I left over N2.8 billion in various accounts - Lulu

Former NFF President Alhaji Sani Lulu Abdullahi at the weekend celebrated his 55^th birthday anniversary in Abuja. He used that opportunity to correct certain impression about his tenure as NFF President, and also tried to put some records straight.  He spoke to our correspondent. Excerpts:

Alhaji Sani Lulu

QUESTION: What is your take on recent cries of the NFF on lack of funds that led to the withdrawal of the country from CHAN competition, the first in recent times?

ANSWER: As you know, I spent four years in the NFF based on the mandate of the people, I started on a very sad note, because I am not a revenue generating organization, meeting a debt of over N300 million. When I was forcefully ejected from the office, I left over N2.8 billion in various account. We should also be mindful that in 2010 was a peak for our preparation for both the Nations Cup and World Cup, where N900 million and N500 million was released to us by the government. This shows that the total we got from government as at July was less than N2 billion, for all these various hectic activities, I still did my job, and left as much N2.8 billion in various NFF accounts. I have said it before, and I am still saying it, that as a non revenue generating organization, I was able to keep what is beyond my budgetary provisions. So, it was our passion and our dedication to serve this great country that made us to achieve all these. I still believe all we planned; all campaign promises we gave Nigerian we were able to deliver. I must thank Nigerians for giving us that opportunity. I would not want to compare my executive with that of the present ones, however I would briefly state here that the government being the main sponsor must be appreciated even though the resources were grossly inadequate to execute our programs then, we still manage to carry out all our programs. If I give you a tabular analysis of budgetary proposal all through my period in office, they as follows:

Year	Proposed budget	Approved Budget	% approved
2007	N3.77billion	N675 million	18%
2008	N6.85 billion	N1.97 billion	29%
2009	N6.00 billion	N2.02 billion	34%
2010	N8.25 billion	N2.93 billion	36%

You can see that despite these underfunding, we were able to plan, re-strategize and execute our programs in accordance with our campaign promises and satisfactorily delivered.

Question: President, you said when you came into office, you met a debt of N300 million, does it mean that when you were leaving office, you left a lot of debts that is why the present NFF are crying of money?

Answer: I know that before we were forced out of office, there were no statement of account, but I can say that there are pockets of debts that may not be up to N100 million. All I know is that the N2.8 billion couldn’t have been consumed by what we did. I left that money because it is the World Cup proceeds, the World Cup U-17 hosting proceeds. You know that the N900 million given to me, I left about N400 million from that because we did not get to the finals.

Question: Considering the fact that Nigeria has just won the Africa Cup of Nations, and now the NFF has come to tell the World that they are withdrawing from CHAN, if you are the position, would you have done same?

Answer: I will tell you it is a very difficult answer, but under my regime we were always planning ahead of time. Those who worked with me always know that I will prevail on the secretariat to prepare a one year developmental programs for me, basically the budget would be made as it affects all the programs in the year, and we have to look at where we were going to raise the money. If the money will not be enough, we sit down with all the relevant stakeholders to see where we could raise the money, and moreover re-strategize, re-negotiate, and re- plan. We did it with the U-17 team that won the trophy in Korea. We had no money, with the budget we did in 2006 was N650 million. I went to the National Assembly, I told them that the money was not enough, they told me to lay emphasis on the Super Eagles and forget about all other tournaments, I said no, I don’t know what will give the nation greatness, and I insisted on going ahead with all youth developmental programs. In course of doing this, I look at the budget, what we needed is about N2.2 billion, and we are getting only 18% from government in 2007. All I had to do is sit down with various actors, and negotiate. May his soul rest in perfect peace, Coach Yemi Tella, I told him I am not sure we are too comfortable, I want you to get me players that would understand, and we sat down with them and discuss, they were yelling to go and play without getting any payment, but we made a budget of N100 million, but government gave N20 million advance payment. We went, we won, and the boys were happy and the government honoured and gave them houses. I can tell you that as at the time we won the trophy, the boys were not paid their semi final and finals winning bonuses, but when they came back, they got all the accolades and Nigerians were happy with them. What I am trying to say here is that you don’t really need to with draw from any tournament, if you have it in your program, and you plan all the programs, you must sit down and see where to raise the money. In 2008, we went Nations Cup in Ghana, and there was no money when we qualified for the quarter finals, since it was in my program that I must pay the boys, I have to come down to Nigeria to borrow N40 million from my account, I never told Nigerians, I never complained over it. What I am saying is that whatever you embarked upon, whatever the congress and executive had decided upon, you must ensure that you look for the resources to execute this program. It is a thing of willingness, determination and faith in God to get these things done, and you will never fail because you are doing a genuine program for your country.

