Connect with us

News

Insecurity Tales: Between Reality and Toxic Hype in Anambra – Aburime

Published

on

75 Views

By Christian ABURIME

The Chief press Secretary to the Anambra state government, CHRISTIAN ABURIME has reacted to the insecurity Tales both in Anambra state and the country at large.

According to Aburime, the issue of insecurity is a global phenomenon, and today it is not the exclusive preserve of any society. Every nation has its share of security risks and breaches.

He said while responsible governments try their best to fulfill their constitutional primary responsibility of securing lives and property, no society in the world is ever totally safe.

His words: In fact, according to a United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) report, 6 in 7 people worldwide are plagued by feelings of insecurity. Also, the report further confirms that about 1.2 billion people live in conflict-affected areas, with almost half of them (560 million) in countries not usually considered to be fragile.

This means that, whether in the developed world or developing continents, vulnerability to insecurity is universal. Gun violence is an ever present threat in the US. Fatal stabbings are common in the UK. Terrorism abounds in the Middle East. Deadly crimes occur in Asia. South America has their drug cartel and mafia-related killings.

And most countries in Africa face diverse insecurity crises, including South Africa where crimes and killings are regular. But despite all the spate of insecurity across the developed societies, visitors, tourists and investors never cease travelling there; neither do their citizens badmouth their countries to the outside world.

This makes one wonder why when it comes to the case of Nigeria, some subversive elements are bent on disparaging their own state with exaggerated tales of insecurity, especially in Anambra State.

They have appointed themselves as town-criers of not good tidings, but of horror stories and pull-down-Anambra narratives just to make the government look bad. What a criminal indulgence!

Every day, insecurity rears its ugly head in different parts of Nigeria as daily reported in the news. For instance, banditry and kidnappings are daily tales in the North zone of the country. Weeks ago, five students of Federal University, Gusau in Zamfara State were kidnapped and yet to be released. Sectarian killings continue in Kaduna, Plateau, Niger, Kogi and Benue.

Gallant Nigerian soldiers recently arrested some rail track vandals in Nasarawa, just as policemen lately engaged armed robbers in a gun battle in Gombe State. Abuja, the seat of power that should be supposedly most secure, is a theatre of kidnappings and stabbings.

Over the past weeks, there have been several reported incidents of fatal stabbings across Abuja, from Wuse II to Gwarimpa, Airport Road to Gwagwalada, and Utako to Jabi.

Coming down to the Southwest, the zone has its own share of insecurity crises. Armed robberies and ritual killings do occur in Lagos, Ogun, Ondo and other states.

South-south and Southeast regions are not spared either.

In all of this, citizens of various states don’t indulge in mischievous hyping up of terrifying insecurity to discourage visitors and investors as some misguided few Anambra State’s own citizens do. And in spite of isolated incidents of violence and crime, Anambra State today can still be reckoned as one of the safest states in Nigeria.

The relative security in the state is not a mere coincidence, but rather the result of deliberate and concerted efforts by the Soludo-led government to continue to secure lives and protect property.

So, instead of campaign of calumny and pull-it-down syndrome by critics who never see anything good in their state, Anambra State government under the visionary leadership of Prof Chukwuma Charles Soludo, CFR, deserves commendation for its unwavering dedication to ensuring the security of lives and property within its jurisdiction.

The government has made substantial investments in law enforcement agencies, equipped them with modern technology, and provided adequate incentives to enhance their effectiveness.

Furthermore, the government has created an enabling environment for the security agencies to operate optimally, fostering collaboration and intelligence sharing among them.

However, as citizens of this remarkable state, it is crucial to recognize the responsibility we bear in maintaining the positive strides that Anambra State has made in other aspects.

We must refrain from indulging in the temptation to badmouth our own state or spread exaggerated stories of insecurity. While it is natural to discuss and address any security issues that may arise, let conversations be constructive and tend towards improvement.

We must discuss our security situation with caution and accuracy, avoiding the trap of sensationalism in social media platforms that could unjustly scare away visitors and investors.

As it is a universally acknowledged fact that no society is ever totally free from insecurity, the Anambra State government will continue to do all things possible to strengthen the state’s security architecture. And with Ndi Anambra providing their goodwill and support, fostering a healthy environment of positivity, the state will surely flourish under the protective wings of a proactive government led by Governor Soludo.

By so doing, we will attract the much-need development investments that will ultimately help in making Anambra a secure, livable, progressive and prosperous state we can all be proud of.

