The year 2013 was shaped by several security challenges, many of which affected economy and political decisions, writes Eniola Akinkuotu
The genesis
The nation experienced many security challenges in 2013. There were terrorist attacks by the fundamentalist Islamic sect, Boko Haram, in which thousands of lives were lost. Kidnappers and oil thieves were equally on the prowl.
Other violent crimes were also unleashed on the nation by armed robbers and other criminals.
The Boko Haram insurgency made President Goodluck Jonathan to declare a state of emergency in three states -Borno, Yobe and Adamawa.
President Goodluck Jonathan further strengthened security agencies and encouraged them to collaborate with the international community to fight terrorism and enhance the security of lives and property.
A whopping N950bn was budgeted for national security purposes. Broken down, it included N320bn for the Police, N364bn for the Armed Forces, N115bn for the Office of the National Security Adviser, and N154bn for the Ministry of the Interior.
In January, the Military High Command deployed a total of 162 soldiers in Mali to dislodge Islamic terrorists and militants from the northern part of that country.
Nigeria promised to send 1,200 troops to the embattled francophone country to help retrieve Northern Mali from the grips of the Islamic militants.
Kidnappers on the prowl
The year 2013 saw unprecedented cases of kidnapping in Lagos State, as over 20 cases of kidnapping and abduction were reported. This created fear among the residents.
On January 25, 2013, two-year-old Emmanuel Alonge was kidnapped on his way to school at the Ifako-Ijaiye area of the state by a three-man gang who intercepted the car he was in and took him away. The abductors demanded N20m ransom from his parents.
On February 10, 2013, another resident, 29-year-old Kemisola Ogunyemi, was kidnapped at her Abraham Adesanya Estate residence, Ajah, Lagos.
Similarly, on March 22, an MTN employee, Yemi Owadokun was kidnapped at Awoyaya, Lekki-Epe Expressway while going to work.
On March 23, a British expatriate, Christopher Paige, was kidnapped on Victoria Island, Lagos. But he was released nearly a week later after parting with an unspecified sum of money.
On March 26, the Director/Liaison Officer, Nigerian Press Council, Chief Agbebaku Izobo, was kidnapped around Apple Junction at the Amuwo Odofin area of the state.
On April 15, a banker, Nnenna Edu, was kidnapped around Commercial Avenue, Sabo area of Yaba, Lagos and released four days after his relations had paid a ransom.
On the same day, Chairman, Ejigbo Local Council Development Area, Kehinde Bamigbetan, was kidnapped on his way from work and released five days later.
Also on April 16, a 16-year-old student of American International School, Olufolabi Adeniji was kidnapped by his parents’ driver on his way to school around Lekki area of the state and held captive in a forest in Ilaro, Ogun State for about nine days until he was rescued by the police.
On Monday, April 29, kidnappers dragged the Managing Director, Capital Express Assurance, Bola Odukale out of her vehicle on her way to work and held her captive for days until the family was able to pay a ransom.
There was some respite in the month of May from kidnappers, but ‘business’ resumed on June 22, 2013, when a 43-year-old trader, Mrs. Christiana Gbadamosi, was kidnapped while walking to her shop in Ikorodu area of the state. She was eventually released over two weeks later after her family had paid millions of naira as ransom.
Gbadamosi, who narrated her ordeal to our correspondent after her release, said she met many other victims in the kidnappers’ den.
On June 24, an Indian, Vivex Changrani, was kidnapped in the Ikoyi area of the state by the same gang alleged to have kidnapped Bamigbetan. Fortunately for the Indian, he was rescued less than 12 hours later by men of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad.
On July 18, a British national, Lee Dixon, was kidnapped around Mafoloku area of the state shortly after arriving the country.
August 24, 2013, Mike Ozekhome (SAN) was kidnapped at the Ehor stretch of the Benin-Auchi Road in Edo State and released three weeks after his family had paid a ransom.
On September 6, the Archbishop of Niger Delta Province of the Anglican Communion in Nigeria, Archbishop Ignatius Kattey, and his wife, Beatrice, were kidnapped by gunmen on their way to Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
On October 15, Mrs. Augusta Douglas-Ayam, the elder sister to Mr. Oronto Douglas, the Special Adviser to the President on Research, Documentation and Strategy, was kidnapped in Ogbia town, Bayelsa State.
On November 18, unidentified gunmen kidnapped Chief Tempurah Nelson, the 78-year-old father of Bayelsa State Commissioner for Tourism Development, Chief Belief Nelson, in Bayelsa State
On November 20, a leading industrialists in Osun State, Mrs. Olayinka Obaleye, popularly known as Yinka Oba, who is also the Chief Executive Officer of Yinka Oba Foam, was kidnapped in Ilesa, Osun State.
On December 1, 2013, Miss Julie Harry, the daughter of the former Vice-Chairman of the All Nigeria Peoples Party, late Marshal Harry, was kidnapped about 100 metres away from her residence in Eleparanwo, Rivers State and released after her family parted with N2m.
On December 23, former Primate of the Anglican Church, Nigeria, Most Revd. Peter Akinola, was kidnapped but later rescued in Ogun State.
State governments move to tackle kidnapping
To curb the menace, some states have promulgated laws against kidnapping while others have commenced action on it.
Edo State Governor, Adams Oshiomhole, signed into law the Kidnapping Prohibition Bill, which passes a maximum sentence of death penalty on anybody found guilty of kidnapping in the state.
Similarly, the Delta State House of Assembly signed a new law prohibiting terrorism, cultism, kidnapping and hostage taking. It also recommended capital punishment for offenders upon conviction.
