Guest Author 
Oscar. H Blayton
Bunmi Adekunle
CareTaker 
Codrin Arsene
Aba Boy
Dave O'Cube
Don Thieme
Emmanuel.K. Bensah
Ella Romanos
Charles E.
Misi A.
Nzingha Smith
K A-T
Pamela Stitch
Paul Usungu
Sokari Ekine
Samantha Ofole-Price
Tomas Ernst
Thomas Gowans
Ugo Daniels
Veronica Henry
Vic 
Oluwole Akindutire
Xcroc 
William J. Zick
Is Moving to the West a Safer Choice?
Posted by: Misi on January 7, 2008 Under: Africa, Americas, Asia/Middle East, Australia, Discussion Lounge, Europe/Australia, Nigeria, Opinion, USA
Muti ThisIf you ask most Nigerians who have abandoned their beloved country for the Western world why they made such a decision, almost all of their reasons, besides economic ones, can be narrowed down to lack of security in Nigeria. Prior to leaving Nigeria many have heard of or have been a victim to armed robbery. In fact, the fear of being robbed has led countless into becoming prisoners in their own homes.
It is definitely not unusual to see homes in Nigeria with tall barb-wired fence, gates almost as high as the buildings guarded by security men and fire-hazard burglary-proof iron bars on their windows. Even the streets are heavily gated in all directions and manned by vigilantes holding double barrel guns and charms ready to cast a spell and shot any intruder. To those who have never been to Nigeria the description of people’s homes sound more like a prison than a residence. Well, that is what the armed robbery rampage has reduced many Nigerians to.
Eventually, those who can no longer bear living in terror make the radical decision of leaving their friends, families, and everything they’ve ever worked for all in a search of a better and safer place to perch their tents. The safe-land often turns out to be somewhere in the West. The question now is: Is relocating to the West really a safer option to staying in Nigeria? In America, for instance, carrying firearms is legal and buying one is easy since all you need to do is go to Wal-mart and a photo ID. So how can a place like that be more secure than a country where obtaining a gun involves manipulating the underground world?
To further emphasize this point, America has recently been plagued by a series of deadly home invasions. Home invasion being synonymous to home robbery in Nigeria. However, many would agree that the modus of operandi of thieves in Nigeria differs greatly to America in that it rarely leaves its victims dead.
Here are a few stories of the recent occurrences of home invasion: Robbinsdale MN on New Years’ Day a couple’s home was invaded by two black male and the invasion left the man of the house shot and killed. In Hartford CT, a Cheshire home invasion left 3 members of the same family dead after their home was set ablaze. Uniondale, NY, a man was shot 3 times by a home invader who entered the man’s home through his bedroom window. Sydney, Australia a landscape gardener was beaten to death and his wife badly injured after a violent home invasion. Greensboro, NC two men were tortured and beaten during a home invasion in the early hours of the morning. Oakley, OH a home invasion turned deadly when the gunmen/robbers killed one of residence. Calgary Canada, a 32 year old man was killed after two men forcibly entered their home while they were sleeping. These cases are only a few reported incidents, there are probably several which we never hear about. From the frequency of these reports it is apparent home invasions is the beginning of a precarious fad which in most cases turn fatal.
Given the list of misfortunes stated above, could you really say that living in the West is safer than Nigeria? After all back home you can take self-help percussions in ensuring you do not become the next target whereas in the West fences around homes are so low that even a child could scale them and the other form of protection is the alarm system which only takes a code to disarm. So much for security!
On a final note , while you reminisce on your answer, view the enclosed news clip on one of the most tragic home invasions of 2007.
[youtube]2nch21twlsA[/youtube]
These posts may have related contents:
- Kingston nabs trophy at Teen Choice Awards
- How can West Africa Become More Food-secure?
- Revaluation of the Naira
- South Africa’s ANC Election: “Limited choice between the bully and the buffoon”
- Fashion: Spotting the Afrocentric Look
- Tanzanian President Kikwete at TED Global 2007
- Editor’s Pick: Mister Right And Miss Perfect
- TradeNet Portal: A West African Agric Trade Network Debuts
- West African Coastline will be Submerged by 2099
- How you can Help African Web Projects Win Grant Money … on Netsquared.org
bolanle | Jan 8, 2008 | Reply
I think the issue of security is a global problem, its only more pronounced in some countries. like you rightly said, in most instances, home invasion in Nigeria most probably is for the end purpose of enrichment, while in America, its most often for fun, which is why it usually ends in death, because in most instances, the invader is not even motivated by enrichment.
Omotaylor | Jan 8, 2008 | Reply
“a safer choice?”, could be if you are many from some other countries running away from their countries for fear of persecution, death, assassination etc.
“a safer choice”, could be if where you are moving too in the West is not as bad as the country mentioned above i.e. America.
No where is safe all over the world but we pray God that we are kept safe anywhere fortune takes us in life.
Many move to the West for they beleive it is a richer choice. Some even end up adding to the unsafe problem where they have moved to.
Misi | Jan 8, 2008 | Reply
@Ms. Omo-T what do you mean by “Some even end up adding to the unsafe problem where they have moved to”
Adeola Ogundele | Jan 8, 2008 | Reply
Moving to western world for security reasons is not the best option because as far as am corncerned there is no security any where.All we need to do is to ask for Gods protection on ones life because he is the best security u can rely on.
Adeola Ogundele.
T | Jan 9, 2008 | Reply
Very good write-up however I don’t agree you put the race of the pple that did the attack in Robbinsdale, MN. Any person could have done it black or white. If you are bad you are bad it does not matter what your race is.