Question: There is always in-fighting between the players and coaches, coaches and administrators, where do we draw the line?

Answer: I think it is a very sad situation, and ugly situation. What is very important here is that there must be unity for any group to succeed. The leadership must set the standard, we de-emphasis politicking. The leadership should realize that they came into the position as technocrats, though through a democratic setting, that is why you have emerged to lead Nigeria football. As a player, you were selected because you were presumed to be the best in country, same to the coaches. Everyone is conscious of his strength; and everybody has to be respected for the reasons they were engaged. The leadership must always set the standard to encourage everyone to operate the right way. The major problem is; are we ready to support the leaders, and are the leaders ready to guide us on the right way. If that is done, there would be no problem whatsoever, and Nigeria would be the greatest nation in the world.  

Question: You have maintained that you left a huge amount of money in the NFF coffers, and your predecessors have come out to say that they met an empty treasury, do you have any fact to back up your claims, and why is this issue a re-occurrence in the football house. Because, when you took over, your predecessor made such claims, and you said you met an empty purse. Why is it always so?

Answer: I don’t think you are talking from a statement of facts. Galadinma initiated by saying that he left something in the purse. I felt indicted, and came out to respond to his statement with facts. I came out with bank statements. For that I only came out to clear the air in statement made. I have also come out to make statement of facts, and nobody has come out to refute it. I don’t know if the NFF has come out to dispute that fact. If anyone does that, let them make it public. Nobody will say that the money left in the coffers is amount to court contempt, because what we have in court has to do with Marcopolo buses which the national teams have been using for the past four years, the hotel in Hampshire which is a business and pocket of others. I will not address those issues, but the main issue is what was the funding situation when I left office? I am still waiting for anybody to challenge.

Question: With all these, many Nigerians still believe that your administration was very corrupt. Do you think they have been fair to you, for not have given you enough opportunity to clear your name.

Answer: It is a bit sad, but I don’t want to link it with Nigerians, because I don’t think that Nigerian’s are really aware of what is happening, and I do not believe that having heard what I have said in the past, that Nigerians would come out to say that Sani Lulu was corrupt. People who were using the power of government have given a wrong impression to Nigerians, and I sincerely believe that at the appropriate time God would expose all the individuals. Recently, I spoke to Nigerians through the media, challenging any individual that says that my regime was corrupt to come for a roundtable debate. I am available, I have my facts, I am still insisting that I have done nothing wrong, I am not corrupt, I am challenging anybody to tell me in the whole country an organization that is not a revenue generating one that was funded with less than N2 billion in a year, and he left over N2.8 billion in the same year, and you are accusing him of corruption. Nobody can do it, and I have done it. I am still challenging anybody who is saying that I am corrupt to come up for a debate on corruption.

Question: If you are given another opportunity at the NFF, would you take it considering the way you were removed from office?

Answer: It is a collective effort. God used Nigerians to make me what I am, and I want to believe that God has a reason for what he has done to me, and I am not aggrieved, but I remain grateful to him for whatever thing that must happened, and I want to remain patient. But those who has done me wrong, and deprived Nigerians the opportunity of smooth transition in administration, and using the power of football to develop the country, it is time that would judge them. I am not in a position to say I want to campaign to get back to NFF, because I have not left anything in that office. But I would leave Nigerians to determine that. Left them judge me, let them judge my predecessors, let them judge my successor. It is only God that determines what happens next, so let us wait till then.

