Nations world over regard matters of security with
an absolute sense of importance. Therefore, the current security challenges being experienced by Nigeria, the acclaimed giant of Africa, is a matter that ought to be seen by every patriot as a serious issue that invokes fear and trepidation. The security menace for sure will have a ripple effect on other African countries and the world at large.
In the comity of nations, Nigeria is a pillar to be reckoned with. Her human and natural resources are in high demand internally and externally. The natural resources include the crude oil, solid minerals etc. The human resources are the professionals, the movie and film industries, the music industry, the arts and crafts among others.
The last four years have witnessed a new form of violence in Nigeria epitomized by bombings, mass killings and untold destruction of property. Although these events largely occur in the northern part of the country, the consequences have been far reaching of serious national and international concern.
In the southern part of the country, we had the Niger Delta militants, agitating for a direct control of resources from their area. The militants took up arms against the government of the day. They came out physically, hiding nothing and their leaders were identifiable not faceless. The government had to go into dialogue with them and they were granted Amnesty after a long drawn discussion. The amnesty was a temporary solution to a nagging social problem.
Furthermore, there was an effort at rehabilitating the militants, this led to massive training of the militants in various institutions of learning in Nigeria and abroad. Small and medium scale enterprises were established aimed at empowering the youth to pursue  gainful ventures.
In the south-east, kidnapping and armed robbery were rampant and the order of the day, life became unsafe. This led to many people from the area abandoning and started hiding out in townships where they remained anonymous as long as the siege lasted. The traditional ceremonies and other social engagements were done in exile, far away from the madding crowd of thieves and heartless kidnappers.
The south east governments are doing everything humanly possible to reduce the incidents of kidnapping and armed robbery by introducing back to school policies, encouraging individuals entrepreneurships; vigilante groups have been established with the military and para-military assisting to curb the high rate of crime in the zone.
In the case of north central zone of Nigeria, comprising the Benue, Kogi, Kaduna, Plateau etc, the Fulani herdsmen have clashed severally with the indigenous farming countries. Riffles, guns, bombs, cutlass, bows and arrows have been used in generousily employed pursuit of personal vendetta culminating in unnecessary loss of lives and properties. Both sides have been encouraged to dialogue and peace appears to be returning to some of the hostile enclave.
The north western zone of Nigeria have had its fair share of political and social tumoil over the years. In recent memory, maitasine, Islamic sect held sway and caused mayhem in and around Kano metroplis and later extended to other parts of the north-eastern states.
Another group in the north-east, known as Boko Haram, an Islamic sect, surfaced. Boko Haram, which means in Hause language, western education is evil, is an insurgent group, up in arms against the people and government of Nigeria. ‘They have in the recent past bombed the United Nations headquarters in the capital city of Abuja, bombed police headquarters in Abuja, bombed churches and mosques, killing hundreds of worshippers.
Boko Haram has bombed schools and colleges where students were killed in their hostels. They have also bombed twice within three weeks interval the Nyanya area of the capital city of Abuja, where tens of commuters were killed and some left with injuries.
Recently, the Boko Haram sects have claimed responsibility for the abduction of over 200 young school girls from the Girl’s Government College in Chibok, Bornu State. This has led to a global outcry and condemnation for their immediate and unconditional release.
Honestly, the questions now are, what should be done? How will it be done? and who should put a stop to this terrorism? The Federal Government has engaged the armed forces in attacking Boko Haram sect, their perceived locations have been bombed and attacked. The police has set up check points on roads and strategic locations in and around the north-east local vigilante and youth groups are contributing their quota to this menace.
These efforts, however, seem not to be yielding the desired dividence. Boko Haram have changed tactics and strategies and now operates as a Guerrilla warfare outfit. They do not have any clear front, they choose their targets and surprise is the word.
Boko Haram group have moved from the north east and are now attacking targets in the nation’s capital of Abuja. Therefore, there is need for a change in the approach in confronting the Boko Haram menace.
Ezeanochie is of the Federal Information Centre,
Port Harcourt.

Mary Uchenna Ezeanochie