The state of security in my country, Nigeria, isn't the most inspiring thing to talk about because most people in Nigeria already know that we have a huge security issue in the Country. Insecurity is a very big deal over here and it's on the extreme.
We've long been at the point where folks would rather take care of shit themselves instead of involving our security operatives when they run into issues. We know that a lot of folks are out there to commit crimes and we know that we can't count on our security operatives to do their job well.
Imagine being someone in that dilemma. You would sure have to step up and take charge of your own security.
There must be people who are in Countries where they know that they are safe and the security is very tight. They know that the security operatives within their territory are competent and the security Infrastructures in the area make it unappealing to criminals because they know they will be hunted down and served due punishment.
I'm yet to step a foot out of Nigeria but I've traveled across different States in Nigeria and the truth regarding the state of our security is that there aren't a lot of places in Nigeria where people have a strong belief in the competence of our security operatives.
It's not like there aren't one or two fairly secure places. The issue is that even the places that are more secure than other places within the country are still not fully safe. This could be said about Jos, the capital of Plateau State. During the time I spent there, I noticed that there weren't a lot of gang wars or daylight robbery like the way it was in Onitsha, Anambra State. However, there was often a recurring civil war caused by intertribal clashes in Jos.
So, is Nigeria safe or unsafe?
The simple answer is that Nigeria is generally unsafe. If you are rich enough to hire private securities round the clock, having them with you may give you the impression that you are safe in your territory. However, the Nigerians who can afford that lifestyle are below 1% of the population, and even when you have all these security operatives, a lot of loopholes can still be noticed in their operation.
Aside from the incompetence of our security operatives, we are also lagging behind in the massive adoption of CCTVs or dashcams for security purposes. The number of CCTVs in Nigeria is nothing compared to what's available in Countries like Japan or South Korea. The same can be said about Dashcams. A lot of vehicle owners are lagging behind in the installation of dashcams in their vehicles. In fact, only a few vehicles have dashcams installed in them.
I've personally had a lot of personal experience with insecurity which made me very serious about being very security conscious wherever I am, even in the comfort of my home. I've also stopped all sorts of late-night movement because a lot of crazy things happen at night.
Things you can do to be more safe in Nigeria;
If possible, try to only live in the Capital of any State you are relocating to in Nigeria.
Avoid being in places where you could be at the risk of getting mugged.
Being able to throw a punch and take a bunch of body shots helps. Haha.
Seriously, just try and be safe in here.
Thanks For Not Missing Any Full-stop or Comma.
Thumbnail Image is taken from Unsplash
This is my entry to today's prompt on #juneinleo monthly prompt. Feel free to check out their profile and explore their prompt.