The federal government has spent not less than N3.38 trillion to combat security challenges in the country in the last four years, recent findings have shown.
LEADERSHIP checks reveal that this amount only covers the allocations to the various agencies involved in security issues such as defence (army, navy and air force), police, Ministry of Interior (paramilitary) as well as the Office of the National Security Adviser.
A breakdown of the sum indicates that budgetary allocation to security stood at N621.17 billion in 2010. In the following year, 2011, the allocation was increased by 43 per cent to N888.54 billion following a rise in insurgencies particularly in the northern part of the country.
In 2012, the allocation to security rose marginally by 3.9 per cent to N923.54 billion and in 2013 it was further increased by 14.26 per cent to N955.46 billion.
Further analysis indicated that of the sum, 83.56 per cent of the allocation amounting to N2.91 trillion was projected for recurrent expenditure while N381.76 billion representing 16.43 per cent was budgeted for capital expenditure. In spite of these huge allocations, insurgencies have been on the rise in the country.
Insecurity has taken various forms in different parts of the country. In the south-west, armed robbers have taken over, while in the north cross-border bandits operate with the ease it takes hot knives to drive through butter. In the south-south, the fear of kidnapping has become very palpable: the aged, titled men, clerics, government officials, academics, professionals, women and children are not spared.
The spate of kidnapping across the country, the incessant wave of crime and armed robbery attacks even on the operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the recent use of explosives as terrorist instrument, the recent ramming of a cab under an aircraft in Calabar — all point to the fact that insecurity is fast becoming the norm in Nigeria.
The cycle of violence being unleashed on Nigerians by fundamentalist group Boko Haram has heightened fears among the populace and the international community that the hostility has gone beyond religious or political colouration.
Members of the terrorist group, Boko Haram, have killed no fewer than 582 people and left many others injured in several attacks in the north-east in the last two months.
On January 26, Boko Haram insurgents attacked a Catholic church in Waga Chakawa in Adamawa State and killed 30 worshippers.
The Catholic bishop of Yola, Mamza Stephen, said: “Some people tried to escape through the windows and the attackers shot at them. They cut people’s throats.”
He said the militants set off bombs, before burning houses and taking residents hostage during the four-hour siege.
By the end of January, the sect had killed over 115 people, including Catholics in two communities in Borno and Adamawa states.
On February 11, the terrorists killed no fewer than 67 people in Konduga in Borno State.
On February 15, Boko Haram attacked Izghe in Gwoza LGA of Borno State, and killed at least 146 people.
The sect also killed over 59 pupils on February 25, 2014, when it attacked the Federal Government College in Buni Yadi, Yobe State. The insurgents reportedly arrived at the college about 2am in 11 vans while the pupils were already asleep.
Again, the insurgents attacked Mafa LGA of Borno State three times within 24 hours. The attacks took place between March 1 and 2.
On the night of March 1, 2014, twin-bomb blasts left 52 people dead in Maiduguri. While rescue operations were on at the scene of the blasts, another set of Boko Haram insurgents attacked Mainok, a village about 50 kilometres from Maiduguri, killing 39.
On March 2, 35 people – 32 civilians and 3 suspected policemen – were killed during a fierce gunfight between insurgents and soldiers in Mafa, a community 45 kilometres east of Maiduguri.
It was gathered that the insurgents, armed with AA assault rifles and rocket-propelled grenades, also succeeded in setting fire to the camp of the soldiers in the community.
On March 3, police chief Zannah was reported as saying that suspected Boko Haram insurgents again attacked a Borno State community, killing 29 people.
The militants reportedly sent fliers to notify residents of the attack a week earlier.
On March 4, 2014, the violent sect attacked Jakana, a village about 35 kilometres from Maiduguri which shares a border with Mainok, where 40 people were killed.
While taking over as the new CDS at the Defence Headquarters, Abuja, on January 20, 2014, Badeh had boasted that the military would bring the insurgency in the country to an end before April this year.
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January 11, 2014, 10:37:20 AM