Nigeria: What Manner of Anti-Terror War?

15 January 2013
editorial

The war against terrorism is still on, but it is becoming clear that we have allowed the terrorists to cower us into a corner. Those charged with protecting the people seem to be taking extreme defensive posture. With the deployment of soldiers in many towns, we are gradually feeling the effects of militarisation. Checkpoints and barricades are on the increase. Between Zaria and Kaduna there are more than six checkpoints: a journey of 30 minutes now takes 2 hours. In Bauchi, the military authorities are constructing permanent barricades on the highway in front of their barracks, while the police have completely shut down the highway in front of their formations. Some roads in Abuja are permanently closed. Damaturu and Maiduguri are ghost towns especially at night. Everything is at a standstill.

In spite of all these, the terrorist threat is still with us. The military strategy is simply not working; it is now time to review it. And, recently, the chairman of the Kaduna State Council of Emirs and Chiefs and Emir of Zaria, Alhaji Shehu Idris, offered a good suggestion. He called on the Kaduna State government to do away with checkpoints. He decried the increasing reports of harassment of innocent people and the time-consuming rigours of searching experienced at checkpoints. The traditional ruler's view reflects the view of most Nigerians.

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