Nigerian PDP Leader Says Some Citizens Are Turning Insecurity Into Business Opportunities

A senior member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Anthony Ehilebo, has expressed concern that some Nigerians are exploiting the country’s insecurity for commercial gain.

Ehilebo said the Nigerian government’s failure to hold terrorists accountable has allowed insecurity to persist nationwide.

Speaking on News Central’s Politics HQ on Friday, Ehilebo remarked: “When Boko Haram kidnapped girls in Borno State, we still have not identified or prosecuted those responsible. The Buni Yadi incident occurred, and no one was held accountable, leading to further attacks on schools.”

He added: “Terrorism has many facets, but one is rooted in ideology. The literal meaning of Boko Haram is ‘western education is haram’ according to radical Islamic teachings.”

“Now there is a commercial dimension where even local residents are driven by economic motives. For example, a state security agent was recently kidnapped and arrested for attempting to obtain ransom payments from her own state government for her kidnapping,” Ehilebo said.

“It has become an industry for some and a religious mindset for others, but ultimately the persistence of this problem is largely driven by political will.”