Omotaylor | Jan 9, 2008 | Reply
@Misi, by “Some even end up adding to the unsafe problem where they have moved to” I mean there are many people, dont worry about race, for they could have migrated from Africa, Yugoslavia or India, who after they have migrated, join, or turn to crime and violence and resultantly add to the problems discussed above. My question is if they had remained in their counrty would they be doing this, i.e. turning to a life of crime, or is it some other influence from where they moved to in the Western World? Be it for security, political or economic reasons, home could still be considered best, especially if we all come together and partake of solutions to the problems. Better still it is not too late to return with added knowledge to help out in problem solving. Hope I answered your question Misimi.
pamela stitch | Jan 10, 2008 | Reply
I have never heard of anyone who moved out of Africa because of Armed robbers. Armed robbers are everywhere…evil people abound every where.
Is moving to the west a safer choice - maybe it is in terms of response time of policemen….? :-s
Misi | Jan 10, 2008 | Reply
@Pam, I don’t agree with you. For instance go and ask your Nigerian friends their biggest concerns about moving back home besides economic reasons they will say lack of security — the security factor is a huge deal and not just the police response. They fear the possibility of being attacked. Why do u think Nigerians traveling home are always so cautious about who knows about their homecoming? Do you think it is only because they do not want family to come begging for things? No —in most cases it’s because they are probably afraid of armed robbery thus they don’t want their homecoming publicized to the wrong people.
pamela stitch | Jan 10, 2008 | Reply
thought it was the fear of juju…..
Reasons I have gotten from people:
better school
better infrastructure
better economic opportunities….
Omotaylor | Jan 10, 2008 | Reply
Actually Misi is right in highlighting the fact that the fear of Armed Robbers, the threat to human life by Armed Robbers, the sinister feel of this, the insecurity even though your house is like a fortress armed robbers will still find ways of penetrating,driving on the streets, morning day or evening (I restrict these to Nigeria for this is the one I know off) - all these can be held under one caption - THE MENACE OF ARMED ROBBERS; and is one of the major reasons why Nigerians have “checked out”.Let me give you five examples that I know of (amongst many others):
1. Phoned my friend in Lagos some years ago. His house had just been raided by ARs. They put a gun to his baby’s head and threatened to blast it etc. He gave them all he had. 2 weeks after he fled to America with his family and still lives there to date.
2. A pilot friend’s house was raided at Ikeja. He gave them all they asked for, they put a pillow to his head and threatened to blast it. Just two days prior his friend;s hotel was raided and the manager’ head was blasted off the same way. My pilot friend wets his pants, they mocked him but spared his head. Some days later he fled to Britain and later to America. He still lives abroad to date.
3. My cousin travelled out of Lagos when we had our mother;s burial. On our return, her home had been raided, her daughter on holiday from America attacked with an iron bar and molested. The girl flown back to US for urgent medicals. She survived but to date has refused to go to Nigeria.
4. Went with a cousin to visit her female friend. House had this eerie feeling. I saw human blood and it turned out that my cousin’s friend was killed just hours prior in her home, which was like a maximum security prison with high walls, barbed wires, floodlights etc. I still find the picture traumatic, years on.
5. My sister went to a chemist to buy medicine for her son, pharmacy, a very popular one was being raided, bbut the robbers were allowing wealthy looking clietns in and robbing them as well. My sister was robbed, a gun pointed at her for she saw the robbers faces, the leader ordered that she is “wasted”, but by divine intervention, the leader walked out and the other shot at the ceiling not her, and so she lived to tell the tale. But she dare not see a gun, she cowers and simply panics, even if the gun is held by a policeman. she had therapy etc, but only just manages - years on.
I could go on and on, and so many others could. It is fearful. Can I confess something, the menace of Armed Robbers and Hired Killers scars me “”"”less as well, and as you can see I concentrate on this in my posts.
I pray Nigeria is rid of Armed Robbers and some form of security/sanity restored.
Misi | Jan 10, 2008 | Reply
@Pam, being attacked by armed robbers is not a small deal oh, you probably speak like that because you’ve been fortunate to never experience it. I will never forget the day I was attacked by 5 armed robbers holding two guns each on Toyin Street, Ikeja. It was the grace of God that saved me that night. It was a very very frighten experience and enough to make me never go back home. But when I compare that to the random killings here, I think maybe home isn’t that bad.
To counter your other arguments:
I heard there is juju here and there is a babalawon in Chicago.
About better schools—I don’t agree with you, do you want to compare the high schools here where some depressed child decides it is time to make other children who have made him misery atone for their sin by casting his own death judgment against them?
I have already adhered to the economic opportunities so I am not going to raise it.
Infrastructure—I refuse to believe that someone would move thousand of miles to a strange land solely on this basis.
Aderonke Ajayi | Jan 10, 2008 | Reply
Is this Deola Ogunde, biodun sister. this is Ronke Ajayi. I ve been looking for u.
Sonie | Jan 11, 2008 | Reply
It is an irony. Life can never be straight. The truth is that with all respect, the west still gives residents a form of security. A colleague of mine lost her husband to a security guard recently because he didn’t comply to the guards request to give him a hand down. She’s now a widow at a very young age with two kids to take care of. My point is that, this situation might not occure in the west.
I feel most African countries are not secured. We go through harrowing experiences due to no fault of ours. Take for instance the harrasment of “area boys” all around Lagos in particular. During the yuletide, i saw “area boys” taking money from cart pushers who are earning a genuine lively by picking up dirts and delivering water to homes. People saw this. I asked them why and they told me it’s “owo ile”. Very strange. We actually can not compare in any form the misfortunes associated to the West with that of Africa. We need God’s intervention.