SECURITY SITUATION IN NIGERIA AND THE NEED FOR PEOPLE TO BE SECURITY-CONSCIOUS: RECENT SECURITY CHALLENGES IN REVIEW.
It is no longer a strange news that Nigeria,a country that is globally reputed to be "the Giant of Africa" is no longer safe as fate and perpetrators of evil have left her at the mercies of terrorists, bandits, kidnappers and herdsmen. Crime rate in the country is increasing on daily basis and this has posed a serious threat to her national security. The efforts of the deadly Boko Haram terrorists group,Fulani herdsmen, Bandits, kidnappers, unknown gunmen, agitators for the actualization of the sovereign state of Biafra, and other perpetrators of evil who mask as one terrorist group or the other, to cause havoc and unleash terror on Nigerians have been unabated in recent times. From our radios, televisions and other media platforms,we hear news of crimes being committed by these hoodlums and we often imagine what will become of this once-a-great nation if these catastrophes persist.
About a week ago,a soon-to-be couple who, according to reports, were heading to Imo state for their traditional marriage were gruesomely murdered by unknown gunmen. The killing of the duo, which was said to be a reprisal attack on the Nigerian army for constantly killing and launching a manhunt on the unknown gunmen,has left many in grief. The soon-to-be bride was raped before her financé and both were later beheaded after the act.
Source
In another crime scene, where it's reported that some persons were killed in Anambra, the news report reads:
Meanwhile, gunmen, yesterday, killed a policeman, two brothers and one other unidentified person at the notorious Ukpor/Ozubulu axis of Anambra State.
Anambra State Police Public Relations Officer, Tochukwu Ikenga, who confirmed the incident said the state police command received information of two lifeless bodies on the Nnewi/Ozubulu Road, yesterday, adding that the command’s operatives quickly went there and recovered the two bodies.
According to him, preliminary investigation revealed that one of them was a policeman, while the identity of the other victim was yet to be established.
“We also recovered a Toyota Camry car allegedly belonging to one of the deceased. Operatives are there and the situation is being monitored. For now, that is the much we know,” he said.
It was gathered that the gunmen unleashed mayhem in the area in the early hours of yesterday, sending panic to the community.
It was also gathered that the two brothers were killed at Ukpor, the headquarters of Nnewi South LGA of the state, while the other two were murdered on the Udorji Road, beside St. Mary’s Church, Ozubulu, in Ekwusigo LGA.
The siblings were identified as Godwin Modobi and Nnajiofor Modobi, who hailed from Umuhu village in Ukpor.
An indigene of the area said: “Godwin was a direct younger brother to Nnajiofor, who is a former youth leader in the community.
“The gunmen first killed Nnajiofor right in their family house when they invaded their home in the early hours of today (Monday), after which they blindfolded and abducted the younger brother, who they eventually killed close to Utuh Junction and dumped his corpse at the centre of the road.”
It is quite unfortunate that the eastern part of Nigeria which for so many years was very peaceful and quiet has suddenly become unsafe overnight.
For Nigerians and foreigners who are based in Nigeria, there's a need to be security-conscious. This doesn't imply the unlawful possession of firearms as civilians. Some places which are not safe for travels both in the daytime and in the nighttime must be deliberately avoided. Before you approach any officer on uniform,either a police or an army officer,be convinced that he/she is not a disguised hoodlum as culprits now parade major cities in Nigeria with army uniform.
I'll bring you more tips on how you will stay safe in my subsequent publication. Thanks for reading.