The Albino Foundation Public Notice
Former Secretary-General of the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) Chief Anthony Sani has blamed the worsening insecurity in Nigeria on the mass unemployment and introduction of cashless economy. In this interview with ABDULGAFAR ALABELEWE, the elder statesman, who note that kidnapping for ransom had supplanted armed robbery, says government must address the underlying causes because it cannot be combated only by the military forces
At what point did Nigeria get it wrong to the extent that kidnap-for-ransom is now the order of the day?
When people lament the state of insecurity that has culminated in kidnapping-for-ransom, it makes one to wonder their sense of history. This is because for the past 30 years, we have been hearing the chorus that unemployment is a time bomb waiting to be ignited by the indifference of the political elite. We are also aware of the fact that poverty which comes with unemployment and ignorance has been growing steadily due to a steady increase in population without the corresponding growth of the economy for many years. The introduction of a cashless policy made armed robbery unattractive. Hence the emergence of kidnapping-for-ransom has supplanted armed robbery. That is to say, the inability to grow the economy to absorb the youths coupled with ignorance and the introduction of the cashless economy have combined to spur kidnapping-for-ransom as a business venture which produces billionaires in a very short time. This has also attracted citizens of neighbouring countries to flock to Nigeria in order to participate in kidnapping for ransom.
Schools are being closed and there is a general atmosphere of insecurity and people are living in fear. What are the implications of this on our education and general wellbeing?
The level of abductions of school children have become the deed in the fashion of recent. As a result, parents are afraid to send their wards to schools. The children are also afraid. More distressing is the claim of responsibility by Boko Haram either rightly or wrongly for the express purpose of furthering the cause of its agenda that western education is taboo.
The implication is that there will be no educated Nigerians in the next generation. Imagine the fate of a country populated by a majority of uneducated ignorant people. This is not acceptable. The government must therefore go as far as efforts can go and put an end to kidnapping for ransom through both military action and address of the underlying causes.
Happily enough the new service chiefs have assured the nation that with the arrival of the Tucano Jet Bombers from America and the promised increase in the number of well trained and equipped security personnel as well as their motivation, they would take the fight to their doorsteps by dominating all the forests harbouring those posing insecurity to the nation.
Talking about the underlying causes, a retired naval officer said on national television last week that the centre of gravity of banditry and insurgency are the sponsors. Do you share that view and how can the sponsors be brought to justice?
We all know without sponsors, insurgents and gunmen cannot prevail. Sponsors know the underlying causes of terrorism which they exploit for their advantage. When you consider the fact that terrorism transcends national boundaries, you would at once appreciate why America first put up a coalition of 66 countries of all faiths against IS, which is ISWAP in Nigeria. The coalition has now been increased to 102 countries. Also, 140 countries met in Rome last month and discussed how best to assist the Sahel region perceived as weak and could serve as safe haven for terrorism. One item on their agenda is about who sponsors terrorism. Given the global concern about sponsors of terrorism, I do not believe that the actual sponsors are known. This is because America which put a price tag of $7m on Shekau when he was alive would not spare Nigeria, if actually, they believe the Nigerian government knows the sponsors. I, therefore, do not believe sponsors of terrorism are known by the respective countries. If they did, curbing terrorism would not be that difficult.
