Special Report

Insecurity: Where We Got It Wrong?

Before now, the security of the country was in top shape and in fact, it was rated as one of the best in the world but it seems to have been tampered with. EUGENE OGHENEMARO looks at what is responsible for it and the way out?

 

This would be prevented if the authorities had listening ears

All over the world, security is taken as a serious and essential commodity hence it is only handled by governments. In some parts of the world, it is handled by both government and the contributions of its citizens but in Nigeria, it is a different ball game.

Research has shown that Nigeria has the highest number of uniformed personnel. It also has the highest armed personnel and yet the security level is on the lowest ebb.

However, some Nigerians believe that security is the sole responsibility of government but the latest trend all over the world is that the citizens play major roles because government and its security agents cannot be everywhere.

Meanwhile, some experts also believe that some things were responsible for the precarious security situation the country presently finds itself. Below are some of the places they thought we went wrong:

Youth Empowerment:

The Bible says, “The idle mind is the devil’s workshop.” There is no doubt that idleness is one of the major, if not the major cause of insecurity in the country. If the mind is positively engaged, people will not have time to sit and plot the downfall of anybody or their nation.

It is has also been discovered that most people were not taught on how to fish, instead, they were given fishes. Parents have their own share in this aspect, they give their children whatever they need; they don’t even ask what they want to use the money they are demanding for; some of them don’t even allow their children to hustle to know what life is all about hence they squander their wealth anyhow they like because the money is available but whenever their parents are not there to provide their needs, they indulge in crimes to get whatever they want. Majority of these children take hard drugs, and other substances and also indulge in other illicit acts because they know if they get into troubles, their parents who are mostly politicians, highly placed security personnel and others in the society, will definitely bail them out.

Another factor is that most Nigerian youths who claimed to be graduates are not employable and they want white collar jobs at all cost and when they don’t get, they believe government is responsible and want to fight back. Majority of them cannot defend the certificates they are carrying.

The craze for white collar jobs

Investigations have shown that the craze for white collar jobs is also contributing to the reasons why crime rates have risen. In the past, people work on cocoa farms, cotton, groundnut, rubber plantations, amongst others but since the disappearance of the aforementioned, people who ordinarily would have stayed in Enugu, Delta, Ondo, Ogun and other states, have relocated to Abuja and Lagos and other major cities to seek for white collar jobs. And when they don’t get, frustration crops in and they join any available jobs not minding the negative effects this might have on the people and the country. For instance, somebody who read Agric Economy would rather come to Abuja to see if he can work in Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC rather than stay in Ibadan to work with International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, IITA. Somebody that read Physical Education, probably from Edo state, who is supposed to stay in Benin City to help scout for players for the state will want to work in Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN.

Politicians

Some people have also accused politicians of responsible for the insecurity/crime rate in the country. They claimed that they play politics with everything including the security of the country. They also said their influence in employment generation which has seen some people get employed through the back door otherwise known as “man know man” is also contributing to the problem plaguing the country. If the person is qualified, he or she should be able to defend his or her certificate rather than give such persons automatic passage. Many people have been frustrated in this aspect because they were denied job opportunity because they don’t know any politician or any top ranking citizen in the country hence they become the enemy of government.

Fredrick Edobor, a security expert also believes that politicians using touts/area boys to campaign and win elections and after that they abandon them to their fate is another factor. He disclosed that in some cases, they armed these boys and after elections, they find it difficult to recover these arms from them. He cited the issue of Niger Delta militants as a typical example, who were used and abandoned and later became a problem to the country before it was eventually nip by the government.

Consumption/availability of Indian hemps/canabis

Another school of thought believes that the free availability and consumption of Indian hemps and other hard drugs are also contributory factors. In the past, there was nothing like that but today, it is the hint thing. Investigations have shown that not only the youths smoke hemps and take hard drugs; some top ranking citizens also indulge in it hence the difficulty in stamping it out. The disturbing aspect is that when these youths take these substances, they do whatever they like including robbery, kidnapping, raping, amongst others. A staff of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA once confided in our correspondent that the fight against drug is a herculean task because whenever they arrest some of the youths, they get their freedoms through their godfathers who are highly-placed people in the country.

Scene of a bomb blast

Godfatherism

Research has also shown that since the introduction of godfatherism in the Nigerian politics, crime rate or criminality has risen in the country. In the past, there were nothing like godfatherism even though the likes of Nnamdi Azikiwe, Tafawa Balewa, Obafemi Awolowo and others were very powerful because of their ability to wrestle independence from our colonial masters, there was no trace of godfatherism to them. Today, it is the hint thing, and whenever their godsons indulge in any crime, they get away with it. The security personnel remain helpless and their efforts fruitless, because of these godfathers. Just one phone call is enough to get these people who indulge in crime their freedom, no matter the kind of crime committed.

