Insult and Impunity in Nigeria
by Jídé Salawu
Just about a year ago, I called my uncle in my hometown, Shao, which is just south of the Niger River. Our call started on the usual notes: asking about home and family, the Adventist church, and the general state of the town. As political and economic insecurity continue to ravage Nigeria, Shao is also changing, and I wanted to know more about the safety measures being taken at home.
Sobi Barracks, one of Nigeria’s largest infantry barracks, stands at the southern end of Shao. But even with this heavy presence of military neighbours, an Indigene of Shao was kidnapped last year; he was released after paying a ransom.
My uncle and I discussed how the villages are now at the mercy of terrorists, both inside the government and out. We touched on the aforementioned kidnapping and abduction, and I warned him to reduce his own travels on Kwara roads; the abductors, I fear, can move undetected because of the porosity of Nigeria’s security system. Shao is surrounded by vast shrublands and rural settlements that have become a refuge for outlaws. As a gateway to the north, the town’s Jebba Road has thus become a target for kidnappings and robberies.
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