Security Challenges and Grassroot development in Nigeria

Background to the Study

Security is the backbone of any society. It is tied to its social, political, economic and cultural growth. Negligence of this vital ingredient of development would lead to all manner of social ills, including violent crimes such as armed robbery, ritual killings, child trafficking and other crimes. Recently, Nigeria has witnessed an unprecedented level of insecurity. This has threatened national security and has prompted huge allocation of the national budget to security (Achumba and Akpor 2013). The grassroot communities are currently facing serious security challenges in Nigeria as a whole and Oyo State in particular. The problem of security in grassroot communities has continued to claim the lives of innocent citizens. Consequently, the rate of criminal activities is on the high with several insurgencies such Fulani herdsmen’s attack, community unrest, robbery, kidnapping, rape and other anti-social behaviours occurring in various rural communities in Nigeria and Oyo State.

The government has taken great steps in combating the security challenges, however, majority of these steps have not yielded desired. This has generated clamour for the creation of state police in order to tackle security challenges at state level. Akinyele Local Government is one of the local governments in Oyo State that have witnessed series of security challenges. For instance, in June 2020, there was a replete with gory narratives that oozed from Akinyele Local Council of Oyo State. Specifically, the gruesome murder of no fewer than five people in the council jolted many Nigerians. Also, another killing in the local government area was that of a 42-year-old woman, Olusayo Fagbemi, which occurred on June 24, 2020, at the Sasa area of the council. That came after a five-year-old boy, Mojeeb Tirimisiyu, was murdered at the backyard of his parents’ house at Tose area of the council on June 22. Another case was an 18-year-old Barakat Bello, who was killed on June 1 at Akinyele town of the council. Mrs. Azeezat Somuyiwa, a pregnant woman was the second to be killed on June 5, while the third victim, Grace Oshiagwu was a student of Oke-Ogun Polytechnic, Saki. She was reportedly raped to death at her parent’s residence in Idi-Ori, Sasa, Ojoo, Ibadan. (Punch Newspaper)

In addition, that there have been series of Fulani herdmen attacks and kidnapping on various communities in Akinyele Local Government. For instance, The Guardian on the 12th of July, 2021 reported that Gunmen have allegedly killed a village youth leader in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital. It was gathered that the youth leader, popularly known as ‘Olori Odo,’ was shot by herdsmen who allegedly invaded Akinkunmi village in Akinyele Local Government Area. A resident and commercial motorcyclist, Rasak Ishola, said the gunmen attempted to kidnap two people at Akinkunmi village on Saturday. These and many others security challenges are being experienced in many parts of Oyo State and Akinyele Local Government in particular. To this effect, the crux of this study is to examine security challenges and grassroot development in Nigeria with a particular reference to Akinyele Local Government, Oyo State, Nigeria.