Attachment of Security Personnel to individuals:

It is on record that Nigeria has the highest deployment of security personnel to individuals. Research has shown that anybody in Nigeria can have access to security personnel as guard including criminals once they can afford it. The worrisome aspect is that these people are given more than two personnel while the whole country or streets/roads are left empty without security personnel. We discovered that some traditional rulers have up to 20 security personnel following them up and down. Some experts believe that deploying such number of personnel on the road or street is better than attaching them to individuals because people who indulge in crime will definitely pass through the road before going for their victims rather than station people at the gates of some individuals. It is even risk for security personnel to sit at the gate because they get exposed to their enemies. However, it has also been discovered that most of these security personnel attached to these individuals act as gatemen and stewards. Some of them follow madam to the market and help her carry her handbag.

Non-functional of Community Policing

The developed countries know the importance of community policing that is why they introduced it despite the fact that they have functional Closed-Circuit Television, CCTV. They believe that the security personnel cannot be everywhere hence the need to engage the people. Such department was introduced in the Nigeria Police Force, NPF but is it functioning? It is left for the police to answer. Community policing would have helped curtail crime if it was functional. Community policing is all about police working hand-in-hand with the citizens to get information because police cannot be everywhere.

Bribing & Corruption, plus Intimidation

It is well known fact that bribing and corruption in the police is responsible for the reason why the outfit lost its pride. In the past, people hid under their bed when they hear that police with baton then, was coming to their vicinity let alone when they hear that the Criminal Investigation Department, CID officers were coming but today, nobody fears police even with their guns.

It has been discovered that community policing is not working because people who are supposed to give information to security personnel are being intimidated, harassed and assaulted. Investigation also shows that many people have been indicted by security personnel for giving relevant information. Some of them are languishing in cell and prison today because they were arrested as prime suspects for giving them information which they are supposed to work on. People would rather die in silence rather than give information to police and it would take serious orientation for people to believe in Police. It has also been discovered in the past that, some security personnel give information in return to criminals because of financial inducement. Many have lost their lives for trying to help security personnel with information because these criminals look for everything to smash life out of these individuals for trying to expose them. in developed countries, whenever a policeman approaches you, even if you commit an offence or crime, they will still be friendly with you but Nigeria security personnel especially police will start calling you criminals even when he cannot prove it.

The non-performance of Security agencies

Research have shown that most of the security agencies are not performing while some don’t even know their responsibilities and ended up doing other people’s work because of eye-service. Most of the security agencies have more personnel in the office than on the streets. The brilliant and intelligent ones in their large numbers are made to carry files up and down in office while the few ones are deployed on the roads. Most of them in the office cannot even account for what they do on daily basis because they spend the whole day discussing and once it is closing time, they go home.

NSCDC:

The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC was set up primarily to tackle vandalism of government properties but it seems they have lost sight of what they are set up. They were seen recently in the convey of the president. Maybe they don’t want anybody to vandalise president’s cars. They are also seen guarding chairmen of local government areas including top government officials and politicians. Majority of them spend their time in the office doing nothing. During a visit to their headquarters in both Airport road and Wuse Zone 6, including the state command, our correspondent discovered that majority of them were just sitting and discussing; and when it was 4pm, 99% of them disappeared. We also discovered that some of them work in different places while some only go to the office to mark register and leave as soon as it is 12noon.

The funniest thing is that some of the NSCDC men did courses on counter terrorism, but since they empowered them with weapons, they have never been seen around the states facing security problems but only sighted driving around the town and some cases harassing people.

Recently, the Primate of All Nigeria Anglican Communion, His Grace, Most Reverend Nicholas D. Okoh said the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC don’t know their responsibilities. According to him, “The Civil Defence actually ought to be teaching people survival techniques in time of crisis; they should go to community to teach people. For instance, in this country we don’t have alarm to alert people when there is crisis, or bunker where people can run in for safety, or where people should run to, this is the work of the Civil Defence. In the event where an alarm is raised, people don’t know what to do but rather you see them running up and down, there should be a way to react under emergency or crisis, that is the work of Civil Defence and not to be struggling with the army or police on duties to be relevant. Their job should be properly defined; when that is properly done, the individuals even the school boys will know what to do.”

Some experts also opined that Civil Defence would have been a better alternative for internal security but they are not civil enough in their approaches. They suggested that they should rather be deployed to every street in the country for surveillance or to mount street and traffic lights.

