The Impact of Insecurity on Daily Life and Tourism in Nigeria

A safe environment is basically what almost everyone wants: a suitable place to start up a business or family, raise your young ones, and enjoy the beauty of life and nature as you journey through each day. Unfortunately, the reverse is the case in this part of the world where I reside, where we're in a state where we've got to keep our eyes open 24/7 for our own safety and that of our properties. Insecurity is the order of the day, and these have led many to leave the shore of the country and have also discouraged tourists from coming in to explore the beautiful terrain that lies in our land.

I'm a citizen of Nigeria and also reside there, and it's as though insecurity keeps waxing stronger and stronger as the day goes by, because there's hardly a day you won't hear of insecurity issues that lead to the killing or adoption of people by terrorist, bandit, or unknown gunmen groups. It's becoming the order of the day, leaving people with uncertainty about where they are safe and who they'll be victims of the next day.

Having a secure fence, gate, and the like doesn't necessarily mean your house is secure, because these evil men of the night usually find a way to navigate their path through the security system you've set up and delve into our properties, looting all that we've labored for for years. It's quite saddening, and I really hope and pray this will change.

Luke I said it's as though the insecurity is getting stronger, and why I said so is because these have been in existence since I was just a child. I remember we used to hear news of kidnapping of children when I was younger, and they moved to the notorious one-chance group of thieves who pose as drivers to carry unsuspected passengers, then take away all their valuables as the vehicle moved, before throwing such people out of the vehicle to look for their next prey.

I've witnessed armed robbers operate live since I was just a primary school kid. I remember when they once came to our house and dealt with my grandparents and uncles, taking away all we've and that of our neighbors with no security on sight to come save us from these disasters that befall us, and it's become the norm that police won't be anywhere close to where thieves are operating; they only show up once the thieves have left, regardless of how long the gang has been operating.

Since then, we've evolved from all those to having even more heartbreaking breakouts of more crimes and activities that lead to insecurity, from insurgents in the not that led to the era of boko haram and the unknown gunmen in the east, not forgetting the ritualists in the west, and kidnapping on almost every single major road network around the country, including the invasion of herdsmen with guns that kill farmers and the like. We've got it all and it has disheartened.

All of these have led to a situation where even the citizens are leaving for their own safety and to bid for greener pasture. Imagine if citizens were leaving; would a stranger come in the name of tourism? Of course, most people who used to come for the tourist attractions we're blessed with in the country have abstained from coming for their own safety, because if a citizen isn't safe in his own country, then there is no assurance that an outsider would be.

I've seen loads of news all over the internet about the situation of things in my country, especially when it comes to insecurity, and I must tell you for a fact that although not all is true, at least 80% of them are. Recently, we've had issues of girls being adopted and killed by men they're supposed to go on a date with, and even the police, who ought to be protecting us, get involved in making nature more unsafe for the common man.

Personally, I won't say the government is doing enough to change the situation because, to start with, our military officers don't have the right training to combat these evil perpetrators, nor do they have good enough equipment and weapons to do so, and that's why most of them hide when they hear terrorists or thiefs are operating somewhere, so the government still has a lot to do, investing in these aspects and also giving the right punishment to those apprehended for disturbing the peace of the nation.

All photos taken and edited on canva