Question: It was during your regime that increase in players bonuses came into being, looking back now would you say it was in the right direction, and can you give a complete assessment of Nigeria football currently.

Answer: It is a very sensitive and difficult question to answer. May the soul of our former President Musa Yar'Adua rest in peace, we were really preparing for the 2010 World cup in South Africa when he inaugurated the Presidential Task Force (PTF) to enable us source for the needed funds to prosecute both the Africa Nations Cup in Angola and the World Cup in South Africa. This is because the President and the government attached so much relevance to what were going to do, so he decided to inaugurate that body, and the body initiated the $10,000, though it was against my wish, but since that is what the government wants,  I cannot come against it since I am not totally independent. I doubted the continuity, but what do you do to it.  I had made a budget proposal of N2.5 billion for the World cup and N900 million for the Nations Cup, N900 million was approved for the World cup and N500 million for the Nations Cup. But the PTF that was inaugurated to assist us raise money, did not give us a dime. Instead they are saying we are corrupt. Where is the money that government said you should and raise for a specific purpose. That is the question Nigerians should continue to ask them.

On the second stage of your question, I am still an actor under this circumstance, and it is left for Nigerians to put everyone on scale right from 1945 to weigh what everyone has done to date. I have told Nigerians what I have done, and so was those before me, in my capacity as an actor, I should not criticize anybody nor judge. It is left for Nigerians.

Question: Sir, Is it true that you have anointed a candidate for 2014 NFF election?

Answer: I have not anointed anybody to go to the NFF. I am not a god father at all, I never had a god father to get to the NFF, so I don’t need to anoint anyone for any position, because I don’t know what God has in stock for anyone. When I got to the NFF, God only used Nigerians to get to that position, so, I will never make or create that impression that I can influence anybody getting into the President of Nigeria Football Federation. But let’s pray that the best person emerge for our football.

Question: President, NFF had a rough time in CAN in South Africa 2013 and still went on to win the trophy. Don’t you think they deserve commendation?

Answer: Of course, we have no option than to congratulate Nigerians, the Federal Government, the NFF and the Super Eagles. WE must appreciate God for this special gift. It is almost similar to the 1996 Olympic victory. What is clear to me is that God knows why he chose to give this victory at most needed time for unity.

We experienced similar circumstance at our outing in Ghana 2008. After securing just one point from two matches, the NSC, and majority of passionate Nigerians lost hope in our advancing beyond the first round. We were deserted, but our living God gave us qualification to the next round, and we advanced to the quarter final stage before we were eliminated. I had to borrow money to pay the players allowances, we did not cry out, but instead we managed the situation. That is the price of leadership.

Fight of the titans

Asaba, the Delta State Capital will be the centre of attraction this weekend as Delta Queens confront Inneh Queens in what has been tagged as the ‘fight of the titans’.

Both teams were undefeated until last weekend when their egos were bruised by less fancied teams in the league.  Delta Queens suffered a painful defeat in the hands of Standard Babes in Aba, while FC Robo mauled Inneh Queens by as much as four goals to nil in Lagos.

This weekend in Asaba, it would be a fight to finish, as both teams would want to redeem themselves. Delta Queens would want to use their invisible home records to overshadow their opponents to pocket the three points at stake.

However, FC Robo will visit Yola to trade tackles with Adamawa Queens. The Lagos based team will have to surmount many odds to be able to pick a point in that match. Kogi Confluence Queens would travel to Jalingo to play the home girls, Taraba Queens. The Coach Morufu Adeyemo-tutored girls who could not travel out of their state last weekend because of the communal crisis that erupted in the State, would play host to Confluence girls.

