That Warning Against Arming The Youth

The appeal by the Rivers State Governor,
Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi to politicians to stop the habit of aiding youth with arms for purposes of elections could not have come at a better time as politically-related tension begins to find expression in parts of the country.
Amaechi who was speaking at the flag-off of “Stop kidnapping campaign” organised by theRivers State Police Command in Port Harcourt, recently, noted the dangerous trend of criminal activities in the country and warned against the consequences of arming the youth against political opponents.
Given the vintage position of the Governor who is also the Chief Security Officer of the State, The Tide is of the opinion that his appeal should not be taken for granted, especially in view of the rising socio-political violence across the country, being fuelled by the proliferation of illegal arms.
We are particularly worried about the recent statistics that of the 500 million illicit weapons in circulation globally,100 million are in sub-Saharan Africa, with about 10 million concentrated in the West African sub-region. Nigeria alone is said to be home to more than 7 million of those weapons.
Worrisome, as the current state of insecurity in Nigeria is, it is hard to believe that more than half of those illicit arms are in the hands of politicians, community leaders and militants who deploy them for purposes that do not promote peace and mutual co-existence in Nigeria.
The Tide is disturbed by the resurgence of violent crimes in Rivers State. The rate of kidnapping and unresolved killings in the State is becoming frightening. To add to this, the bitter hate and the gun-fight of political agents will be rather too much.
Only recently, some persons were killed across Port Harcourt owing to crime, youth cults and suspected political differences. At Amadi-Ama, about four young men were reportedly murdered in cold blood over petty differences. Recently too, some Egi communities tasted their own bitter pill when no fewer than 15 persons were brought down in one night.
This cannot be happening in a place where people still have their heads in place. This cannot be happening in Rivers State where the culture of hospitality and Christian worship reigns. This cannot be happening where there is no war. What this can do to the psyche of the population is best imagined.
The Tide thinks that Rivers State cannot return to the pre-Amaechi era in 2007 when unresolved killings and militancy were the order of the day. The murder of two illustrious sons of the State, Chiefs Marshall Harry and A. K.Dikibo under whatever guise are sad reminders of politics of bitterness.
These unsavoury events should not be allowed to repeat themselves as we prepare for the 2015 General Elections. Worse still, weapons released for political purposes are often turned against their providers, while society as a whole suffer aggravated armed robbery, kidnapping and piracy.
While we appeal to the political, religious, tribal and economic warlords that deploy arms to settle scores to spare the rest of the State the maleficent reign of terror, we think that government and the law enforcement agencies in the State need to work with the information on plans to arm the youth for politics.
We think that it is time the government did something about the proliferation of small arms in the country. Similarly, the menace of youth cult groups and socio-political associations need to be in check. Indeed, time has come for all youth bodies to be screened periodically.
Clearly, our country is going to self-distrust if these excesses are not contained now. This must be done no matter whose ox may be gored nor what cost it might require to achieve peace and the rule of law.