Crime

Insecurity: See the Numbers of Nigerians Killed in 6 Months — Dr. Adamu

Published by Tope Fakinlede on July 21st, 2024.

Insecurity: See the Numbers of Nigerians Killed in 6 Months — Dr. Adamu

By Kennedy Mbele

Dr. Kabir Adamu, the Founder and CEO of Beacon Consulting, has reported that over 5,000 Nigerians lost their lives from January to June this year. His findings were presented during a televised panel discussion in Abuja, organized by Daria Media Limited and sponsored by the MacArthur Foundation, with the support of the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Alhaji Mohammed Idris Malagi.

Dr. Adamu expressed deep concern over the escalating insecurity in Nigeria, particularly in the northern regions. He highlighted a disturbing trend where communities are forced to pay levies to non-state actors—entities that wield significant influence but are not affiliated with any government—just to conduct their farming activities. Adamu stressed that this situation is untenable and indicative of a broader security failure.

During the discussion, Dr. Adamu called for substantial improvements in the country’s security framework, emphasizing that the current state of affairs, where civilians must negotiate with non-state actors, signifies a failure of the government to provide adequate protection.

Brigadier General Sani Usman (retired), a former Director of Army Public Relations, also participated in the panel. He attributed the failure of Nigeria’s security apparatus to the lack of empowerment of ordinary citizens, arguing that greater inclusion of the general populace in security efforts could enhance the country’s defense capabilities. Usman noted the importance of engaging Nigerians as equal partners in addressing security challenges.

General Usman also identified three primary causes of Nigeria’s security issues: political instability, economic difficulties, and societal well-being. He underscored that these factors are interrelated and must be addressed collectively.

In his opening remarks, Kole Shetima, Director of the MacArthur Foundation in Africa, reaffirmed the Foundation’s commitment to promoting accountability in Nigeria. He explained that their efforts aim to support the government, civil society organizations, and institutions to foster transparency and governance.

Kadaria Ahmed, CEO of Daria Media Limited, emphasized that the event was designed to facilitate dialogue among government officials, citizens, civil society, the diplomatic community, and media representatives. She described the forum as a vital platform for the government to report on its achievements in the areas of economy, security, and governance under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration over the past year.