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It seems every time the issue of Nigeria's crime situation is addressed, the more it picks up and goes into overdrive. Instead of receding, it is increasing dangerously, putting more bodies in graves (if they are lucky), promoting insurmountable currents of fear and eroding all sense of security. It is said that 'there's nothing to fear but Fear itself'. The level of crime in some parts of Nigeria really stretches this logic to its very limit. For it looks like Fear itself has turned up and is staring people right in the face, and that is every reason to be fearful.
This subject of crime is nothing new. It has been covered extensively in several press and media, and by many contributors here on Nigeria World. Nonetheless its seriousness is such that it cannot be ignored, and so deserves our continuous attention and reference. It has become far too rampant, much too deadly, and growing at such breakneck speed, we ignore it only at our peril. For we all have a stake in this. We don't want to lose the equilibrium we have gained and end up holding loser's medals. It wont be an exaggeration to say that it presents a great challenge to Nigeria's fragile democracy.
Crime and the fear it generates is the greatest obstacle to progress. It causes anguish, restricts movement and social interaction, forestalls investments and cripples the flow of business. Some recent events play like scenes out of an overblown Hollywood crime flick, but with a particularly deadly Nigerian twist. Things have gotten so bad in Lagos, soldiers had to be drafted onto the streets. All well and good, but the damage to the psyche of the average citizen has already been manifested. Interstate travellers now have to contend with highway bandits, as if the treacherous road conditions weren't bad enough. I believe the police are doing their best with the limited resources they have, putting themselves in arms way to protect everyone else. I do feel much more could be done to aid and equip them to do a better job. Much more can be done to improve their training, living and working conditions. I am yet to be convinced this is one of the government's top priority, even though it ought to be.
The criminal fraternity appear to be recruiting new candidates faster than any other industry. When before now did we hear of a fifty-strong gang of armed-robbers! I recall the days when robbers mostly turned up at night, hoping house occupants were asleep. The slightest noise will send them scampering down the road for fear of being caught. How things have changed! Today's robber audaciously announces his coming with bullets sounds echoing from sophisticated weapons. Light of day no longer acts as a deterrent. He's no longer content with just relieving you of your hard-earned money and possessions, but feels the need to inflict as much pain and suffering on you before brutally taking your life, as if taking revenge for some previous misdeed. Rape is increasingly becoming part of the process, with females subjected to degrading acts, sometimes in the presence of their spouses or family members. It is worth noting that most incidents of rape probably go unreported because of poor police response and the stigma many women associate with it.
This new brand of criminality no longer merits the usual excuse of joblessness, or need to make ends meet. Far too much hate, callousness and brutality is being employed for it to be just so. These hoodlums usually end up in sleazy bars and brothels, where they spend the rewards of their exploits drinking and cavorting with prostitutes. Their improved organisation and sophistication is apparent. They've been perfecting their operations right under the noses of a dormant police force and none existent security strategy. Like a Mafia unit, they probably have various aiders and abettors, including members of the police and armed forces. They have those who help fund their activities and get substantial returns on their investments, probably running other businesses as fronts for their shady activities. The government does at least deserve commendation for setting-up the EFCC, which has dealt a heavy blow to the activities of 419 fraudsters. However most of these 419ers were never apprehended and escaped custody. And with their fraud dividends and desire for stupendous wealth still intact, I am certain they play their part in today's crime scenarios.
All the same the role of poverty and disillusion cannot be underplayed in the scheme of things. The shortage of jobs, poor amenities, and bad examples set by authority figures, all chip-in to encourage and promote crime. That said, I believe Nigeria is mostly reaping the rewards of decades of indiscipline and general disregard for law and order. Add to this the endless avaricious pursuit of material wealth and unabashed predisposition for extravagance. There really is nothing wrong with aspiring to be wealthy or improve one's standard of living. It does become an evil venture when people are driven to such a point that anything is conceivable to achieve this. They begin to desire what others have, even though they do not possess the talent, skill, education and work ethic necessary to have those things. Their desires become highjacked by evil desperation, making them resort to all kinds of vices - fraud, blackmail, armed robbery, and the malevolent act of using other humans as ritual sacrifices. All to acquire money and riches. All so they can earn the reverence and adulation of peers, friends and family.
It clearly reflects a society where having stupendous wealth is viewed as the most worthy accomplishment. This thinking has so permeated the Nigerian society, it afflicts even those who should be protecting our lives and interests. 'Get what you can while you can' is the acceptable motto, and everyone a fair game in the process. And so progress is hampered at every turn in the mad scramble to outwit everyone else and make quick money. The audacious and often fatal raids on banks are a relatively new phenomenon, though it's been on a steady rise for a number of years. It hits at the very heart of the financial services sector, resulting in huge losses and creating bottlenecks in the processing of financial transactions. One is almost led to believe that other motives may exist for these attacks.
Nigeria has undoubtedly made good progress since the inception of this new democracy. Significant growth in the telecommunications, hotel and catering, film and music industries all bear testimony to this. Crime however, is the major culprit trying to sabotage and reverse this positive ascent. It has prompted a number of countries to issue stern warnings to their citizens not to travel to Nigeria, citing problems in the Niger Delta, calamitous events in the aviation sector, and the general absence of law and order as main reasons. All of this ridicules and contradicts the massive and expensive ad campaigns the government has been embarking on. Nice and uplifting as they are, they may not yield the expected returns. How do you successfully convince people to visit a country where chaos, criminality and poor infrastructure is visible on the ground! The capture of foreign workers by militants in the Delta region readily attracts international attention. This alone is enough to discourage any foreigner from packing their bags and heading for Nigerian shores.
The government's intentions are good and applaudable. No other administration has so aggressively pursued the agenda of attracting foreign investments or enticing Nigerians in diaspora back home. I just feel far greater emphasis ought to have been placed on creating a safe and conducive environment first. Part of the money used for these grand ad campaigns would have been better spent improving our security apparatus, along with road, water and electricity infrastructure. With these in place, word of mouth alone will create tremendous amounts of publicity, just as it did for Donald Duke's Cross River. We would have saved some of the huge sums of money being spent trying to convince the world that Nigeria is a great place to visit, live and do business. Naturally I want the government to succeed, but it might have to proceed from a different angle to do so. This deadly crime virus needs to be eradicated for all good things to flourish. The deaths of visiting Nigerians in diaspora have sent a chilling message to their counterparts planning to make similarly trips - saying 'you may not face racism when you visit, but you could lose your life in the process', and that defeats the whole purpose altogether.
With such a large population to oversee, the subject of policing and security should be foremost on any government's agenda. We can learn from how other nations react to terrorism. They recognise the damage it can do to their social harmony and economic growth, and therefore pull out all the stops to combat it - finance, training and extra security measures. Everyday, Nigerians are being terrorised by ruthless criminal gangs, on their streets, in their homes, at business and work places. What is our strategy for fighting these terrorists and arresting the situation? This wanton killing of police personnel will never be tolerated anywhere else in the world. It is imperative that the budget for security and policing is increased substantially to safeguard our recent economic growth and enable us gain the economic advantage we seek.
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Posted by Robot| 03.02.2007 17:16