NDLEA

Despite the presence of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, Indian hemp, hard drugs and others are still flying everywhere. Although, they are trying but there is need to stop the circulation of whatever forms of hard drugs in the country because in the past, it was a taboo and a difficult to see drugs around because people hide them but today, it is freely smoke everywhere hence making the environment unsafe for other people.

Nigeria Customs Service, NCS:

Despite the presence of the men of the Nigeria Customs Service, there is still increase in contraband goods, infiltration of arms and ammunitions, importation of bomb materials and others into the country.

The disturbing aspect is that these people disturb and intimidate people who are driving tokunbo/second-hand cars. Investigation shows that these cars were allowed in the first place into the country by some of their personnel after financial inducement. Our findings also show that arms and ammunitions, bomb materials were allowed into the country by some of their men because these items are not produced in the country.  It is either the borders are porous or the Customs officers at the borders are not doing anything or probably allowing anything to come into the country after financial inducement. The result of importation of everything is what the country is experiencing today.

Nigeria Immigration Service, NIS:

Investigation has shown that most of the members of the Islamic religious sect, Boko Haram including the Fulani herdsmen are not from Nigeria. Where do they pass into the country? Is there no Nigeria Immigration Service, NIS personnel at the borders anymore?

Our correspondent witnessed how people cross freely from the neighbouring Benin Republic to Nigeria without being stopped. Normal people (law-abiding) would definitely not wear bathroom slippers to cross borders; they will definitely go through the process of stamping their passports and others.

After the United Nations, UN building was bombed, the NIS personnel were seen arresting illegal immigrants from house to house in Area One and other parts of the territory; it means they know these people. Influx of illegal immigrants is the hint thing that is why these foreigners find it very easy to come and commit crimes.

Nigeria Police Force:

Apart from bribing, corruption, some people attribute the problem in the police to non-challance attitude while some believe that Police hierarchies are the cause of the problems plaguing the outfit. They claimed that the top hierarchies don’t treat their junior staff well compare to other security personnel. Investigations have shown that because of their poor welfare packages – accommodation, salaries and allowances, amongst others, that is why they are always inflicting pains on the citizens. During the last recruitment exercise of the NSCDC, a police inspector was planning to dump the Police for the NSCDC, not minding the rank they give him because of poor remuneration.

It is because of the non-challance attitude that made David Okonkwo to say, “If armed robbers can rob in front of the Force headquarters, at Total Filling Station for more than 30 minutes, then anything can happen anywhere.”

The disturbing aspect is that whenever Nigeria Police go for UN peace keeping, they are always rated as the best but in Nigeria, it is opposite. Whenever a crime happen, anybody addressing the press will say, “We are always on top of the situation.” Investigations have shown that there are so many uncompleted investigations without results.

We have had situations where Police Divisions are given little money to run the division and yet the police hierarchy will be expecting results. For instance if they give a Divisional Police Officer, DPO a sum of N100,000 to run a division, how would he be able to achieve that? Why won’t the officers source for funds anyhow to run the place? N100,000 for fueling all their cars, day-to-day expenses for 30 or 31 days? To run a home of four persons in a month is more than N100,000 let alone a police formation with over 50 persons.

Just last Monday, a police van was seen driving into a filling station in Nyanya, arrested the fuel attendants for selling fuel into jerry-cans, and extorted N15,000 and also got away with 20 litres of fuel without paying. If they are well-funded, would they indulge in such acts? You hardly hear of other security personnel do such because they are well trained, oriented and taken care of.

The Military and the State Security Service, SSS:

Whether we like not, the military and the SSS remain the best. If not for their efforts, only God knows what would have become of us as giant of Africa. A security expert, Gbenga Adegbemiga said if not for the duo, the insurgents would have mess up the country. He however suggested that the personnel should stop exposing themselves. He disclosed that the SSS men and the military when confronting the terrorists should rather be on mufti rather than be on uniform because it is easier for the terrorists to identify them. “If it means being on Agbada or dress like the terrorists, it is better so that these guys will not know them too.”

However, whatever has a problem also has a solution. The present insecurity in the country has solutions. Here are some of them:

Solutions

Close the borders:

Since it has been discovered that most of the crimes in the country are committed by foreigners, experts believe closing the borders should be the first major step. Chairman of the Labour Party, Dan Nwanyanwu said it is better to close the borders especially the ones around Cameroun, Chad and Niger to address the insecurity issues. He believes that if the borders are closed, it would be easier to tackle the ones within and stop more from coming in. They also suggested that all the borders be fenced and security beef up in those areas. David said, “If it means using the budget of the year to get the borders fenced, let’s do it, it is better for us to have security first.”

