In the event of the recent abduction of women and girls by terrorists in Borno State, northeast Nigeria, the government must act swiftly and decisively to ensure the safe return of the abductees.

Development Diaries reports that the insurgents attacked three internally displaced persons (IDPs) camps in Ngala town, the headquarters of Gamboru Ngala local government.

It is understood that the victims were over 40 girls and women who went to fetch firewood from the bush when they were abducted from the Babban Sansani camp, Zulum camp, and Arabic camp.

Terrorists are still active in the area, and the battle against them has resulted in at least 35,000 deaths and the eviction of over two million people from Borno State alone.

The primary duty of the government is to protect the lives and property of citizens. Immediate steps should involve deploying specialised security forces to conduct a thorough search and rescue operation in the area.

Also, the government should establish lines of communication with community leaders and local authorities to gather intelligence and coordinate efforts to locate the abductees.

It is about time the government provides long-term solutions that should focus on addressing the root causes of terrorism in the subregion.

During his presidential campaign in October 2022, President Bola Tinubu gave an assurance to the Arewa groups in Kaduna that, if elected, he would address insecurity and ensure that every inch of Nigeria’s territory would be protected and safeguarded.

‘We will deal decisively with all elements threatening our peace, security and unity. I guarantee you we will end kidnapping and banditry not only through increasing our policing capacity but also through another soft approach that would promote inclusion and boost the economy of our local communities’, Tinubu said.

Unfortunately, Nigerians are still being killed, villages are still being attacked by bandits, and kidnappers are still on the rampage.

Development Diaries calls on security operatives in Borno State to intensify efforts towards securing the release of the victims. We also remind President Tinubu of his security promise and call for a better approach to ending security challenges in the country.

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