Bomba Dauda
The recent report in Vanguard Newspaper of 18th November, 2024, entitled: “Bandits overrun 14 communities in southern kaduna – Locals Alleges,” the report is in all intent and purposes a frivolous report that is utterly speculative and over exaggerated to either gain traction or undermine the effort of the Nigerian Armed Forces in the fight against banditry in the Kauru general area.
I’m not disputing the fact that there are no recorded cases of kidnappings and other forms of crime in Kauru general area, but what is appalling is the total ignorance of many Nigerians on basic facts and realities that have combined effectively and are undermining the Armed Forces willinglness to end insurgency in the entire country.
The need for volunteers and community engagement in war against banditry cannot be said to be over flogged. According to World Bank collection of development indicators, Armed Forces personnel ( country’s military organisations that are used for warfare) total in Nigeria was reported at 223000 in 2020. With this slim figure, Nigeria’s population in 2020 was estimated to be 208.3 million
While Nigeria has an estimated landmass of about 356,668 sq miles (923,7770 sq kilometers), which are largely ungoverned.
In addition, Nigeria is almost 4 times the size of UK while Lagos is 2 times the size of London. However, UK has 136,525 regular forces personnel and 32,145 volunteer reserve personnel (July 2024). The whole of France is about 70% of the size of Nigeria.
Of note, the Nigerian Armed Forces are overstretched both onshore and offshore. With a staggering figure of just 223, 000 on both local assignments and foreign missions, the country with an estimated population of 208. 3 million and a landmass of about 923,77770 sq kilometers, it is difficult for the Armed Forces to be everywhere and even keep crime at a minimal level.
In Nigeria, we have been living in falsehood and we are expecting too much from the Armed Forces, yet, we failed to ask pertinent questions or even try to look for alternatives that will help us secure our communities.
I’m not making a case for the Nigerian Army, but I juxtaposed expectation and reality to make a sense from the prevailing situation in Nigeria. Communities should not continue to wait and keep lamenting while they are been killed, kidnapped and overrun amid an underpopulated Armed Forces that is overstretched.
Nigerians must shove aside emotion and form harmonious bond, irrespective of our differences and fight the common enemy. The North East is a good example of how willing people can change their grim situation for good, though, not yet in a state of utopia, but the story emanating from the northeast is encouraging.
The people of Kachia in Kachia LG of Kaduna have raised volunteers who are protecting their villages and the outcomes are in the positive. The people of Maro have contributed a property to the Nigerian Army to use to help secure their village after spates of attacks.
Other communities that are been attacked consistently must come up with a workable solution that will guarantee their survival and existence. Kwassam in Kauru LG of Kaduna State is also an example of how communities can help themselves, they formed volunteers group that regained the freedom of about 26 people who were kidnapped. In the face of reality, communities must rise above fear and face the daredevil threats of bandits.
It is not longer news that the Nigerian Security Forces are capable, willing, but are few in numbers and overstretched against a densely population and large landmass.
