Sri Lankan Journal of Arabic and Islamic Studies, 5(1) 2022 
Published by Faculty of Islamic Studies and Arabic Language, ISSN: 2550:3014  
Received:03rd May 2022/Accepted: 28th June 2022   
 
ENDING INSECURITY AND BLOODSHEDS IN NORTHERN NIGERIA: 
QUALITY EDUCATION APPROACH 
 
Abbas Anas Muhammad 
School of General Education, Federal College of Education, Kano. 
abbasfagge@gmail.com  
+2348055272027 
 
Abstract 
The main thrust of this paper is analysis of the sophisticated bloodshed surrounding northern parts 
of Nigeria, which makes life unendurable among the rural dwellers whose future of Nigerian food 
security depends upon. Parts of the constituted discussions in this paper are conspiracy of silence 
and inactions among the elites, educated folks, politicians, traditional rulers and lots of others 
people about what matters, for some reasons, which the paper hard to fathom. It is evidence that 
northern Nigeria fall victim to the plots and machinations of her adversaries, who are relentless 
and devising the tricks and tactics to destroys the region by all means. Certainly, the present daily 
massacre may likely snowball into unending full scale war that may likely consumes the whole. 
The paper provides the accounts of insecurity in northern Nigeria, discusses the disturbing effects 
of insecurity in the North, and states some of the factors and solutions to these devastating 
bloodsheds. It concludes that education not only helps individual to escapes the crimes associated 
with insecurity, but a remedy to all ailments of insecurity and a way out in every devastated 
situation. 
Keywords: Arewa (northern Nigeria), banditry, insurgency, kidnapping, cattle-rustling 
 
Introduction 
One of the daily and greatest challenges facing northern Nigerian region now, is the issue of 
insecurity that bedeviling the existence of Arewa as an entity. Everyone is conscious about the 
tragedy of Northern Nigeria and the absence of relative peace, citizens’ life lost value and no longer 
guarantee under the present government, and insecurity remains pervasive. The old Arewa that has 
been the most prosperous, accommodating, stable and peaceful over the years has now according 
to Jega (2020) become the ground for insecurity, playground for insurgents, kidnappers, cattle 
rustlers, bandits, armed robbers, epicenter of senseless killings, burning of villages and springing 
up of IDP (Internally Displace Person) camps in every available school building and open space. 
These carnage is on daily basis consuming lives and properties worth trillion of naira, a threat that 
demeaning northerners life and poster danger to their survival. 
 
Geographical Entity of Northern Nigeria 
The geographic entity of northern Nigeria (Arewa) is the oldest even before the spread of Islam 
into the Northern Nigeria in about 11th century with existed various states and kingdoms with 
cultures and religions. The 19th century jihad lead by Shehu Usman Bn Fodio cemented these small 
kingdoms and states from old Borno Empire (1380-1893) to Sokoto Caliphate (1804-1903) to form 
 
 
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the largest and the most prosperous polity in pre-colonial sub-Saharan Africa (Kano cited in Abbas, 
2014).  
 
The British disbanded these empires and established the northern Nigeria protectorate in 1900 
which later became part of the colonial Nigeria in 1914 and eventually part of the independent 
Nigeria in 1960 (Kano cited in Abbas, 2014). Northern Nigeria is an ethnically and religiously 
diverse region with over 100 ethnics group is an overwhelmingly majority Muslims region. The 
Hausa and Fulani tribes dominated m9uch of the North-western and North - eastern parts with 
Nupe and Kanuri who are also chiefly Muslims. Others minor tribes are: Igala, Igbira, Gwari, 
Biram, Margi, Jukun, Katafs etc. small Christians population who were converted to Christianity 
after the colonization of the country by British also exist in the North (Wikipedia, 2017). Northern 
Nigerian region occupy an area of 660,000 km2 (250,000 sq. ml) with a population of 211,400,708 
as of 2021. It is desert and semi-arid region which is known to be sparsely populated (Wikipedia, 
2021). Northern Nigeria shares boarders with Niger, Chad, Benin and Cameroon republics. 
 
