Many of us in Nigeria, as it stands now, have been wishing we had power — maybe even supernatural power — to totally stop the insecurity in the country.
If such power were put in our hands, a good percentage of us would do the unimaginable, both good and bad.
Okay, so before picking up my phone to draft this, I came across a post on Facebook about some bandits in northern Nigeria who were caught when they went out to carry out their usual kidnapping. They were arrested and handed over to the law. After several court trials, they were granted bail. By who? The governor of the state was so confused about how the bandits were released on bail. It’s very obvious that someone with more superior power than him ordered(and paid for) their release.
So, in a country like mine, having money alone can’t fight insecurity. Power must be added, and if possible, supernatural power. Yeah, that’s the truth.
If I had money, would I fight insecurity in my neighbourhood?
No! Money alone can’t solve it. The superior ones will tame my financial capacity in fighting crime, just as we’ve seen play out in many countries and cities.
In the city where I currently live, there have been issues of herdsmen terrorising the forests and farms with their cows. They destroy plants, and the people affected can only complain but nothing can be done. There have been occasions where farm owners challenged the herdsmen, and the herdsmen either harassed the farmers or killed them. They are so unchallengeable because they have a very superior power backing them, which is the government.
Three Sundays ago, when we were having a chit-chat about the current situation of insecurity in town regarding how herdsmen are making life unbearable for farmers in the bush, a man told us how one of the richest people in the city travelled to Abuja to lay a complaint about the ordeal and find ways to stop the grazing of cows in the area. And guess what? The man was arrested by the very people he went to report to because, according to them, one of the herdsmen was missing. Did you understand that? The man who went to seek a solution to the crime in the city was detained instead. So you see, it’s not all about money. Power must be involved.
Since the crime is being supported or empowered by those in power (the leaders), any fight against crime must be tackled from the head as well.
Where do I stand?
I won’t fight crime with my money because it’ll be fruitless and frustrating. Do you know how frustrating it is to fight for justice only for injustice to be served against you in broad daylight and there’s nothing you can do? So frustrating!
But in a situation where I have the power to do according to my will, I would turn into a witch and, in one night, send all the leaders of the neighbourhood — or the country at large — to their graves. Yes, it’s as simple as that.
Thanks for reading.
This is my entry to Week 194, Edition 02 of the Weekly Featured contest in Hive Learners Community