A prominent cleric, Onuh Ladi, has expressed concern that human and food insecurity is deteriorating under President Bola Tinubu’s administration. Despite the president’s claim of progress in the fight against bandits and terrorists, Ladi stated that the security situation is worsening, with innocent people being kidnapped, raped, and killed unchallenged.
Ladi, the secretary of the Church and Society Provincial Secretariat Kaduna, acknowledged some successes by the military and security agencies but emphasized the need for more to be done to address the crisis. He called on those responsible for securing lives and properties to deploy all means possible, including kinetic and non-kinetic measures, political solutions, and the involvement of all relevant stakeholders to bring an end to the menace.
Other religious leaders in Kaduna, including John Hayab of the Global Peace Foundation of Nigeria and Imam Misbahudeen Raji of Al-Habibiyyah Islamic Society, also expressed mixed opinions on the government’s efforts to combat insecurity. While acknowledging some successes, such as the arrest and killing of notorious bandits and terrorists, they emphasized the need for more effort to achieve visible success and address ongoing challenges like kidnapping for ransom and killing of innocent citizens.
The clerics highlighted the importance of winning the trust and confidence of citizens, motivating security personnel with better incentives, and using intelligence reports promptly to make Nigeria more secure. They called for sincere collaborative efforts among security agencies and authorities to achieve positive results.
Their comments come as Nigeria continues to grapple with insecurity and hunger, with many citizens expressing frustration and concern about the government’s ability to address the crises.