Figure 1: Showing northern Nigerian area within Nigerian map 
 
 
Source: Nigerian Voice 2013 
 
Abubakar (2020) stated that the region is currently prospected into three political zones namely 
North-east, North-west and North-central and is still reasonably bound by common socio-cultural 
outlook, shared historical experiences and destiny. The region though diverse in nature is 
comparatively more accommodating, peaceful and economically stable; courtesy of the defunct 
regional government that cultivated inclusiveness and balance development across parts of the 
region. The largest northern Nigerian region as of present has nineteen states of: Adamawa, 
Bauchi, Benue, Borno, Gombe, Jigawa, Kano, Kaduna, Katsina, Kogi, Kebbi, Kwara, Nasarawa, 
Niger, Plateau, Sokoto, Taraba, Yobe and Zamfara states. 
 
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Account of Insecurity in Northern Nigeria 
 
The socio-economic decay and precipitous crisis that bedeviling the north started after the region 
‘Golden Era’ (1960-1970), from that period onward the promise of solid foundation for 
development and growth gave way to stagnant and ultimately economic collapse with far reaching 
consequences for the region (Abubakar, 2020). He (Abubakar) further added that it was in the late 
70’s that the fortune of the north took a turn for worst, culminating in the current disposition where 
the quality and sanctity of life and property are in the dire strait, especially on the far flanges of 
the region. 
 
Similarly, Jega (2020) had also stated that the rate of ordinary crime was much lower in the North 
in those days but the region had in the past violent political contests during the first republic, 
including Tiv riots, frequent inter-communal clashes, among the worst being the Kafancan riots of 
1987; and the violent Maitatsine religious sect that first struck at Yan-awaki, Kano in 1980 and 
later at Bulunkutu, Maiduguri in 1982, Tudun-Wada, Kaduna in 1982, Yola in 1984, Gombe in 
1985, and finally in Funtua in 1993. Others ethno religious and socio-political crisis in the past are 
among the Tivs and Jukuns, Hausas and Katafs, Fulanis and Bachamas, Fulanis and Katafs, Fulanis 
and Biroms, Hausas and Biroms, Farmers and heeders, Muslims vs. Christians etc. 
 
The present trends of insecurity in northern Nigeria are enormous ranging from insurgency, 
banditry and terrorism across the northern states Gadzama (2020) equally revealed that the country 
has been besieged by renewed flare-ups of ethno communal clashes in states like Taraba and 
Kaduna, increased insurgent attacks in Borno and Yobe states and violent attacks by armed bandits 
in Niger and Katsina states. He (Gadzama) further lament about the attacks by insurgents in Borno 
state and incessant bloodletting in southern Kaduna, which according to him are all plans to trigger 
mayhem.  
 
The situation is further compounded by intermittent violent attacks by lawless groups in states 
like: Kogi and Nassarawa states. Zamfara, Kebbi and Sokoto states have been already under the 
daily banditry attacks, with exception of Kano state which its boarder part local governments were 
been reported as besieged by bandits, no single state in the north is currently in peace. Gunmen 
with impunity take over Gombe, Bauchi, Plateau and Benue states stubbornly, Arewa is now in 
flames and bleeding from one end to another. 
  
Devastating Effects of Insecurity In The North 
 
Figures from various UN (United Nations), World Bank sources, former Governors Kashim 
Shattima and Abdul’aziz Yari of Borno and Zamfara states as cited in Abubakar (2020) stated that 
available estimate indicates that about 3 million persons have been displaced internally, 100,000 
or so killed and about 9 trillion Naira (net present value) spent on counter insurgency/ terrorism 
war apart from missed opportunities, a whole national budget lost. Similarly, Burutai (2021) 
quoted UNDP (United Nations Development Programme) which reported that since taken up arms 
against the Nigerian state in 2009, Boko-haram terrorists have killed about 350,000 people in the 
North-East, 90% of whom were children. This is very alarming circumstance which renders people 
as refuges and increased the number of IDP’s on daily basis. Yusuf (2020) revealed that the 
greatest effect are increasing poverty, death and destruction of lives and livelihoods and the painful 
emotional trauma of rape to girls and women in rural communities. The people feel abandoned 
and unappreciated with no meaningful federal, state or local government presence in their villages, 
and they were left at the mercy of murderous bandits. Nevertheless, the governors Masari and 
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Matawalle of Katsina and Zamfara states calls on their residents to take up arms against bandits 
for self-defense as the last resort. 
Looking at the above catastrophes that affects northern people, particularly rural dwellers who are 
in serious carnage especially during the tenure of President Buhari is alarming. The carnage is 
worse than ever. Yusuf (2020) attested that people are much less secure today than they were five 
years ago (2015 -2020). It spared neither the rule nor the rulers, if the whole Governor Babagana 
Umara Zulum of Borno state can escaped two times ambushed attacked by the insurgents, and in 
the second attacked he even lost eleven of his security aids (Military, Police and Civilian) during 
the fire exchanged, who else is free? So many people of higher personality have escaped death, 
and some others have been lost and are still losing to insecurity. 
 
