NYSC AS AN EFFECTIVE TOOL FOR NURTURING PANACEA WITH REGARDS TO INSECURITY IN THE NATION.

One of the major problems embattling the giant of Africa – ‘Nigeria’ is insecurity. Insecurity in Nigeria has been in existence since time immemorial even before the coming of the colonial masters to the country.  Insecurity is the state of being gripped with fear, uncertainty, anxiety, or shakiness (Meriam Webster Dictionary Ed. 2020). In the same vein, insecurity is the state of being subject to danger or vulnerability. This feeling is birthed as a result of the cruel strikes from insurgents.

No doubt that Nigeria has suffered from insecurity and will still suffer from it if nothing is done about it by our sterling leaders. In Nigeria, no part seems to be safe has terrorist activities now take place in any state of the federation. Some of these acts range from kidnapping, bombing, banditry, theft, armed robbery, destruction of public structures, uncivilized protest, indiscriminate killing for rituals or sacrifice among others. All these afore-mentioned points are driven by self-driven ambitions by most of our political leaders which makes it difficult for the government to tackle insecurity in Nigeria. Due to this effect, private local security personnel such as the all-popular Yoruba ‘Amotekun’, the vigilante’s Association of Nigeria, the disbanded Arewa guard among others, came on board to supplement the effort of the government to tackle insecurity in the country. But to no avail, there has been no significant development in making the country safe. A typical example, is the recent massacre killing of members of a Pentecostal church in Ondo state in 2022. This mind destroying incident happened several moths after the establishment of Amotekun in the south west of Nigeria. Also, to buttress the extent of their failure was when the Fulani herds men destroyed a farm land in Ogun state. Similarly, the government further devised a military aggressive means to combat these insurgences which include: declaration of these insurgents as national threats and permission to gun down on sight by the military personnel. All these measures put in place has only resulted to more aggressive strike back at the citizens by the bandits which puts more lives and properties at stake.

Having tried all possible sides on the coin, the government should invest in the NYSC scheme to help eliminate the widespread insurgency in the land. NYSC for over five decades now, has been able to successfully bridge the gap of ethic inferiority in the country. Through this means, people of different cultural backgrounds can live together happily without any fear. With this at hand, NYSC if given the privilege will be help ease the tension in the land. One way this mission can be achieved is by encouraging inter ethic deployments. No man in his/her sane mind will want to attack the state in which his/her co-habitant is/are deployed to. That’s the spirit of patriotism and it must be upheld.

WRITTEN BY: OLUSOLA JOEL