Sustained Kidnapping in Kajuru, Kachia, Kagargo axis and Kaduna State Security Model
OPINION
By; Abdull-Azeez Ahmed Kadir.
Kaduna State sits on a geographical axis that is so complex such that certain phenomena affects it either way. Kaduna is the centre of Nigeria. It is more central than Abuja.
At the peak of Boko Haram, members of that infamous group had cells in the state with manufacturing of improvised explosive devices IEDs and hideouts for memebers. Used Kaduna as a transit ‘hostel’ among others. But they got smoked out through intel, saving the state lots of calamities.
Then came political transition in 2015 with the opposition taken rein of power. The insecurity metamorphosed from the known Boko Haram to banditry, kidnapping for ransom et al.
Under the last administration, Kaduna State got quarterly records of those kidnapped, murdered in cold bold or those in captivity. They became nothing beyond just figures for publicity.
The incumbent administration coming into office in 2023, promised continuity. But some pundits had reservations. Yes, government is a continium. But continuity of what was the question on many lips. Especially considering the not so good human relations and the scotch-earth approach of executing certain government policies of that administration.
The dismantling of once proactive Operation Yaki did more harm than good to the State and beyond. That outfit fiercely tackled crimes and criminality, was a nightmare for men of the underworld, manned all corridors in and out of the state round the clock with effective communication.
But the administration of Senator Uba Sani changed that with the Kaduna State Security Model.
The model saw reprieve in geographical axis where these bandits once held sway. Giwa, Birnin-Gwari, Igabi, Chikun, Kajuru, Kachia, Kagargo et al that were dreaded areas, saw succor as farmers returned to their farms, deserted settlements came back to live.
The state Security model is being praised for its change in strategy and the results recorded thus far. It is a far cry from what it inherited from its predecessor.
The model utilises a mix of military firepower, intelligence cum surveillance led policing, embedding and engagement of community based organizations; traditional, religious, sociocultural, the hybrid operational team of the armed forces, police, Department of State Services (DSS), the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Kaduna State Vigilante Service (KADVIS) et al.
This integrated strategy including Forward Operation Bases (FOBs) has recorded certain level of success. It has led to arrests of key bandit kingpins, rescue of victims, temporary disruption of bandits camps, relative peace in places like Giwa, Birnin Gwari, Igabi, Chikun that were once no go areas due to the activities of the bandits.
The model thus far is not failing, yet, it is not winning. It seems reactive and delivering short-term success. It is yet to succeed in breaking the criminal cycle.
Today, the resurgence and sustained kidnapping on the Kajuru-Kachia-Kagarko corridor is lethal and mind boggling. That axis is among the most dangerous corridors compared to once dreaded Kaduna-Birnin Gwari, Zaria-Giwa-Funtua. The Kajuru-Kachia-Kagarko corridor is today a theatre of mass kidnapping of villagers, travellers, banditry, arson, rustling, land grabbing and occupation, and holding locals to ransom.
The axis is of intense topography, dense forests that link the Federal Capital Territory, Kagarko, Rijana-Kachia and Kajuru, making it a safe haven, logistic bases, transit routes and detention camps for the bandits. The weak border controls also see to the feeding of this axis with bad elements from the FCT, Niger, Nasarawa and Plateau States.
Communities’ fear of reprisals result today in some living under the control and command of army of occupations, paying taxes, farming to feed the bandits, enduring raping of their wives and daughters, summary justice including executions, while the bandits rake in millions of naira in ransom.
The dwindling government-people trust deficit and the policy of ‘see something say nothing in order not to demarket the state’ are among key drivers of this sad situation o that axis. State actors’ denials of occurrence of such dastardly acts widen the trust deficit and leave sour taste in the citizens mouth.
This results in declining agricultural production, as farmers abandon farming, hunting, fishing. Mass displacement leading to rural-urban migration, internally displaced persons, disruption and destruction of education, health and commerce with their facilities. There are victims; men, women, pregnant ones even, children among them todlers who are barely months old at the time of their kidnapping from especially these three locals governments that have spent months in captivity.
As earlier asserted, the state security model is not failing, but it is also not wining yet. There is the need to reinvent the integrated strategy to clean up and take back this axis and other unoccupied spaces grom these terrorists.
The security hybrid needs to dominate the environment by its active presence and control, sustain raid of the routes and camps, track ransom money, arms, foods, and logistic supply chains of thees criminals. Kaduna State is fortunate to benefit from, and have the highest number of the newly minted Forest Guards with over one thousand personnel. The addition would aid the integrated strategy.
Formulate and operationalise joint security collaboration of the contiguous states to ensure better interstate border management to deny the bandits acces when the heat turns on them in one. Share intelligence, utilise technology to improve advance surveillance over these corridors.
Incidentally, Governor Uba Sani insists on rural development. Provision of and improved rural access roads will aid rapid security response and deployment.
Skill acquisition, employment opportunities at the grassroots which boost their economy will deter incentives for criminal recruitment. Building trust between the government and the governed, embedding community based organizations (CBOs) into the intelligence based operations would neutralise the key drivers of the resurgence.
Social justice is a cardinal fulcrum. Culprits should be fished out, prosecuted and convicted transparently to serve as deterrent for others, bolster the confidence of the citizens to build the much needed trust in state actors, as well act as critical stakeholders in tackling the menace head-on.
As the sustained kidnapping, banditry festers on the Kajuru-Kachia-Kagarko corridor, the Kaduna State Security Model is not failing, but not winning. Reinventing it with more boots on the ground, judicious utilisation of intelligence, resources and right motivation of the security agents will aid this.
No one is safe until everyone is safe.
Abdull-Azeez Ahmed Kadir a multimedia journalist writes from Kaduna and can be reached via azeeznews@gmail.com