Yusuf (2020) further buttressed that the death toll across Arewa is mounting, images of the 
massacres are gruesome to watch and the stories from survivors too is heartbreaking to hear but, 
hearing and watching we must, because this is the reality under which our people have been living 
silently for years. The roll call of the nameless dead are too numerous to counts, neither the Federal 
nor States governments keep any records of the number of people killed, injured, kidnapped, 
women raped or cattle rusted. Nobody can even predict the solution to the genocide in the north, 
the illegal but officially condoned arms in the hands of bandits and terrorist roaming north and 
Nigeria in general. The fact is Nigeria is undergoing the most difficult insecure era. 
 
Nevertheless, there is danger associated with these unattended carnage among it, is what Yusuf 
(2020) observed that the threat of famine in Nigeria is real and almost certain if government does 
not take urgent and security measures that will protect our people to go back to their farms. He 
further (Yusuf) said that in all the states terrorized by these bandits and insurgent are the most 
fertile parts, they terrorize farmers off their farms. Food insecurity to lives and properties will be 
a disaster and a serious threat to our national security and existence as a nation. In another 
conviction Yusuf (2020) added that: 
Arewa today is under siege and terrorized by rampaging bandits and insurgents. They roll 
into our towns and villages in convoys of motorcycles, riding three on each, brandishing 
AK47 rifles with impunity. They spend hours killing, burning, raping, carting away 
livestock and abducting women as sex slaves. In many of these villages, they put taxes on 
the people and keep coming back again and again to attack, because there is no law 
enforcement agents’ presence. The Police or Military always show up after the carnage to 
count the bodies. In Arewa the mass burials of our people massacred by the bandits and 
insurgents is common occurrence and where the land is soaked wet with the blood of 
innocents, unarmed, undefended folks living largely in rural areas that have had any 
government presence. He (Yusuf) further blamed Arewa collective silence to the above 
criminalist which according to him is a bigger tragedy than the terror and cruelty that 
these murderers visit daily on the people. 
 
On another conviction among the two discussants of vision radio in one of the programmed (Faruk 
and Bungazi 2020) stated that the most irritating narration comes from eye witness in person of 
Malam Abubakar of Sabuwa Local Government Area, who spoke to them at length. He (Abubakar) 
in a state of despair and fruitlessness, regarding Kankara, Dandume and Faskari (the epicenter of 
banditry attacked in Katsina) rampant attacks. Abubakar said the attacked renders the whole 
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community into the state of hopelessness; they shed more tears until it dried up, due to frequent, 
deteriorated and horrific nature of long over attacks. Bungazi further said that: 
….I heard much about insurgency, read about it and in all my working experience as a 
journalist I had been opportune to interviewed insurgents and the victims of insurgency 
but I had never heard such dreadful and heartless demeanors perpetrated by the bandits 
as revealed to us by the eye witness (Abubakar of Sabuwa Local Government in Katsina). 
The most annoyed that horrifies the whole scenario more than the banditry itself, is that 
the conviction of the security personals during one of the reconciliation processes 
conducted in Katsina by the stake holders in the state, where the security personals 
admitted their incapacity to prevent the people from such disaster and none of them is 
willing to either retired or quit the service. Also the most horrible and shocking disclosure 
is how the bandit raped and cuts the private parts or pour acid on raped private parts after 
the raped, which at times can be done in the presence of raped relatives (sons, husband, 
parents etc.); that trauma cannot be elapsed easily…. 
 
