World Peace: Are We Making Headway?

The first time I felt the vibration of a bomb was while training at the University of Maiduguri, Borno State.

It was a day just like any other, I was in the school quarters where I resided with a friend now late, a classmate was visiting.

We all felt it at the same time, we vibrated alongside our abode.

I immediately sensed it was a bomb explosion.

We later learnt it was about 15 km away from us. My classmate didn't want to believe it, she insisted it was thunder, but there was no way we could have had thunder at that time of the year.

But she stuck to disbelief because if she didn't, it'd mean she lived in a war zone.

She rather wouldn't think of that.

We felt many vibrations after that, at a time our school closed because of the unrest, I spent seven years in the University for a 5-year course. The civil unrest was one of the reasons.

The Northern region in Nigeria has been in turmoil, thousands of people have lost their lives and properties.

The number of Internally Displaced persons(IDPs) are on the rise every day.

Nigeria has the third-largest number of IDPs in Africa( Statista, 2020). Unfortunately, this number continues to grow exponentially.

They lost their homes to Boko Haram, Bandits and/or Kidnappers, most of the IDPs are without a family now, they were either butchered or scorched along with their villages.

They have lost their source of livelihood and live from hand to mouth, at the mercy of NGOs and well-meaning Nigerians.

In the North West where I currently live, I've read and seen the most unsettling. Imagine seeing fighter jets at close range of about 30 feet above my house.

Residents have lived in continuous fear. Kidnapping, killing, butchering, rape, robberies and torching villages have become the order of the day.

Bandits, Kidnappers, Fulani Herdsmen and Boko Haram have become more powerful than our government. These terrorists move freely when they will, leaving destruction in their path.

I've heard tales from survivors of kidnappers and my heart bled, their lives will never remain the same. I live in constant fear, I and other residents in the state are paranoid for our safety and are working to feel safe in our neighbourhoods.

The response from the government has been stagnant and without results while these terrorists grow stronger.

In all spheres, peace is recommended to encourage non-violence, healing and cease-fire etc.

We all must come together to ensure our world is peaceful. We must demand this from our government and people. If we need to fight to ensure peace, then that is what we must all do. Enough of the bloodshed and destruction of properties, we want peace and we'll work till it's achieved.

In Nigeria it starts by choosing the right leader in the 2023 election.

The corrupted amongst us must be sieved, so we can stand together and speak with one voice. When we stand in unity we are bound to succeed.