Secretary of the Nigeria Women Football League, Isaac Ajisafe said that the security situation in the state has improved, and the visiting team can travel for their match. Standard Babes would want to consolidate on their new found winning formula at home against Osun Babes of Osogbo. The match between Shettima Babes of Abuja and Nasarawa Amazons of Lafia has been put on hold. This is to enable the League Board determine the fate of Shettima Mustapha sponsored girls in the League.

In Group B, Rivers Angels will take on Tewo Queens in Port Harcourt. The Ibadan girls got their first away draw in Abuja last week. FCT Queens will be guest to Tokas Queens in Lagos. The Capital city girls who struggled against Tewo Queens last weekend, will want to prove bookmakers wrong, by returning with at least a point. 

Action from the female league

C.I. Angels will trade-tackle Bayelsa Queens in Asaba. The youthful Asaba-based team may want to prove another surprise this weekend. Police Machine will need more reinforcement to withstand the high-flying Ibom Queens from Uyo. The Police girls who were defeated at home last weekend, may want to save their face against the Godwin Akpabio girls.

Hazard, Mata, Bale, Suarez, Van Persie, shortlisted for PFA

Mata and Hazard

The duo of Eden Hazard and Juan Mata of Chelsea Football Club has been shortlisted for the Professional Footballers' Association Player of the Year award.

Also on the radar are Luis Suarez, Gareth Bale, Robin Van Persie and Michael Carrick to complete the six for the award.

Van Persie

Bale and Hazard are also up for the Young Player of the Year award, along with Christian Benteke, Romelu Lukaku, Danny Welbeck and Jack Wilshere.

Suarez

Bale won the main award in 2011 aged 21, while Van Persie won last year’s edition.

This year marks the 40th anniversary of the award, first won by Norman Hunter of Leeds United. The winner will be announced on 28 April.

Police/Civil Defence: One clash too many

Many are at loss as to why security agencies in Nigeria will be at daggers drawn as seen in the recent Police and Nigerian Security & Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC fatal clash.

The seeming rivalry between the Police and the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC recently came to the fore when some Policemen attacked the men of the NSCDC personnel who were on duty at a pipeline area in Lagos.

Two officers of the NSCDC were reportedly killed while five sustained gunshot injuries in the clash with the police in Ikorodu, an outskirt in Lagos.

Police mobilising at Alausa, Lagos

Trouble began around 3am when the dead, Gabriel Adaji and Innocent Akegbe, were said to be on duty with their colleagues. It was gathered that the NSCDC officials had arrested some pipeline vandals with their exhibit when the police intervened.

Sources said as the Civil Defence officials were taking the suspects to their Alausa, Ikeja office, one of them made a call. “It was not long after the call that they encountered the policemen that opened fire on them.”

NSCDC deputy spokesman, Sola Odumosu was said to have accused the Police of killing his colleagues. He said: “In what could be described as a commando attack, policemen ambushed and opened fire on men of the anti-vandalism squad of the Lagos State Command of NSCDC, killing two of them on the spot while others escaped with gunshot wounds in Ikorodu area.

“The incident occurred at about 3am. The officers and men of the corps were returning from a successful anti-vandalism operation where vandals were arrested with their exhibit. However, as the suspects were being transported back to the state headquarters of the Corps, an eyewitness said the vandals made calls to their police collaborators for support since they could not overwhelm the Corps officials.

“Immediately the police got wind of the information, they laid ambush for the Corps operatives and opened fire on their patrol vehicles, killing two operatives instantly. Others made desperate efforts to escape but they were also hit by police bullets. The vandals were released immediately by the police.”

Lagos Police spokesperson, Ngozi Braide said, “At about 0145hrs, there was a distress call from DM Security PPMC, Mosimi that they were experiencing drop in pressure on the pipeline. The Unit Commander in charge of Konu immediately pulled out his men on Konu axis under Inspector Sunday Gabriel to proceed to the scene.

“As they were approaching, they heard sound of serious gun firing, the Inspector instructed his men to proceed to the direction where it was coming from as it could be vandals. Upon arrival, they saw a group of Civil Defence Corp members coming out from the area where the shooting was earlier heard.