Yet, Yusuf (2020) narrated almost a similar testimony from one of the two video clips that made 
him to shed tears. The video is a tantamount to our failings as a society to our own people but most 
importantly of the failure of the government to protect the lives, honor and dignity of its people. It 
is a video clip of a young nursing mother from a village in Katsina, narrating how she was raped 
by armed bandits in front of her husband and a teenage son. You could see the silent rage on the 
face of the teenage son, who was standing nearby, her husband, was too distraught and ashamed 
to be shown. 
 
The November 2020 massacre of 43 farmers in Zabarmari of Borno state whose where been killed 
via slaughtered by Boko Haram. And in one of the viral video released by Boko-haram, Shekau 
(fanatical leader of Boko-haram) appeared and claimed the responsibility of slaughtered 73 
farmers not 43 as said by the Government. Yusuf (2020) further feel sad about the attitudes of 
President Muhammadu Buhari, who his home state affected by the incessant mass killing with 
impunity by the bandits, and became the daily occurrence. More so Yusuf stated that the President 
seems distant, uncaring and out of touch with the sufferings of his largest support base. It has never 
been in his nature to commiserate or empathize with ordinary people in real time in their hours of 
need. 
 
On similar conviction Bukarti (2020) wrote …..that military heads and their cronies do not want 
this war (insurgency and banditry) to end and that their sabotaging efforts is growing by the day. 
Nigerians are almost unanimous that they (immediate former Service Chiefs) should be fired but 
President Buhari has refused despite expiration of their two terms and their palpable failure. He 
(Bukarti) further in a different write-up accused President Buhari led Federal Government for 
heightens insecurity and kidnappings. Similarly, a former governor of Cross Rivers state Donald 
Duke has alleged that most weapons used by Boko-haram terrorists are obtained from the security 
operatives (Fikayo, 2020). 
 
Apart from Chibok and Dopchi schools children that were kidnapped in Borno and Yobe states, 
the December 2020 kidnapped of Kankara boarding school students in Katsina state, while 
President Buhari is in the state for a week vocation does not come as a surprised. From Kankara, 
abduction continues in Jangebe in Zamfara, to Greenfield university students and Baptist high 
school students in Kaduna, to Islamiyya school students in Tagina, Niger state etc. Yet, Emmanuel 
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(2021) added that beyond the frequency of kidnapping attacks, what has caused greater distress is 
the freedom with which kidnappers have acted, not bothering to conceal their identities to victims, 
calling families from registered telephone lines, calling radio stations where victims have been put 
on air to plea for their lives, and operating from forest camps known to security officials.  
The worst banditry mission was the attacked of the famous Nigerian Defense Academy (NDA 
Kaduna) with abduction of one major and killing of naval officer, from NDA to other military 
bases in Giwa and Birnin Gwari not mentioning police barracks and stations. Next hurtful activity 
was Zamfara 2021, where bandits set ablaze and burnt 23 passengers’ alive and stood guard around 
the bus while people were roasted. Kaduna 2022 was the bombing of locomotive train where some 
passengers killed, injured and kidnapped. While undercutting Nigerian military which is well-
known for its ability and performance around the world, it is also referred to as second to none in 
Africa, the government has also been reduce to a more of a child play. 
No doubt that Nigeria rank as the third place for terrorism by Global Terrorism Index as cited in 
Wikipedia (2020). Nigerian security personnel need to undergo rigorous and regular check-ups to 
etch out bad eggs among them; even the security architecture needs a serious re-structure, and the 
security personnel at the war theaters need adequate funds and modern weaponry to perfectly 
deliver. Here we are in the north, associated with killings of innocent soul, kidnappings, and 
abductions of schools children that sometimes necessitated off-season closure of the schools and 
huge ransom demand became order of the day. 
 
