Few days ago, Nigerians woke up to an urgly news of the abduction of hundreds of school boys from GSSS Kankara, in Katsina State, just few days after President Muhammadu Buhari arrived Daura for his usual visit home. There has been an outcry and protests within and Outside Katsina following the ugly incident.
While security agencies expedite action in rescuing the boys, a lot of questions from Nigerians expressed on social media beg for answers.
Following the economic hardship inflicted by the outbreak of Corona Virus, a lot of people have not recovered economically. Government through the Central Bank of Nigeria (CNB) have tried to help individuals and business recover through the COVID-19 Survival Fund. Despite these efforts many are yet to recover.
As these realities begin to sink in, with a growing population estimated to be well over two hundred million, many may be tempted to look the way of crime to find means through which to make up. It is therefore important that government at all levels focus on ensuring economic stability for individuals to transact their daily businesses considering their inability to curb the exponential flight in the rate of unemployment.
Plateau State, located in North Central Nigeria is considered a tourist destination especially during the end of year festive period. Many from all over Nigeria trunk into Jos to enjoy the cool weather and accommodating communities. This is usually the period where various cultural festivals burble across the state. With the current realities on ground, can one say it is safe to travel for Christmas on the Plateau? Let’s consider some facts.
Recent activities of suspected kidnappers, cultists and criminal elements appear to have strained the capacity of security operatives within the state. These activities have focused mainly on the Jos Metropolis for a while. Areas like Lamingo, Dong and Du areas have been worse hit by the activities of these criminal elements.
Following the outcry by residents of Lamingo, the Commander Operation Safe Haven (OPSH) Major General CC Okonkwo established a Forward Operations Base in Lamingo, which stemmed the tide of operations of these kidnappers and criminal elements. Hundreds were arrested during raids and paraded by men of the OPSH as suspects of the crimes mentioned above. The focus of these wicked elements seems to have turned to Dong, Du and Guratop areas in Jos. Residents of these areas have continued to cry out to security agencies to help contain the situation. At Dong men of the Special Task Force Operation Safe Haven have been able to respond to few distress calls and saved the day. One of the questions begging for answers include that which surrounds the other security agencies backed by the constitution to perform such duties. These includes the Police, DSS, NSCDC etc.
Men of the Operation Safe Haven are scattered across Plateau Kaduna and Bauchi States. Reports reaching the media has it that men of the Special Forces of the Operation Safe Haven stationed in Kaduna and Bauchi had to be moved to Jos to be able to stem the tide. Despite these efforts, there seems to be a general shortage of personnel and equipment require to effectively police the State.
Vehicles, other equipment and resources required for effective surveillance and policing of the state are in limited supply in contrast with the over 4 Million residents of Plateau State. The Police, DSS, NSCDC and indeed the OPSH which appears to be the most active in response to these matter all in need intervention, especially from the host State Governments.
It has been common practice for state governments to intervene by way of procuring vehicles and other gadgets as well as assist with supplementary resources to help motivate security agents on ground manning the streets and villages. It is therefore not out of place to call on the Plateau State Governor, HE Rt. Hon Barrister Simon Bako Lalong to intervene as he has always done to ensure peace on the Plateau.
Just few hours ago, in the early hours of Tuesday 15 December 2020, an incident was reported to have happened around Hillcrest pedestrian bridge where an innocent person jogging to keep fit was attacked by suspected criminal elements, with valuables such as phones carted away with. The victim reportedly sustained various degrees of injuries. Another incident was report to have occurred around Verdee Garden, where a child was reportedly stolen while on an errand. Such incidents could be contained especially now that Christmas is just days away. Parents and Guardians must ensure that they pay close attention to the whereabouts of their wards. Individuals who go out in the early hours of the day must ensure that they wait until it get bright before they go out.
There is need for Governor Lalong to summon an emergency security meeting to help provide incentives to ensure that our streets and villages are properly policed for the season and beyond. There is need to mobilize the Neighborhood Watch and Vigilante to ensure that more bodies are available to pair with armed security forces to ensure wider coverage in surveillance and policing.
To answer the question therefore ‘Is Christmas on the Plateau Safe’? The answer is emphatically YES, only if the precautions, interventions and other suggestions are put into perspective and responded to accordingly.
This was written by Audu A. Yibeikas (Sankara), Editor, Nigeria Star News. He is a blogger, public affairs commentator and a social analyst. He is a Policy Ambassador from Plateau State with the Nigerian Global Affiars Council (NIGAC). He is a Postgraduate Students at the Department of Sociology, University of Jos, with Special Interest in Security Studies.
Contact: nigeriastarnews@gmail.com
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