Akwa Ibom State Governor, Godswill Akpabio, also recently signed into law a bill that spells death penalty for kidnapping in the state.
Members of the Lagos State House of Assembly are considering a bill to criminalise acts of terrorism, hostage taking and rape in the state. According to reports, the sponsors of the bill advocated between 10 and 20 years’ imprisonment for such acts.
Section 11 of the bill stipulates that any person who knowingly seizes, detains or attempts to do any of both, would be liable for committing an offence with a maximum of 10 years’ imprisonment.
Terror plot foiled in Lagos State
One hundred soldiers stormed terror suspects’ hideouts in Ijora area of Lagos State and arrested a Chadian who had planned to carry out terror attacks in the state. Also seized from him were ammunition and other weapons.
A suspected terrorist arrested by the State Security Service, Abdullahi Berende, confessed that Iranian militants sent Nigerian terrorists after Americans, Israelis in Lagos;
Hundreds killed in terrorist attacks
A group of gunmen attacked the convoy of Alhaji Ado Bayero, the Emir of Kano, killing four and injuring 14 others, including two of his sons.
In addition, militants from the Boko Haram breakaway group, Ansaru, ambushed a Nigerian Army convoy in Kogi State, killing two officers and injuring eight others. The troops were heading to Mali to assist in the ECOWAS mission to drive away Jihadist groups from the country.
Suspected Boko Haram militants murdered 31 people over the course of three days, including 18 hunters selling bushmeat, who were shot in a market in Damboa on January 21.
Five people were shot in Kano the next day as they were playing board games. At least eight civilians were killed in Maiduguri on January 23, as gunfire was reported from parts of the city.
The Islamist Ansaru group shot and killed seven hostages it had been holding since February 7. The victims included four Lebanese, as well as a Briton, a Frenchman and a Greek.
A suicide bomber attacked a bus station in a predominantly Christian area of Kano, killing 41 passengers and injuring dozens more.
Unidentified gunmen attacked at least 13 locations in Ganye, a city in Adamawa State, including the local police station, a bank and several local bars.
At least 25 people were killed in the two-hour assault, including a senior officer of the local prison, where 127 inmates were freed.
Militants ambushed a police patrol boat in Nigeria’s Niger Delta region, killing all 12 occupants. The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta claimed responsibility, saying it was in response to the 24-year jail term handed to their leader, Henry Okah, in South Africa.
A group of suspected Boko Haram terrorists hiding automatic weapons inside a coffin attacked a checkpoint mounted by the military in Maiduguri, killing 13 people before being shot during an escape attempt.
Government sets up 26-member amnesty committee for Boko Haram
In response to calls from many quarters for a peaceful resolution of the Boko Haram insurgency, the President set up a 26-member committee headed by the Minister of Special Duties, Tanimu Turaki, on April 17, to initiate dialogue with members of the sect with a view to working out modalities for granting the insurgents amnesty.
Government declares state of emergency
In May, following reports of increased terrorist attacks especially in the North East, the president declared a state of emergency in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states. He announced that the action became necessary because the group’s activities had become a challenge to the nation’s sovereignty.
More bombings
Suspected Boko Haram terrorists killed at least 41 children and one teacher in Mamudo Government Secondary School in Yobe State on July 6.
A team of suspected Islamist militants attacked a school in Damaturu, Yobe on June 16, killing 13 people, including pupils and teachers. Three days later a similar attack in the city of Maiduguri left nine students dead.
Suspected terrorists from the violent Islamic sect Boko Haram set off four bombs that hit two churches in Kano city on July 29, killing at least 25 people.
On September 29, suspected terrorists attacked the male dormitory in the College of Agriculture in Gujba, Yobe State, killing at least 44 students and teachers.
On December 2, Boko Haram attacked the Maiduguri International Airport and the Composite Group Air Force Base in Maiduguri, where no fewer than 20 military men were killed.
No compensation for Boko Haram victims
President Jonathan ruled out compensation for victims of the violence orchestrated by Boko Haram. The President, however, said his government was favourably disposed to the suggestion by the Presidential Committee on Dialogue and Peaceful Resolution of Security Challenge in the North to assist victims to get back on track.
100 policemen, SSS officers killed by Ombatse cult
Perhaps the largest killing of security agents in the country this year, about 100 policemen and officers of the State Security Service who were on a mission to arrest the chief priest of Ombatse Shrine, located at Assakyo village, about 10km from Lafia, Nasarawa State, lost their lives in an ambush.
Ondo prisoners escape
No fewer than 175 inmates of the Medium Prison in Akure, Ondo State escaped on June 30. About 54 were said to have been re-arrested a few days later.
Apo eight killings
Eight people were killed while 11 others were injured during a joint operation by the military and the Department of State Security operatives near the Apo legislative quarters in Abuja on September 20, sparking nationwide outrage.
The Senate however absolved the security operatives of perpetrating extrajudicial killings.
Kabiru Sokoto convicted
Boko Haram kingpin, Kabiru Umar, alias Kabiru Sokoto, was sentenced to life imprisonment by an Abuja Federal High Court for his role in terrorist activities, including the December 25, 2011 bombing of St. Theresa’s Catholic Church in Madalla, Niger State.
2015: INEC rules out election in states under emergency rule
Perhaps, the biggest political effect of insecurity is the announcement that elections might not hold in some states.
The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof. Atahiru Jega, said except the current state of emergency rule resulting from insurgency in three North-east states of Adamawa, Yobe and Borno ends before 2015, elections would not be conducted in the affected states.
Copyright PUNCH.
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