[Editorial] Increasing Spate Of Insecurity And 2023 Elections

The endless regime of insecurity in most parts of Nigeria is obviously an indicator that the country is dangerously sitting on a keg  of gun powder and fastly sliding into a state of anarchy.

With the increasing spate of terrorism, banditry, kidnapping, extra judicial killing, religious extremism etc across the different geo-political zones, we need no soothsayer, spin doctor or religious prophet to predict where the country is headed.

As the 2023 general elections fastly draw near with the primaries now going on in various states of the country, one question hanging in the air is the possibility of holding elections in the troubled areas of the country where the terrorists, bandits, unknown gunmen, kidnappers are holding sway.  The North East is largely in the hands of terrorist elements, bandits are ravaging the North West and North Central, while unknown gunmen and Indigenous People’s of Biafra (IPoB) elements have declared war in the South East with killer herdsmen  and kidnappers  having field day in South West and parts of South South.

Even though President Muhammadu Buhari and the security agencies have repeatedly assured Nigerians of their safety and security at all, reverse has been the case as attacks and killings are increasingly the order of the day.  Just two days ago, a lawmaker in Anambra Hon. Okechukwu Nwoye was beheaded by unknown killers. Unknown gunmen are daily killing people everywhere and fear is on the land.

As the election draws closer, we sincerely urge President Buhari’s administration to devise a new approach to arrest the insecurity situation and create a peaceful environment for voters to freely come out to vote.