American crisis reporting expert, Douglas Burton had cautioned the Nigerian government against relying solely on the United States for the nation’s human and territorial security.
He made this known during a recent webinar conference organized by General News (Tgnews) on the topic of “Navigating the Crisis: Understanding the Epidemic of Kidnapping in Nigeria and Mitigating High Ransom Demands.”
Burton pointed out that the United States faces its own security challenges, and historically, no country has successfully combated terrorism solely with the support of the US government.
Known for his extensive coverage of Nigerian insecurity, governance issues, and marginalized communities, Burton advised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration to take decisive action against perpetrators of crime operating unchecked across various parts of the country.
Currently serving as the Chief Editor of Truth Nigeria, an online newspaper providing in-depth reporting and analysis of crimes such as kidnapping, banditry, Boko Haram, and ISWAP, Burton emphasized the urgency of addressing Islamist insurgencies, which have plagued Nigeria since 2009.
He highlighted notable incidents, including the kidnapping of the Chibok girls in 2014 and the Dapchi school abduction in 2018, stressing the need for Tinubu’s government to confront these challenges head-on.
Burton expressed concern over the rise of “bandits” as a permanent outlaw class, attributing their proliferation from 2011 to 2015 to government complicity, which has exacerbated the fight against criminal elements in the country.
Additionally, he shed light on the sectarian nature of many kidnappings, emphasizing that they are not solely profit-driven. Burton noted that a significant percentage of kidnapped individuals are religious leaders, with few Fulani people targeted, and highlighted the self-identification of kidnappers in the Northwest as Fulani men.
In terms of solutions, Burton advocated for greater freedom in accurately reporting the identities of perpetrators behind crimes and suggested legislative changes to allow all citizens to carry arms for self-defense.
He also recommended the deployment of armed guards, particularly in vulnerable areas such as schools and churches, to deter terrorist attacks and kidnappings.
Furthermore, Burton called for religious leaders to shift towards civic and social activism, exposing and removing corrupt elected officials at both federal and local levels. He emphasized the need for accountability, suggesting that religious leaders who accept bribes should be compelled to resign from their positions.
Burton’s insights accentuates the multifaceted nature of Nigeria’s security challenges and the imperative for proactive measures to address them effectively, emphasizing the importance of domestic efforts complemented by international support, rather than reliance solely on external assistance.
Recall, Douglas Burton is an independent writer specializing on Nigerian terrorism from his home near Washington, DC. He began covering the campaign to retake Mosul from ISIS in 2015 and switched to covering ISIS in Nigeria in 2019. He is a former State Department official in Kirkuk Iraq.
