Insecurity in South-East Nigeria and Leadership Responsibility

An Analysis of the Socioeconomic Implications

Abstract

In recent times, southeast Nigeria has witnessed an unprecedented level of insecurity; ranging from herdsmen attacks on farmers, banditry, and more recently, killings and wanton destruction of lives and properties by the unknown gunmen who take advantage of the IPOB sit-at-home order to perpetrate criminalities. These situations have badly affected the socio-economic advancement of the zone. In order to ameliorate the appalling situation, leadership of the southeast zone through the states’ governors has embarked on increased security budgetary allocation, installation of Computer-based Closed Circuit Television cameras (CCTV) in some strategic parts of the states to enhance surveillance, heightening of physical security measures around the states aimed at deterring or disrupting potential attacks, strengthening of security agencies through the provision of security facilities etc. in view of this, this paper interrogated insecurity in southeast Nigeria and roles of the zone’s leadership in curtailing its socioeconomic impact. Qualitative Research approach was adopted which entails the use of secondary source of data and Key Informant Interview (KII); and explanatory method of data analysis in collecting and analyzing data. The result of the study revealed that there has been worsening insecurity evident in the incessant attacks by unknown gunmen. This has affected the ease of doing of business in the region and has led to loss of income and poor socioeconomic development of the region. Despite the efforts the level of insecurity in the southeast is still high; evident on continuous killing and destruction of properties by the unknown gunmen The study recommends that the southeast state governments should intensify their security fight by providing more modern security surveillance gadgets and also employ security experts with professional training to head the security departments of the southeast states. Also, state police should be established to enable the southeast state governors to have direct control over the security architecture of the states.