One question still fresh in mind of most Nigerians is that how imaginable that an innocent citizen 
can drive ten kilometer on any higher ways without meeting more than 20 different securities 
checkpoints, but bandits and terrorists will drive more than thousand miles with large number of 
abducted students or citizens and meet not a single security checkpoint? Burutai (2021) stated that 
in the North-west, bandits have continued to murder, ransack communities and kidnap citizens 
(especially schoolchildren) in their hundreds for ransom, forcing schools closure in Kaduna, 
Katsina, Kebbi and Zamfara and mostly all northern states on different occasions.  
 
The question here is where this disdainful attitude towards collective interest and absolutely 
illegitimate demands does come from? If one using mathematics equation can sum of the Arewa’s 
western education backwardness, plus school children abduction trends, added with negative 
response of schools closure by the governments, will no doubt equal to Arewa’s sinking in a pool 
of ignorance. 
 
Identified Factors And The Solutions 
1. Conspiracy: It is well known that the occurrence magnitude of northern insecurity is beyond 
the north itself and the ordinary citizen imagination, several factors such as organization, 
financing, and the uses of sophisticated weapons by the insurgents and bandits added to that 
insinuation. Jega (2020) submitted that even the elders in Borno state sense that there is a 
plot by someone(s) to decimate the north and its people. Dukawa (2012) added that the 
Western world had hand in almost every major crisis in Nigeria including Nigerian civil 
war. He (Dukawa 2012) further said that the West is thus contributing to the instability of 
the Nigerian state. Nigeria as a sovereign nation shall organize a powered technocrat team 
in addition to the Foreign Intelligent that may counter attack any conspiracy against her 
well-being. The team shall also confer with the responsibility of reviewing Nigeria’s foreign 
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policy and rapidly response to any external challenges against the will of Nigeria. More so, 
constant regulatory of all International Organizations and Donors Agencies here in Nigeria 
to ensure their activities are in line with Nigerian must takeout which requires a strong 
decisive will. 
 
2. Bad Leadership: Nigeria’s leadership is at times products of selfish and the selection of 
God fathers. Another point of contradictory is cited by Tahir in Kadiri et-al (2017) that 
majority of Nigeria leaders at Local, State and Federal levels are corrupt. Parochial and 
undemocratic in values and attitudes, some are dictatorial, autocratic and vindictive, some 
of them see themselves as masters and not servants of the people using their positions as 
opportunities to cart away public funds and properties; these types of leaders promote 
nepotism, favoritism, ethno-centrism, and rejection of outsides and perpetrates election 
rigging which make Nigeria -nation to exist as fragile geographical entity. Yet, by reducing 
the coast of running government Nigeria shall be save from bad leaders (God sons and 
Daughters). When leadership becomes less lucrative, it paves way for the qualified citizens 
who are ready to offer selfless service to the nation. 
 
3. Illiteracy: The level of illiteracy is very annoying in northern Nigeria that is why so many 
people are poor and wretched. Abubakar (2020) also cited 2018 UNICEF report as said that 
only 53% of children (5-14years) attend primary school. Yet, poverty, ignorance and poor 
appreciation of Islam combined to subvert the said problem in the North. Abubakar further 
said about 10.5 million kids (over 90% of which are from the north) roaming the street. The 
lucky ones could find themselves in fairly organized Tsangaya or Islamiyya schools. Nigeria 
must ensure compulsion of free basic education for all, and enact laws to punish anyone 
found violating the declaration policy by either dumping his children and or refuse to give 
out his kids for education. Mass and adult education shall be organize to take care of adult 
citizens. 
 
4. Unemployment: On the current unemployment statistics Abubakar (2020) stated that 
unemployment figure in Nigeria is around 20%, among the youth segment in the north. It is 
55% and these are persons that are completely unemployed or unemployable on the account 
of lack of basic qualifications, skills or work ethics. In numerical terms persons in this 
category (18-35 years) which number about 30 million (33.5% of region’s 100 million 
souls). Yet, unemployment problems affect even the developed nations, but the toll in 
Nigeria is rising on daily basis which renders our youth into crimes such as kidnapping, 
stealing, banditry, armed robbery, insurgency etc. Government should as a matter of 
urgency motivate our teaming unemployed youth to take advantage in employment 
opportunities in sport, IT (Information Technology), farming and creativity among others. 
There are so many opportunities in Nigeria through revitalization process; government shall 
also embark on revitalization process of mechanized farming, tourism among others for our 
youth to be employed. 
 