Scene of the Police/Civil Defence clash at Berger junction, Abuja

“The NSCDC men challenged the policemen who were about four in number on what their mission was in the area; saying that it was their sole responsibility (Civil Defence) to guard and protect pipelines. At this juncture, there was an argument between the NSCDC and the police and the most senior NSCDC officer, DSC Olufemi ordered his men who were about 14 to disarm, arrest and handcuff the police team leader and other members of the team. The NSCDC disarmed Inspector Sunday Gabriel, handcuffed him, collected his service pistol, walkie-talkie, and Police I.D card. As they were about dragging him into one of their standby Hilux vehicles, a phone call was put to the Police Unit Commander reporting the situation. The three other officers resisted the arrest and this infuriated the Civil Defence officials who started shooting sporadically to intimidate and subdue the police officers.”

Braide noted that before the police commander’s arrival at the scene, the NSCDC officials had taken to their heels, abandoning the handcuffed police Inspector with one of their colleagues.

She said it was shocking that at about 4am, the Civil Defence Corp Commander called the Police Commander, Mosimi to say that he lost two of his men and their bodies had been deposited at the hospital.

“Up till now, the pistol of Inspector Sunday Gabriel who was badly beaten and stabbed by the NSCDC officials including his other accoutrements are still with NSCDC.

Meanwhile, hours after the incident, men of the Police and Civil Defence were said to have clashed again in Alausa, Ikeja. The NSCDC officials were alleged to have abducted and assaulted three policemen – Sgt Charles Igiebor, Corporal Ekun Julius and Cpl Okoro Charles – who went for National I.D Card registration exercise.

Other policemen rushed to the scene to rescue their colleagues, leading to sporadic gun shots. It took the intervention of the Rapid Response Squad, RRS officers to bring the situation under control. Policemen were also attacked in other parts of the state.

It would be recalled that there was a Police and Civil Defence clash at Abuja’s Berger roundabout some months before the recent clash in Lagos when ten Police officers engaged in a public fight with three Civil Defence Corps officers.

We gathered that the police officers purportedly engaged in a fight with the civil defence officers for over interference in their reserved duty. According to eyewitnesses “the police officers were trying to stop a vehicle and the Civil Defence people came to interfere, then the police officers who were more in number attacked them and started beating them up.”

It was further disclosed that there were sporadic gunshots as both parties lashed out whips at one other. “There were gunshots and then I saw a police officer flogging a Civil Defence officer with a whip while he was trying to run away,” a witness said.

“As they shot into the air many people scampered in different direction for their safety. The clash left at least one man dripping with blood apparently from bruises suffered during the confrontation.”

It took the intervention of the Divisional Police Officer from Utako Police Station to resolve the fracas. FCT Police spokesperson, Doris England, claimed that she is not aware of the situation and would make inquire about it.

Mobile Police

All accounts point to a seeming battle for supremacy as there are always policemen, civil defence and Vehicle Inspection personnel, otherwise known as VIO at the roundabout. Sometimes too, Federal Road Safety personnel also check vehicles as well as control traffic there.

In a press release made available to our correspondent the Commandant General of the NSCDC, Ade Abolurin urged his men to continue to work with their sister security agencies in order to curb vandalism and oil theft.

Abolurin cautioned his men, especially the Lagos Command, to be calm, law-abiding and not carry out any reprisal attack or transfer aggression, but to maintain the status quo of friendship with other agencies.

He said federal government, through an Enabling Act, mandated the Corps to carry out the function of mounting surveillance, protecting critical infrastructure of government, arrest and prosecute anyone caught in the act of vandalism as well as those suspected to be collaborators.

Abolurin charged his men to ensure that anytime they want to embark on any operation, they should liaise with the military formation within their locality as they have agreed to collaborate with the Corps in stamping out vandalism, illegal bunkering and oil theft.

Meanwhile, the President, Goodluck Jonathan summoned the Police and the Civil Defence chiefs over the recent developments. Though Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Dahiru Abubakar, was said to be currently out of the country, the Police delegation was led to the meeting with the president by the DIG ‘A’, Dept. Suleiman Fakai.

