Some participants at the event
A Security Expert, Mr Sam Otoboeze has attributed the rising insecurity in the country to several factors including the erosion of family values.
He said this on Friday at the ongoing 2025 annual Convention of the Nsukka Journalists Forum (NJF) in Nsukka, Enugu State.
Otoboeze was the guest lecturer at the event which has the theme: “No Security, No Development – Together We Build Both. ”
In his paper entitled: “Securing The Future: Enhancing Peace, Trust, and Development of Nsukka Cultural Zone, “, he emphasised the need for the return of family values.
He said Nigeria’s educational system did not emphasise practical skills, where students become self- employed after graduation but rather graduates were trained to depend on white-collar jobs.
“Our educational system do not encourage skills acquisition; so, when young men graduate from schools, they search for none existing jobs.
“When they cannot find jobs, frustrations set in and they take to criminalities to satisfy their needs, ” he said.
He also blamed the proliferation of illegal arms as part of the cause of insecurity in Nigeria, warning that if not checked it could worsen the state of insecurity in the country.
“Other problems fueling insecurity includes endemic corruption in our country; erosion of family value system; and the social media mismanagement of information.
“All these are factors that fuel insecurity in our modern day Nigeria, ” Otoboeze said.
He also mentioned the absence of justice in the country as part of the reasons insecurity continues to rear it’s ugly head.
“When somebody does what is not good, he says you can go to court, because he knows that even if you go to court you will not get justice.
“The disintegration of moral institutions such as the family, the Church, the educational systems among others also contribute to the rising insecurity in our society, impunity everywhere, ” he said.
According to him, the family served as the first point of socialisation in times past, saying that today the situation had changed.
“It’s no longer the case; in fact today, some parents even go to write exams for their children.
“Some parents pay any amount to get admission for their their children to study courses which they do not merit, causing serious problems to the society, ” the expert lamented.
Reacting to the lecture, Retired Maj,-Gen. Chris Eze said there was a nexus between security and good governance.
He said that without good governance in a any society, “obviously, one would expect insecurity in such a society. “
Eze said that one of the ways to curbing insecurity was for both the government and the electorate to believe that ultimate power is derived from the ballot box.
“If you have a free and fair election in the country, believe me, insecurity will not only be reduced across Nigeria but will stop, ” the retired general said.
Speaking, the Chairman of the event, Prof. Frank Asogwa said that the lecture became necessary due to the current menace of insecurity in parts of the country.
He urged the government to continue to fight insecurity until it is defeated and Nigeria becomes a free society again.
In his welcome remark, the Chairman of Nsukka Journalists Forum (NJF), Mr Benson Ezugwu said the topic for this year’s convention was chosen due to new wage of insecurity in Nsukka land.
“Today, we have decided to discuss the issue of insecurity in our cultural zone, which has become an emerging trend in the area, ” he said.
The Chairman acknowledged the efforts of the Enugu State government in tackling insecurity in the state.
“However, it appears that in our area here, we are facing a very difficult time.
“Serious criminal activities including kidnappings, gruesome murder of residents and the destruction of farmlands have been in the rise in our various communities, ” Ezugwu said.
According to him, the activities of these criminal elements were affecting the economy the zone.
