The Kogi State Government recently reacted to a church attack by Islamist bandits on Ejiba, Yagba West LGA, telling citizens in “crime-prone” areas to reconsider suspending worship services or relocating their worship centres till the security situation improves. The bandits had swooped on a morning service of the Cherubim and Seraphim Church, abducting the pastor, his wife and several members. It came in the wake of similar mass kidnappings in several states in the North.

This call, attributed to the Commissioner for Information, Kingsley Fanwo, is unacceptable for several reasons. Firstly, the barbaric act of attacking churches and other worship centres, killing and abducting defenceless and law abiding Nigerians, has been reduced by a government official to a mere “crime”. We are gradually losing the bite of it, but the pain remains the same on the victims.

Secondly, asking people to relocate their worship centres immediately comes with the question: to where? Government might as well ask whole communities to “relocate”, and in doing so, they must show them where they should relocate to.

Gradually, our governments which are mandated to protect the people and ensure their welfare, are dwelling more on lip service and abdicating this primary responsibility. How does asking people to consider suspending their religious activities protect them from the danger lurking in the forests? Are we to abandon our way of life and give in to terror because the government is too cowardly and incompetent to protect us?

It was in this same Kogi State that top government officials, back in September this year, admitted that some youths and women were aiding and abetting bandits. The State’s Security Adviser, retired Commodore Jerry Omodara, was quoted by several media reports of saying: “Intelligence information at our disposal indicates that some youths in Okun land use motorcycles to convey weapons and foodstuff to bandits in the forests… these bandits have gotten our women who sell soft drinks, bread and other food items”.

In Kogi, like other parts of the country, government sits by, blowing empty hot airs, while these destructive agents arm up to attack. Instead of mobilising resources and the people to go after the enemies, the people themselves are allowed to provide the enabling environment for the terrorists to morph and attack.

For any bandit group to sprout and thrive, government and the people must have failed in their respective duties to stop it. Enough is not being done to monitor the movement of strange elements and the baggage they carry their weapons in. Without the support system that misguided elements and fifth columnists in the wider community provide, banditry cannot thrive.

Jihadist terrorists are enjoying too much freedom in Nigeria, and at the people’s expense. We insist it is the primary duty of government to protect the people.