Other members of the delegation were Lagos Commissioner of Police, Umar Manko; Assistant Commissioner in charge of Anti-Vandalism, Friday Ibadin; and the Deputy Force PRO, Frank Mba. Mba confirmed that the clash formed part of the issues discussed at the meeting with the President.

Our correspondent can authoritatively disclosed that the clash between the Police and NSCDC officers dated back to when the latter attacked a Mobile Policeman at the Abuja National Stadium when Portsmouth and Manchester United Football Clubs came to Nigeria for their pre-season tour in 2009.

The NSCDC beat the Policeman to a point of coma and almost beat our correspondent before the angry fans at the stadium gate chased the Civil Defence officers with stones.

Some analysts argued that there is a peculiar form of depressing arrogance common among Nigeria’s security personnel, and it is probably a carry-over of colonisation and the years of autocracy after independence.

Before the NSCDC was established, clashes amongst security agencies have always been between the Police and the Soldiers. The last time Police had issues with the Soldiers was in Lagos when the governor, Babatunde Fashola included the Police in the Task-Force with the Lagos State Traffic Management Agency, LASTMA.

Some policemen attached to the LASTMA were said to have stopped a soldier driving a Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV) who drove on a Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) lane, which is restricted solely for the BRT buses, the designated transport carrier. 

According to an eyewitness account, the soldier rebuffed all appeals to leave the BRT lane culminating in the police officers beating him until he slumped on the road. A colonel who was driving by was said to have stopped and after enquiries into the matter, rebuked the soldier for flagrant disregard of traffic rules.

But when the LASTMA officials attempted to tow the soldier’s SUV to their office, the soldier was said to have called for reinforcement from nearby barracks. Pandemonium ensued in the area as members of the task force, the police officers, motorists and passers-by fled the scene on sighting the approaching soldiers.

The Brigade Commander, 9th Brigade of the Nigeria Army, Ikeja, Brig. Gen. Sanusi Muazu, described the incident as “quite unfortunate.” He lamented that the soldier took the BRT lane despite being a restricted lane exclusively for BRT buses; he said the task force was within their right to have stopped him.

Other clashes between the Army-Police include: August 8, 2004, a bloody battle raged for several hours in Benin City, Edo state between soldiers and policemen that left several persons critically injured after soldiers from the 322 Artillery Regiment of the Nigerian Army clashed with policemen from the Oba market police station.

October 4, 2005 witnessed another clash between the police and Army at Ojuelegba. No fewer than five persons lost their lives.

On April 20, 2011, Abdulllahi Garuba, a Police Corporal with Force no 244,238 serving at Mopol 2 Lagos had an argument with two Private of the Nigerian Army, Simon Lucky and Oladipo Temitope. The argument led to a brawl and the two privates beat up the police, stabbed him severally and left him half dead. He was rushed to a hospital where he later died. Both soldiers are yet to be prosecuted.

February 2011 witnessed yet another clash in Ilesha, Osun State, when a soldier was found dead in a gutter after embarking on a drinking spree. The soldiers attacked a nearby police station and manhandled several innocent civilians.

In April 2006, there was yet another clash between policemen and men of the Nigerian Air Force at the PWD section of the Oshodi-Agege rail line in Lagos. The policemen had reportedly gone to conduct a raid on a shack suspected to be a base for criminals smoking marijuana. Whereas the men of the Air Force, in their account, alleged that the policemen assaulted them in the process. The Police claimed that the Air Force men were shielding the suspected criminals from lawful arrest. Be that as it may, what ensued was anarchy on parade, leading to several causalities.

In 2009, six policemen on routine patrol on the coastal waterways near the Takwa Bay, Lagos jetty of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), reportedly chased a speedboat they suspected to be occupied by some pirates.