Everybody must unite against terrorism

Whenever the country is participating in a football tournament, the country unites not minding the religion or tribes and that should be the same with terrorism. It should be seen as a Nigerian project that must be fought and won because nobody knows who is going to be attacked next. Politicians have a role to play in this aspect. They should drop their political differences and join hands with government to fight this insecurity in the country.

Bomb Scanner at toll gates

A security expert, Gbanite believes that Bomb Scanner would go a long way to help tackle bomb blast in the country. Our correspondent wrote sometimes ago about the need to return the toll gates. In his write-up, he suggested that toll gates be returned and bomb scanner/detectors be installed on them so that whenever there is a signal, the security personnel will swing into action.

A security expert, Frank Owhofa said sometimes ago that installation of scanning machines at toll gates is one of the option government should look at. He said, “If the right network security infrastructures are deplored to the toll gates; it is something that will go a long way to curb insurgency.

“Toll gate will serve as security checks and it will also give room for government to install up-to-date surveillance equipment to intercept intruders or people of criminal intents from carrying out their indemnifying act. Toll gates will serve that depending on how they are utilised. It also depends on the political will of government to deplore the right security network in place; it also depends on the personnel,” Owhofa said.

However, some believe that road blocks and blockade can only do little about the present situations and it is time wasting. For instance, the residents of Nyanya and its environs are not finding life easy anymore because of the road block along that axis. Some who spoke on anonymity believe that using eye detection might not give the required results.

Illegal immigrants should be flushed out

Some suggested that illegal immigrants who are scattered across the country should be fished out. A lady who spoke on anonymity disclosed recently that majority of people who have kiosks and do menial jobs in the country are not Nigerians (Hausas) as believed in some quarters. She disclosed that Hausa people are proud people and will not do such jobs but revealed that those people are foreigners, from Chad, Niger and other neighbouring and they know everything about this country.

Residence permits and national identity cards should be introduced

Just like it is done in other developed countries, even though we are referred to as developing country, there is need for the country especially the Federal Capital Territory, FCT to introduce Residence Permits in the country. Before you are issued such permit, you must have something doing. It will also help to have the data of unemployed and qualified youths in the country.

Some also believe the introduction of the national identity cards will go a long way to tackle crimes. It can be used to know the citizens and non-citizens that is if they are not manipulated by some people.

Youths should be self-reliance

It has been discovered that majority of youths who indulge in crimes went into it due to frustration. Some claimed that they don’t have anything to do but research has shown that most of the people who are rich or wealthy today did not rely on their parents, government or anybody to climb to the top. Recently, a graduate who couldn’t secure a job after several applications started a barbing salon and today, he is not only doing well but he is an employer of labour. There are so many professions out there where they need people. Take for instance, laundry; most people don’t like washing or ironing clothes, people have trained themselves with this profession to university level. The Nigerian community is in dire need of nurses, caterers, mechanics, electricians; the youths can start with these before going for their dream jobs. They should start thinking of how to create jobs for people and relieve the governments of the burden of unemployment rather than wait for government to create jobs for them. It is because of this mentality that many lives were lost during the last recruitment exercise of the Nigeria Immigration Service, NIS.

Control child birth

Primate of All Nigeria Anglican Communion, His Grace, Most Reverend Nicholas D. Okoh believes that if we control birth rate in the country, it would go a long way to tackle insecurity, crime and youth restiveness in the country.

According to him, “If you cast your mind back, there was a time it was said that every family should not have more than four children, but today we have a country where somebody can have thirty children, even fifty and when you ask the person, he will say what is your concern but it is our concern because we live together. A situation where one man’s children will fill a classroom, which government can plan for that? Where will you find the resources to cope with such a demand, the family will not be able to cope, the social institutions will not be able to cope, the government too, so it demands everybody limiting himself.

“We are shying away from controlling our spirally population, it’s terrible. If Nigeria wants to control youth restiveness, we should first and foremost control the family size; there is oversize responsibility in all the families. When you marry and you have twenty children you are going to have plenty problems but if you limit it to the little that you are earning, it will provide quality life to you and your children and you won’t become a nuisance to government and your society. But as long as nobody is talking about it everybody is free to have as many as you like it is going to be a problem.”

Siren blaring

In developed countries, siren blaring is only used by ambulance operators, fire service and security personnel when there is an emergency but in Nigeria, it is the opposite. Criminals also use it whenever they want to get the road cleared. Private guards’ operators are also not left out as they blare it whenever their drivers are going home. It is pertinent to note that siren blaring is not security; it is an analog way of security; it is seen as a noise making device by foreigners who visit the country hence the need for its ban like it is in Lagos.