Continue Reading
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

News

AI in the Newsroom: Tool, Not Talent

Published

on

11 Views

By: BABS DARAMOLA

I watched in disbelief today as one of Nigeria’s top national TV stations used AI to voice a news report. Let me be clear: AI has its place in journalism. It can help gather data, fact-check, and streamline production. But reading the news? Delivering it to the public? That’s a strp too far. Presentation must remain human work.

Broadcast journalism is more than a recitation of facts; it is a craft built on experience, judgment, and empathy. Great stations pride themselves on the caliber of their reporters; their pedigree, their training, and their ability to probe beyond the script. These are professionals who have spent years in the field, enduring challenges, asking the hard questions, and ensuring that the public receives information that is accurate, contextualized, and ethically presented. AI can never replicate this.

The danger of using AI to replace human reporters is not hypothetical; it is immediate and tangible. Machines lack intuition, moral judgment, and the ability to read between the lines. They cannot adjust tone to convey urgency, nuance, or empathy. They cannot interview sources in ways that build trust, challenge authority, or uncover truths hidden beneath layers of bureaucracy. They cannot, in short, report with the credibility and humanity that audiences deserve.

Globally, respected outlets -BBC, CNN, Al Jazeera, Reuters- have integrated AI as a supporting tool, never as a replacement for journalists. These organizations recognize that technology can enhance reporting but cannot supplant it. Audiences respond to human storytellers because humans bring context, understanding, and accountability. Replacing journalists with algorithms risks turning news into sterile, impersonal content, and diminishes public trust at a time when credible information is most needed.

There is also a deeper concern for the next generation of journalists. Broadcast journalism curricula are carefully designed to teach ethics, storytelling, and professional judgment. By sidelining practitioners in favor of AI, media organizations risk creating a generation of journalists for whom the craft is theoretical rather than practical; a generation unprepared to navigate the moral and practical complexities of reporting.

Beyond education, this trend threatens the very ethos of journalism. Reporting is not merely about speed or efficiency; it is about truth, accountability, and service to the public. Lazy shortcuts erode these principles. The allure of AI must not blind us to the foundational role that human reporters play in democracy and civil society.

Using AI responsibly is innovation. Using it to replace reporters is laziness disguised as progress. The stations involved in this cheap practice must ask itself: are we committed to serving the public with integrity, or are we willing to cheapen our journalism for convenience?

Reporting is human. Let us ensure it remains so.

Babs Daramola is a Lagos-based broadcast journalist with over 35 years of experience on radio and TV.

Continue Reading

News

Court to Begin Hearing ADC Leadership Dispute on September 30

Published

on

13 Views

The Federal High Court in Abuja is set to commence hearings on September 30 in a case involving a leadership dispute within the African Democratic Congress (ADC).

The suit, filed by Nafiu Bala, a former ADC Deputy National Chairman, challenges the appointment of former Senate President David Mark as interim National Chairman and former Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola as interim National Secretary.

Respondents in the case include the ADC, Mark, Aregbesola, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), and former ADC National Chairman Ralph Nwosu.

At Monday’s proceedings, plaintiff’s lawyer Michael Agber informed Justice Emeka Nwite that court documents had been served on Mark and Aregbesola through the ADC’s office. The ADC’s counsel, Shuaib Aruwan (SAN), clarified that he represents only the party, not the individual respondents.

Justice Nwite adjourned the hearing, directing that all respondents be properly served with court processes.

Earlier on September 4, the court denied Nafiu Bala’s request for an immediate injunction against Mark and Aregbesola but ordered that all parties be notified to respond.

Continue Reading

Crime

Terrorists Kidnap 40 Worshippers During Dawn Prayers in Zamfara

Published

on

15 Views

About 40 worshippers were abducted by suspected terrorists at a mosque in Gidan Turbe village, Tsafe Local Government Area of Zamfara State, during early morning prayers.

The attack reportedly occurred around 5:30 a.m. when gunmen stormed the mosque, surrounded it, and took the worshippers hostage. The captors are said to have taken the victims into nearby forests around the Gohori axis in Tsafe LGA.

This incident has plunged the rural community into fear and despair, especially as local leaders and some armed groups had recently engaged in peace talks aimed at reducing violence during the farming season.

Efforts to obtain confirmation or comment from Zamfara Police authorities were unsuccessful.

The Command’s Public Relations Officer, Deputy Superintendent Yazid Abubakar, did not respond to calls or messages seeking information on the abduction.

Continue Reading

Trending