The feeling of anxiety, fear, and violence has plagued the world we now live in. From the stories of the crisis between Russia and Ukraine, the Gaza-strip fracas, the failed coup d’etat in Turkey and its aftermath, the total disregard for the rule of law in the Philippines; suicide bomb attacks in France, Belgium, The U.S, Nigeria, Kenya, the list goes on, to the hijacking of airplanes thousands of feet in the air, police brutality and killings of unarmed individuals, abductions and kidnappings, racial violence and the emergence of terror groups like al-Qaeda, ISIS, Boko-Haram, Niger-Delta Militants, Avengers and so on are only signs that the world is sitting on a keg of gunpowder, ready to explode sooner or later.
The value of human life is now at an all time low. Somewhere in Northern-Nigeria, Fulani herdsmen have now taken matters into their own hands by taking the life of whosoever comes in the way of their herd. The illusion that when men sleep, they become oblivious is a lie. People now sleep with one eye opened. It is therefore safe to say that achieving community and world peace these days has now become something of a facade.
Just recently, somewhere in Delta state, Nigeria, the “General-overseer” of a church was allegedly caught in the act, defiling a minor. How insecure can life itself be? Nobody is safe anymore. If one is not getting caught in the web of terror attacks in the North, the menace of the thriving armed robbery and kidnapping business in the South barely provides succor for Nigerians. The effect of Insecurity in the country has rendered businesses volatile, and investors are beginning to jump ship, seeking safer havens in other supposedly peaceful African countries to do business.
Enough credit must be given to the various security agencies around the world, Nigeria most especially, for putting their lives on the line to serve and to protect. These brave men and women have taken it upon themselves to guarantee some level of peace and sanity in our societies. However, a lot still needs to be done to totally curb the insecurity of lives and properties in Nigeria. Insurgency must still be perceived as a cankerworm that needs to be fought with every counter-terrorism machinery available at our disposal. The government must not use the same methods it used to combat the Niger-Delta militants to address the Boko Haram insurgents because peace negotiations is most unlikely to succeed with insurgents like Boko Haram with unpleasant ideologies, whose core demands undermine democracy and good governance.
The recently released video of the abducted Chibok girls on social media did not come as a surprise to many. Terrorism has thrived on the internet over the years, and it is my belief that to checkmate the threat posed by Boko Haram, Government must treat them like terrorists rather than freedom fighters. The reportage of terrorism and counter-terrorism on social media is majorly influenced by the power and relevance the internet provides. As a result of its unique and ubiquitous nature, social media can help to create positive awareness via hashtags, retweets, viral anti-insurgency campaign videos and online press releases from notable military spokespersons on pro-active security measures, and on their success against insurgents in the North-east.
Internet users look to social media outlets to provide news especially on terrorism and counterterrorism. If they believe the former is a threat to their safety, they will want to be informed of the threats against them. These sites understand that the stories they report, either of the propaganda of terrorists or the success of the military, have astounding effects on the political, sociological, and psychological perspectives on our society. They must gear up and help to sensitize and sanitize the mind-set of its users, helping to discourage the recruitment of unsuspecting citizens, and also aiding the general public by providing intelligence to security agencies. This means that they must be ready to work hand-in-glove with the latter, and must possess basic skills for writing for the new media. The social media blogger must be patriotic and adept in security intelligence reporting. They must also Understand basic security terminologies, be socially literate, possess the ability to effectively communicate with the public without unnecessarily heating up the polity with “Half-truths”, and avoid news commercialization by any means necessary.
In dealing with violent extremism, we may also need answers that go beyond military action. We need answers that go beyond force.
Through intelligence sharing and gathering amongst the various security agencies both online and on the ground, stronger border-control and protection, effective community relations and proper security awareness of the populace, the attainment of some level of peace and sanity may not be far-fetched. Considering the role social media plays in our daily lives, it is arguably a massive tool in the ideological campaign of most terrorist groups, and if we as a nation are to gain the confidence of the entire citizenry, it is a weapon we must harness as well.
-OLUWATOSIN OMOLE, FOUNDER/CEO VICTORIA MEDIA&SECURITY.
Interesting article... Whoever the writer is should please keep it up... It is really lovely.
ReplyDeleteThank you sir. And thank you Titiloye for publishing.
ReplyDeleteThank you. And a big thank you also to Titiloye for publishing. More grease to your elbow.
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