government retains total confidence in the ability of our security forces to tackle the security challenges we are facing now, whether it is terrorism, banditry, kidnapping or even the farmer-herder conflict”, he said.
The government further appealed to all Nigerians to continue to support the security agencies who are facing the added task of having to watch their backs while working to protect the citizens.
Nneka Ukachukwu
