CIVILIANS UNDER ATTACK: CHALLENGES TO SUSTAINABLE SECURITY IN DEMOCRATIC NIGERIA

Abstract

The alarming prevalence of violent attacks on civilians, along with the rise of banditry and terrorism, has been a recurring issue in the nation. The Nigerian government, in a bid to perform its traditional role of securing, must expediently seek a sustainable solution to these disintegrative and terrifying occurrences of Boko Haram, bandits, Terrorism has been a persistent issue in the nation.The Nigerian government, in an effort to fulfill its conventional duty of ensuring security, must promptly pursue a sustainable resolution to these issues. Disintegrative and alarming events involving Boko Haram, robbers, and other violent organizations have led to substantial loss of life and property in Nigeria. This study examines the issues encountered by civilians during attacks and the quest for lasting security in democratic Nigeria. Nigeria has been identified as one of the countries facing significant challenges due to a high rate of attacks on civilians, leading to its classification among nations affected by terrorism. A considerable number of lives and valuable assets have been lost, resulting in many citizens becoming homeless. This study utilised secondary data from publications, journals, newspapers, internet resources, and government archives concerning civilians and insecurity in the country. The research findings indicate that civilians are facing serious attacks and require protection from both the Nigerian government and international communities.Furthermore, government resources related to security issues have significantly and positively affected economic development. This indicates that investment in security has contributed to mitigating the adverse impacts of terrorism and insecurity, even with the positive correlation between security spending and economic growth. This paper concludes with are commendation for the government to declare war on violent crimes and terrorism while also seeking support from international communities to address the issue of insecurity. The government must intensify efforts to combat insurgency and prioritizing enhancing security measures within the country.