Samuel Adesoji Aderonmu is the lead pastor of New Life Baptist Church, Owode, Ajah, Lagos. In this interview with EMMANUEL SALAWU, Aderonmu spoke about the growing insecurity and how Nigeria’s youthful population struggle to cope with the country’s socioeconomic challenges. Excerpts:
Nigeria continues to face serious security challenges in many parts of the country. From your perspective, what do you believe are the root causes of insecurity, and what roles should the government, the church, and the citizens play in addressing it?
Nigeria is actually and sadly bedeviled by insecurity ranging from insurgency, banditry, kidnapping etc. In fact, the situation is such that no part of the nation is spared and completely safe. Whereas, some people have attributed the insecurity to be political, the government, particularly, the immediate past, cannot completely exonerate herself from it, because of selfish ambition and interest. Just imagine how many lives have been wasted by these criminals with many more people including school children who are 2 years and 3 years old still in their custody begging for rescue.
Furthermore, soldiers and even generals are being killed by them. These criminals are so bold to committing these crimes because, we are told, their collaborators and sponsors are in government, her parastatals, and even in the armed forces. Other causes are that of out of school children, unemployment, and religious bigotry etc. The government must look into this criminality, and strengthen her security architecture so as to save our nation from this quagmire.
