Public commentator Mahdi Shehu has said that Nigeria’s deepening insecurity is not caused by one tribe or religion, but by people from different ethnic and religious backgrounds who play various roles in the crisis.
Shehu made the comments in a post shared on X on Sunday,
where he listed examples from across the country to argue that criminality in
Nigeria cuts across regions, tribes and faiths.
According to him, it is wrong for any section of the country
to claim innocence when the security situation continues to worsen.
He argued that different security threats across the country
involve individuals from diverse backgrounds.
According to him, many Boko Haram and ISWAP fighters in
Borno, Yobe and Adamawa come from Kanuri and Shuwa communities.
He also claimed that ISWAP cells operating around Kogi,
Kwara and Ondo reportedly include a significant number of people from the
Egbira ethnic group.
He further alleged that some of the informants working with
bandits in the Northwest are Hausa, while several of the bandit leaders and
fighters are drawn from Fulani communities.
“Some individuals from the Berom ethnic group in Plateau are
involved in the production and distribution of locally–made weapons used by
criminal networks.”
He also pointed to other examples across the country. He
claimed that the leader of the Mahmudawa group operating in parts of Kwara
State is Abba Abubakar, whom he described as a Hausa man from Daura in Katsina
State.
He referred to a statement credited to Governor Charles
Soludo, saying that a large share of those involved in kidnapping, armed
robbery, ritual activities and other violent crimes in the South-East are
people of Igbo background.
“Some non-state actors behind kidnapping, crude-oil theft
and vandalism in the Niger Delta come from Ijaw, Urhobo and Itsekiri
communities.
“Criminal activities such as kidnapping and ritual-related
offences in the South-West involve individuals from within Yoruba communities,
regardless of whether they are Christians, Muslims or traditionalists.
“Some of the banditry and violent incidents recorded in
Benue and Taraba have been linked to individuals from Tiv and Fulani
backgrounds.
“A number of people involved in the operation of illegal
baby factories and child-trafficking networks are drawn from Igbo communities,
including both Christians and traditional worshippers,” Shehu alleged.
He went on to make additional claims about criminal
activities across the country.
According to him, people from both Christian and Muslim
communities in Edo State, as well as some individuals from the South-East, are
involved in various cyber-fraud schemes.
He also alleged that a significant share of those linked to
illegal drug trafficking networks are individuals of Igbo background.
He further claimed that some people involved in
phone-snatching and related attacks in states like Kaduna, Kano and Katsina
come from Hausa communities.
At the same time, he noted that offences such as bank fraud
are committed by people from virtually every tribe and religious background.
He argued that forgery of academic and official documents is
also widespread and not limited to any group.
“Several cultural groups across the country celebrate or
honour certain individuals despite being aware of their alleged criminal
activities, sometimes granting them traditional titles.
“Nigeria’s prisons reflect this diversity, with detainees
and convicts drawn from almost all tribes, religions, social classes and
economic backgrounds.”
“Therefore, If Nigeria collapses and disintegrate, just
remember we are individually and collectively responsible in different
percentages. No one section of the country can claim innocence,” he concluded.
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