By Boluwaji Obahopo, Lokoja.
An All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain and Kogi Central Senatorial aspirant, Chief Momoh Obaro, has called for the adoption of a comprehensive “Marshall Plan” to tackle the root causes of kidnapping, banditry and insurgency in Nigeria following the death of retired General Mohammed Rabe in the custody of kidnappers.
Obaro, who is also the Secretary of the APC in the United Kingdom, said the country’s worsening insecurity requires a holistic strategy that addresses poverty, unemployment and governance deficits rather than relying solely on military responses.
In a statement posted on his social media platform, the development economist argued that insecurity predates the administration of President Bola Tinubu and should not be viewed through a partisan lens.
”Treating insecurity solely as a failure of the current administration ignores the deep-seated structural deficits that have allowed criminal networks to flourish since 2009. If we are to secure the nation, we must pivot from reactive blame to proactive, evidence-based reforms,” he stated.
According to him, widespread poverty has become a major driver of insecurity, with criminal groups exploiting the desperation of unemployed and underemployed youths.
”Poverty is the primary recruiter for terror. When a significant portion of the population exists on the margins of survival, bandits, insurgents and kidnappers become alternative employers,” he said.
Obaro noted that Nigeria’s unemployment and underemployment rates have left millions of young people without meaningful economic opportunities, making them vulnerable to recruitment by criminal networks.
He further observed that recent economic realities, including the removal of fuel subsidies and the depreciation of the naira, have weakened the purchasing power of Nigerians, including security personnel.
”When a police officer or soldier struggles to feed their family, the integrity of our security architecture is compromised, creating vulnerabilities where intelligence and equipment can be commodified for survival,” he warned.
To address the challenge, Obaro proposed a national “Marshall Plan” focused on human capital development, vocational training and labour-intensive infrastructure projects capable of creating jobs and reducing the pool of idle youths susceptible to criminal influence.
The APC stalwart also identified the absence of a robust national database as a major obstacle to effective law enforcement.
”Effective law enforcement is impossible without granular, actionable data. Currently, our security agencies operate in a fog of anonymity,” he said.
He advocated the establishment of a comprehensive digital registry, an address-based intelligence system and economic profiling mechanisms that would support community policing and improve security operations nationwide.
Obaro further called for the strengthening of local government autonomy, arguing that the erosion of grassroots governance has created ungoverned spaces where criminal elements thrive.
”Nature abhors a vacuum. The systematic degradation of the Local Government Area system over the last two decades has created vast ungoverned spaces across rural Nigeria,” he noted.
He urged the Federal Government to guarantee the financial and administrative autonomy of local governments through constitutional reforms, allowing councils direct access to their allocations and enabling them to provide essential services that strengthen community trust and security.
The APC chieftain also proposed the convening of a National Security Consensus Forum comprising federal, state and local governments, traditional rulers and civil society organisations to develop coordinated solutions to the country’s security challenges.
While expressing sympathy over the death of General Rabe, Obaro urged Nigerians to avoid politicising insecurity, insisting that the crisis requires collective action.
”The insecurity crisis is not a partisan problem; it is a Nigerian problem. It cannot be resolved by the federal government in isolation, nor can it be policed away without addressing the underlying poverty and structural decay,” he said.
He called for collaboration among all stakeholders, stressing that a combination of economic inclusion, technology-driven security measures and stronger community engagement remains the most sustainable path to restoring peace and stability across the country.
End.
General Rabe’s Death: APC Chieftain Proposes ‘Marshall Plan’ to End Kidnapping, Insurgency
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