As many Nigerians anticipate the festive season, the atmosphere is shadowed by cases of violence across the country. Festive periods, largely times of joy, unity, and celebration, now come with an underlying fear that has permeated communities across Nigeria. Such periods have often been used as an avenue to perpetrate violent conflicts. With the Christmas and New Year celebrations around the corner, the insecurity across the country manifests as highway armed attacks, kidnapping, armed robberies and general gunmen violence. Across Nigeria, some major roads especially are plagued by armed robbery gangs, bandits and kidnappers, which compound the pre-existing security challenges.
Over the years, some Nigerians have expressed fears ahead of the festive periods of Christmas and the New Year. This is understandable given the dangers that the different violent conflict players have historically posed. Kidnappings for ransom have become particularly rampant, with criminals targeting individuals attending family gatherings, religious events, or travelling to their hometowns. The fear of abduction looms, forcing many Nigerians to alter their holiday plans or avoid travel altogether. According to the Nextier Violent Conflict Database, December and January are often characterised by incidents of kidnapping. Between December and January, there has been an increase in number of kidnap victims across the country yearly between 2020 and 2023.
Abductions along inter-state roads have been recorded with festivity travellers, students being the victims. For instance, in Ondo State, four students were kidnapped along the Akinnu- Ajowa Road on their return from school for the 2022 Christmas holiday. Attacks have also been recorded in other regions like South East Nigeria, as witnessed in the Orlu community raid where six people were reportedly killed. In Jigawa State, gunmen operated unfettered on 25th December 2020, killing two police officers and abducting a nursing mother.
Other factors responsible for insecurity during festive periods are ethnic and religious tensions. For instance, on Christmas day in 2022, Islamic extremists attacked a church service in Kaduna State, killing 40 Christians and burning down 100 houses. Kaduna State has been a hotbed of ethnic and religious conflict, which has been compounded by banditry. Also, what was described as “Nigeria’s blackest Christmas ever” on 25th December 2011 was an attack carried out by the Boko Haram Islamic Sect. The attack led to the death of at least 27 people in Madalla town located on the outskirts of the Federal Capital Territory.
Also, Nigeria’s challenged security infrastructure has allowed criminal groups to operate unfettered; the inadequacy of Nigeria’s security apparatus exacerbates the issue. Insufficient personnel, outdated equipment, and a lack of coordination hinder the effective prevention and response to security threats. However, it is necessary to point out that some efforts on the part of security operatives have proved successful and key in carrying out their protection mandate. Joint efforts by the police, Amotekun corps and hunters proved successful in the rescue of a victim kidnapped by gunmen in Ekiti State. Furthermore, the foiled attack by the DSS against terrorists during the Sallah celebrations reveals that the insecurity is not limited to the festivities during Christmas and New Year but also during the Sallah celebrations.
Current economic realities such as inflation and cost of living can be a motivator for criminal elements to attack soft targets during the festive periods. This necessitates the need for the government first to view solving Nigeria’s security problem by improving the socio-economic standards of people. This means making concerted efforts to alleviate poverty and reduce unemployment, which would reduce the desperation that predisposes people to criminal activities.
Insecurity during festive periods in Nigeria poses a significant challenge, and strengthening security infrastructure and promoting unity are vital steps towards creating a safer atmosphere for Nigerians during the holidays. This could be done through improving security along routes with a notoriety for attacks. Both government and communities must collaborate to address security challenges. Furthermore, there is a need for the new administration to assert its commitment and improve on securing people’s lives not only during festivities but all year round.
