Security consultant and analyst Dr. Steve Okwori has criticized the response to recent mass kidnappings in northern Nigeria, blaming police refusal and weak security in remote areas, while warning that security agencies need to maintain the early gains recorded to avoid a new escalation of violence.
In an interview with ARISE News on Sunday, Dr. Okwori said that despite security forces recording tactical successes, insecurity across the northern region, ranging from terrorism and banditry to kidnapping for ransom, remained a serious problem.
“Northern Nigeria is currently facing a number of security challenges including terrorism, banditry, kidnapping, abduction and ransom payments. These criminal activities are mainly observed in the north and are worrying,” he said.
Okwari acknowledged concerns raised by groups calling for a national security emergency, but said recent operations showed improved coordination among security agencies.
“This does not erase the fact that Nigeria’s security architecture has recorded commendable success on multiple fronts,” he said.
“We are seeing coordinated operations by the military, DSS and police. This shows increased synergy and information sharing between security agencies.”
He attributed these achievements to recent leadership changes in the defense and security sector.
“The military is increasing its mobile operations. We have a new military commander and a new defense minister, and we will see coordination in the defense and security areas,” he said.
However, Okwari cautioned against complacency.
“What is important to me in all these successes is sustainability. They have to take advantage of the gains they have recorded so far. They should not relax just because they have recorded some success,” he warned.
“We need to strategically integrate these efforts.”
He noted that while some hostages have been rescued, many victims remain in captivity.
“Some hostages have been released or rescued, but many more are still in captivity. For example, those abducted from the Kurmi Wali community are still there. We have not heard anything about them,” he said.
Mr Okwari directly criticized the police response to the controversial abduction of 177 people from northern communities.
“I would like to blame the police for that incident. Their behavior in initially denying that the incident occurred is, to me, very unprofessional,” he said.
He said the denial created an opportunity for the kidnappers to escape without resistance.
“Police denial and police delay gave terrorists and robbers an opportunity to transport victims. If they had not denied, people who saw them in action might have raised the alarm earlier,” he explained.
“There were no security personnel to challenge them. That’s why they were left unchallenged.”
Mr Okwari said the incident exposed the lack of presence of security forces in many rural areas.
“Most of these communities are remote and there are no security forces present. If you conduct a survey, you will find that many of these communities have no police or military presence at all,” he said.
He commended President Bola Tinubu’s directive to establish armed forest guards, saying it was a step in the right direction.
“The idea of forest guards is laudable. They will be recruited from their immediate communities, trained and armed. They will be the first responders when criminals attack,” he said.
“These criminals had fertile ground to operate in because neither the police nor the military could confront them.”
He said the modus operandi of the kidnapping was particularly worrying.
“They moved freely from one community to another, taking people from as many as three churches even at night or early in the morning,” he said.
Despite the difficult security situation, Okwari cited recent intelligence-led arrests as evidence of increasing capacity.
“That arrest you mentioned speaks volumes about intelligence gathering that can nip threats in the bud before they escalate,” he added.
He concluded by stressing that Nigerians should not live in fear and that government has a constitutional obligation to continue to ensure their security.
“Article 14(2)(b) of the Constitution is clear that the safety and welfare of the people is the primary objective of government. No Nigerian should move from one place to another with fear and anxiety,” Okwuori said.
Bolwatife Enome
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