5. Religious Extremism: Nigerian are rooted in religion, they show interest in their own to the 
detriment of others, this created mistrust among the followers of the two major religions 
(Islam and Christianity), which for years culminated into religious conflicts that took 
millions life’s’ and destruction of properties worth trillion of Naira. Extremist can uses 
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religion to perpetuate crimes of killing, insecurity and destructions, in avoiding extremisms 
and its negative consequences there must to be a strict regulatory and monitoring of all 
religious organizations/institutions to ensure their conformity with rules governing their 
standard operation and in line with Nigerian laws. 
 
6. Extreme Poverty: Poverty is the world’s current threat to peace and stability, the challenge 
of extreme poverty as Abubakar (2020) cited NBS (National Bureau of Statistic) report 
(2019/2020) which said nine out of ten poorest states in Nigeria are in the North. And about 
90% of the over 87 million Nigerians living in extreme poverty (less than $1.9 per day) are 
domicile in the North. Abubakar further cited the Brookings Institute, Data Lab (2019) that 
projects a higher national figure for Nigeria and designated the country as “the poverty 
capital of the world”, with the North-western and North-eastern hones of the region being 
the hardest hit with far reaching negative consequences. As part of the strategy to overcome 
poverty, a specific and appropriate empowerment initiative should also put in place by both 
the private and public sector to stem the menace of poverty. 
 
7. Drug Misuse and its Effects among Youths: The rampant drugs abuse in the North is 
connected with rampant cases of insecurity and other crimes which are fueled and driven 
by drugs. It is in record that our neighbors from the South are using the North as illicit drug 
free markets by taking advantages of the youth unemployment to make them addicts and 
renders them unworkable, a deliberate attempt to deprive the region of future 
manpower/professionals in an increasingly competitive national environment. Abubakar 
(2020) also cited 2019 BBC undercover documentary that discovered about 3 million bottles 
of codeine base cough syrup are consumed every day in Kano. Similarly, He further quoted 
the Governor of Kano on 2020 International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking 
stated that N1billion worth intercepted drugs (caplet/tablets, shisha and cocktails of local 
intoxicants) were destroyed. The Kano experience according to Yusuf (2020) when 
extrapolated across most of the North would give a mind boggling number in the region of 
about 20 million doses/serving of illicit drugs daily involving mainly the youths, security 
agents and even the house wives. 
 
8. Insufficient Security and Resources: It has been confirmed beyond the reasonable doubt 
that the security personals engaged by Nigerian government to combat the criminalities 
across the country are insufficient; never talk of out-dated weaponry they are using. For 
example the number of Police personnel in the country is insufficient and the majorities are 
on special assignment as guard or escort to VIP’s (ex-governors, ex senators, ex ministers 
etc.). Jega (2020) stated clearly that there are no enough soldiers to fight Boko-haram, 
bandits and other criminals all over the country. He (Jega) revealed that the Nigerian Army 
grew from 15,000 men at the start of the civil war to 250,000 men within 30 months. How 
come that we cannot do what General Gowon did 50 years ago? He also stated that the 
weapons, equipment, mobility, communication and welfare are even more important than 
numbers. Bungazi (2020) also said the militias have more sophisticated weapons than the 
military itself. He blamed government action and lack of sincere commitment to end the 
crisis. 
 
 
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Quality Education As A Sine-Quo-Non For Insecurity 
 
Wohoho! (A scream of depression with no apparent of hope in Hausa language) As the North has 
today transformed into one of the most horrible region in Nigeria, where mindless criminalities 
have become the order-of-the-day, and the most terrifying about it, is the involvement of mostly 
uneducated youths in these criminalities; who were misguided through deception and fanaticism 
to kill, bomb and destroy their fatherland for a little or no gain. The only remedy for such evils is 
quality education as Sir Ahmadu Bello in Abbas (2012) once said, the future of our dear country 
lies in giving all our children free access to basic education. Also Indira Ghandi said that education 
is a liberating force and in our age it is also a democratizing force, cutting across the barriers of 
caste and class, smoothing out inequalities imposed by birth and other circumstances (Abbas, 
2012). 
Farrant in Ekuafeh, et-al (2015) defines education as the total process of human learning by which 
knowledge is imparted, faculties trained and skills developed. In this light education could be 
formal, informal and non-formal and it can have desired effects or influence on the persons 
acquiring it. Also, Shekarau in Naniya and Kurawa (2004) stated that education is the primary key 
to development and progress throughout human history, it is a cardinal to the spiritual and material 
development of any society, and also it is the central nerve of community’s existence and 
invariably, therefore the most significant determinant of its survival. The quality of every society 
is largely predicated on the quality of its educational system and no society grows above the quality 
of its education. 
 
