Non-state Actors, Economic Disruption, And Government’s Seeming Incapacitation

In recent times, the frequency of reports regarding kidnappings, banditry attacks, and terrorism has become alarming. While these issues are not new to our nation, the boldness with which the so-called non-state actors operate highlights the selfishness, desperation, and wickedness prevalent in our society.

Ours is now a land where bandits and kidnappers operate freely while illegal miners exploit natural resources for profit. These shadowy figures operate beyond the reach of traditional law enforcement, causing economic disruption and social chaos wherever they go.

Kidnapping

Kidnapping for ransom has become shockingly common, especially recently in Abuja, Nigeria’s federal capital. Families live through every parent’s nightmare as their loved ones are snatched away, leaving them scrambling to raise huge sums of money just to see them again.

Late Nabeehah and Five sister’s

The recent heartbreaking story of Nabeehah, gruesomely murdered by her abductors, hits close to home for many. And just last week in Ekiti, children and teachers were taken from their schools, shaking the entire state to its core. It’s not just Abuja or Ekiti; places like Benue, Kaduna, Cross Rivers, Ibadan, and others are facing similar horrors. While many lose their precious lives in the hands of their abductors, the toll goes beyond just the financial burden for those freed; the mental scars left behind can haunt them for a lifetime.

Illegal Miners 

Apart from kidnapping, illegal mining is another national challenge that has defied clear-cut solutions from the government.

For decades, it has been a scourge on Nigeria’s natural resources, with areas like Zamfara and Osun State being hotbeds of this illicit activity. Despite the government’s occasional bark against such practices, illegal miners continue to operate with impunity, wreaking havoc on local communities and ecosystems. These criminals exploit the nation’s mineral wealth for their own gain, often resorting to violence to protect their interests.

Countless lives have been lost in gun battles sparked by clashes between rival mining groups, leaving innocent citizens caught in the crossfire and communities shattered by the relentless pursuit of profit.

The recent tragic explosion in Ibadan serves as a grim reminder of the dangers posed by illegal mining. The devastating blast ripped through the city, leaving death and destruction in its wake. With five confirmed dead, many more missing, and over twenty houses reduced to rubble, the toll of this catastrophe is staggering.

Yet, despite the scale of the tragedy, it’s merely the latest chapter in a long saga of unchecked exploitation and government inaction. As the government’s toothless response fails to curb the brazen theft of Nigeria’s natural resources, communities continue to pay the price, bearing the brunt of senseless violence and devastating loss.

Banditry

Since the waning influence of Boko Haram terrorists in the northeastern part of the country, bandits have taken over, unleashing a wave of terror across states for years even as innocent citizens, farmers, and travelers bear the brunt of relentless attacks.

 

Like the biblical devil who came to steal, kill, and destroy, these ruthless bandits plunder villages, leaving behind a trail of death and despair. State governors in the affected regions are not exempted from the sheer scale of this menace, with their convoys frequently coming under attack and their lives constantly under threat.

The brazenness of these attacks, even targeting elected executive governors and their security convoys, paints a grim picture of the insecurity plaguing the region. If those entrusted with the highest levels of security can be targeted with such impunity, one can only imagine the level of horrors faced by ordinary citizens at the hands of these criminal elements.

But who are these faceless yet powerful non-state actors, and why does the government seem powerless to stop them?

Despite their constant brazen assaults, the government appears ineffectual in thwarting their advances. Such a scenario may tempt one to entertain notions of clandestine collaborations, perhaps involving certain government and security officials sworn to protect the citizenry.

While delving into the realm of conspiracy theories might seem all too easy, the crux of the matter remains: governmental entities at various tiers exhibit a glaring lack of the political will necessary to crush these criminal elements. That is the glaring truth that demands a reckoning.

At this critical juncture, the nation needs decisive action—a resolute stance that treats those who snuff out life and wreak havoc with the severity they deserve.

Questions must be raised and policies reassessed, especially regarding the puzzling inclination towards rehabilitation for terrorists rather than swift justice in the form of deservedly harsh penalties.

For the nation to stride confidently towards progress, those who sow destruction must face the full weight of the law with their actions condemned unequivocally as the criminal acts they are.

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