On their way, a civilian boat occupied by about five naval men allegedly blocked the policemen. According to the policemen’s account, they told the Naval men that they were chasing some suspected pirates who had just driven past them. To use their words, “instead of assisting us in the chase, one of the Naval guys lifted his rifle and, before we knew it, shot a constable in our boat.” Although, according to an eyewitness, the other Naval men thereafter dropped their rifles, none of them assisted in rushing Constable Festus Akinruntan, the victim, to the military hospital, Ikoyi, where he was rushed to for treatment.

And in August 2009, at least six persons were reported dead with 15 others injured as the Joint Military Task Force (JTF) clashed with the police force. The clash broke out between men of JTF guarding contractors dredging River Niger and Special Anti-Robbery Squad from Anambra State Police Command. They exchanged fire at the River Niger in Onitsha, Anambra State.

Not forgetting in a hurry, the death of a soldier in mufti on the Badagry Expressway, and the reprisal killing of senior police officers by soldiers two days later in 2006. Police sources, attributed the death of the soldier to accidental discharge.

Investigations revealed that security agencies’ clash is not restricted to Nigeria alone. It was gathered that in 1999, four persons including two jawans, were injured when Army-men clashed with the Railway police at the Bangalore Railway station, in India.

According to Railway police, about 300 jawans from Kashmir were stranded at Bangalore Railway station when their Army headquarters vehicles failed to pick them up on time. In their frustration, a few Army jawans resorted to vandalism and damaged baggage. Two Railway policemen who arrived at the spot to control the situation were also beaten up by the enraged jawans.

Similarly, on December 4, 2009 the Afghan National Army and Afghan National Police clashed in the capital city of Uruzgan province. The incident left several people dead and wounded, but the exact figures was not ascertained.

Apart from the show of shame most of the clashes have brought to the country, reprisal attacks always end up with killing and maiming of innocent citizens. Government on its own has lost intelligent officers and money used in training them has been wasted. Apart from the number of people who die during the attack, vehicles, Police stations and buildings have been razed down in the past while most times, criminals are released to escape.

The worrisome aspect of the scenario is that each time there is a clash, government set up committees to look into them and end up not doing anything. In 2006, the then President Olusegun Obasanjo set up the Justice Emmnanuel Adegbite Independent Probe Panel. The panel concluded its work within the stipulated time, yet, the recommendations of the reports has not been implemented including other related reports.

However, observers believe that nor of the security agencies have done anything to change their men’s orientation. Indeed, they apparently prefer to sustain and even surreptitiously nurture the unhealthy orientations of reprisal attacks.

They claimed that we would continue to have extrajudicial killings and rampaging soldiers disgracing the image of black people until we have leaders with the political will to put an end to the killings and total disregard for human life by men in uniform.

A member of the Police Service Commission, PSC, Dr. Otivie Igbuzor said, “I think the way to avert further occurrence is for all agencies to operate in accordance with the rule of law. All citizens, whether in uniform or not should be obedient. If people are conscious of the fact that if they break the law, they will be punished accordingly, we would not have this kind of clash. So these are the two major conditions. All the security agencies should be obedient to the laws of the land, they should also be treated equally before the law.”

A Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN, Chief Emeka Ngige believes that, “the best way to avert further occurrence is that the government should intensify efforts in creating ideas that would foster good relationships among the armed forces. There is need for an enabling environment which would allow for social interaction among the army and the police and other agencies.”

In addition he said “Regularly there should be joint military patrol involving the Army, Navy, Airforce and Police. If that is done, the spirit of comradice would be encouraged and sustained. They should always have events together, like having officers mess together, because the problem is that they are having things in common. At the officers, level, there is need for regular meeting with officers from sister agencies.”

He further suggested that, “The police be redeployed to work with the Army, just as the army could be redeployed. So, meetings at the officers’ level have to be constant, because what is causing this thing is lack of communication. There should be communication among all agencies that will foster their relationship.”

They predicted that beyond the disgrace the security men have brought the country in the eyes of the whole world, if we continue to treat the killings with kid gloves, it will not be long before we witness a replay.