Therefore, quality education encompassed all aspect of human lifecycle, which Nigerian 
government relegated and the price of that relegation is what we are paying now. Nigerian 
government negligence of its responsibility to ensure every child attends to school, despite the 
trillion of naira earmark every year for UBE (Universal Basic Education). Yes Sir Awolowo of the 
great memory said it all, “the children of the poor you failed to train will never let your children 
have peace”. It has been confirmed that education is an antidote to all negative vices, insecurity 
and other crimes. Quality education according to Adams in Auwal (2015) includes among others: 
1. Learners who are healthy, well-nourished and ready to participate and learn, supported in 
learning by their families and communities; 
2. Environment that are healthy, safe, protective and gender-sensitive; 
3. Content that is reflected in relevant curricular and materials for the acquisition of basic skills, 
especially in the areas of literacy, numeracy and skills for life and knowledge in such area of 
gender, health, nutrition, HIV/AIDS prevention and peace; 
4. Processes through which trained teachers use child-centered teaching approaches in well-
managed classrooms and schools and skillful assessment to facilitate learning and reduce 
disparities; 
5. . Outcomes that encompass knowledge, skills and attitudes, and are linked to national goals for 
education and positive participation. 
 
Quality education not only helps individuals escape social vices by developing the right skills 
they need to improve their lively hoods, but also generates productivity gains that fuel economic 
growth. There is no better time to realize qualitative education role in managing crisis than now, 
it helps one to escape all factors that fuel insecurity such as poverty, bad governance, drug abuse 
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etc. With the biggest experience of insurgency and damages it has course not mention the colossus 
loss of lives, Nigeria should learn a lesson and consider education as significance determinant to 
peace, stability and national growth and development anywhere in the world. Education is a tool 
for uplifting the under privileged, the marginalized, the immigrants and other special group, it 
shall also remain a basic force for socio-economic and political transformation of any society. 
 
Conclusion 
The problem of insecurity requires renew efforts, commitment and selfless service from all citizens 
to save Nigeria, and Arewa in particular from the present bloodbath orchestrates by insurgents, 
ethnic militias, armed bandits, rustlers, kidnappers etc. Those fundamental threats created by 
irresponsible politicians surrounded by immunity or impunity while the citizens affected were constantly 
faced either cynical deception and liars from the authorities concerned, despite all the efforts, protest and 
concerns the killings is steadily expanding, the North has remained a killing field or reduced to a 
human abattoir, our communities have been converted to a mass graves due to the failure of 
government at all levels. Yet, the country is the highest importer of arms and ammunitions in 
Africa but the insecurity has continue to plague Northern parts of the country due to the gruesome 
activities of some unscrupulous bandits, kidnappers and terrorist. In a nation where a large number 
of inhabitants applaud and cherish wealth without a connected means of the wealth was made, will 
have plenty of delinquents everywhere. 
Recommendations 
1. Reposition our education system by changing the curricular to reflect the present realities 
and allocate more funds to education for global competitiveness; 
2. Create in the youth an attitude of patriotism and self-less service through Nationalism 
education and equip them with the vision to serve their fatherland with love and loyalty; 
3. Revamping the leadership architecture by bringing in fresh ideas, technocrats and 
strategists on board that should embark on new reforms and policies that enable Nigeria to 
prosper; 
4. Empower youth through entrepreneurship education to be self-reliant and to contribute 
maximally towards national growth and development; 
5. Constant workshop, seminars and retraining of all security personnel to prepare them 
towards challenges ahead and to enable them fit in the global security competitiveness. 
 
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