Capacity building for security agents

Owhofa, who is also the chairman of Freedom Party of Nigeria, FRN said capacity building is very important for our security personnel. He specifically mentioned the Nigeria Police who he described as lacking the basic skills to tackle crimes. According to him, “Deploring Police to critical places or locations have not served any good purpose because they lack basic skills.

“They lack basic observant skills; they lack basic crime detective skills. We have seen severally where Police are on patrol base, they are either sleeping, reading newspaper or playing draft/Ludo under the tree and that is why we advocate a special training for the Nigeria Police Force.

“They lack these skills; this is the key area that needs to be addressed, it is critical but it stands so simple. Security is not all about carrying guns. Yes! It serves its own purpose, but security goes beyond carrying of guns. The officer must be at alert, mentally and physically. I can’t see any division where officers have any physical training centre in Nigeria. I have not seen anyone, that tells you the reason why they are lazy, they are not mentally sharpened and that results to their low observation. So I think there are more fundamental issues to be tackled by the government, we must focus on more capacity-building.”

Surveillance – carrying guns or standing in front of buildings

Frank Owhofa believes that carrying guns up and down or standing in front of buildings is not best approach to security. For instance, at Israeli Police headquarters, you hardly see policemen at the entrance. You are welcomed by either a friendly young man or lady but any attempt to attack the person, then others will come out of their hidings while they also have snipers on top of the building. This is different from the CCTV that is operational.

Remove abandoned, unoccupied or uncompleted buildings

Some security experts also believe that abandoned, uncompleted and unoccupied buildings are avenues where criminals carry out their acts. They advised government especially the FCT minister to remove all forms of abandoned, uncompleted and unoccupied buildings if crimes must be phased out.

Check on hotels, and other eateries

There is need for our security agencies to do routine check of hotels across the country. However, there is also need to have a data of all hotels both big and small, old and new ones across the country including eateries so that proper checking can be done on them. The police also should support the SSS in carrying out the checking on daily basis of these places because they serve as hideouts for criminals.

Intelligence gathering/sharing

One of the major problems in the past has always been intelligence sharing. The latest trend is for security personnel to share intelligence amongst themselves. The security personnel have also been urged to do more of intelligence gathering because according to experts, it will help reduce the crime rate faster than other means.

Installation of latest CCTV

Findings have shown that CCTV is one of the most efficient tools in fighting insecurity in any country. In developed countries, they don’t mount policemen or security personnel in front of their buildings, because the CCTV does that. In Nigeria, especially, the FCT, there are CCTV devices but they are not functioning. An expert said the ones mounted in FCT are obsolete. A Nigerian who developed a device for American government after the 9/11 blast, said there is a new device that can help curtail crime in the FCT. There are latest technologies used today in the USA, via networking of SOLTICE CAM, a wireless Powered Surveillance Camera for outdoors remote video monitoring that can detect anything both day and night for 24 hour surveillance.

Constant electricity

There is need for constant electricity. Investigations have shown that most crimes are committed in the dark hence the need for the street lights to be everywhere and also working for monitoring purposes.

Stakeholders’ forum

There should be no need for stakeholders’ forum. Research has revealed that most information shared, discussed and agreed upon at stakeholders is usually revealed to enemies of the country. Security meetings should rather be a closed door affair.

Consult security experts

Government should not always believe that security matters can only be tackled by security personnel or those who have worn the uniform. There are people who have not pass through any security school but yet are grounded in security matters. Our forefathers in bible – Abraham, Gideon, Samson, were great warriors, they never attended any security trainings but yet, they conquered their enemies during their time. In the present world, there are so many people that are very good in security issues; there is nothing wrong if government listen to those people. Two heads, they said, are better than one.

Learn from other countries

It is said in the local parlance that, “No one has monopoly of wisdom.” If that is the case, then there is nothing wrong with copying or following the footsteps of others in terms of internal policing or security.

In Angola, for instance, instead of security personnel following individuals, they stationed two policemen each on every street; with one backing the other, fully armed with their walkie talkie in case there is need for reinforcement. In Turkey, they don’t deploy police everywhere but they do more of intelligence gathering and the CCTV does the remaining job. They know everybody that enters the country at every point and monitor such persons closely while their borders are also well-monitored.

Even our neighbouring countries, Benin Republic, Ghana, Togo and others are very careful with their borders. They ensure that infiltration of arms and contraband goods are not allowed into their countries because of the love they have for their countries and the implication of what such things will have in future. How many Nigeria especially the security personnel have the country at heart.

Some experts believe that if some of the solutions are taken into considerations, they will go a long way to help tackle or if possible wipe out crime out of the country. “A stitch in time saves nine.”