- Former secret police boss recommends creation of self-defence groups
A former Director General of the Department of State Services (DSS), Mr. Ita Ekpenyong, has urged the National Assembly to pass a law backing the activities of Amotekun and other non-violent state actors involved in the fight against insecurity across the country.
He suggested the creation of self-defence groups (Community Shields) to provide security and local intelligence at the grassroots.
The former secret police boss spoke at a seminar organised by the National Institute for Security Studies (NISS) for participants of the Executive Intelligence Management Course (EIMC 18).
The seminar, with the theme: Non-State Actors In Security Management: Issues, Challenges, Prospects for Peace And Development In Africa, is part of the course requirements for the award of Fellow, Security Institute (fsi) to the 78 participants drawn from within, and five African countries.
Read Also: Nigeria Constitution: National Assembly and Patriots working at cross purposes
At the event, the current DSS DG, Mr. Adeola Ajayi, who spoke through the Assistant Director General in charge of Training, Femi Sotayo, described the topic as apt and urged the participants to pay attention to all presentations.
In his submission, Ekpenyong classified non-state actors into violent and non-violent, advising the government to incorporate the latter into the security management scheme.
He said: “…Policies should promote the inclusion of non-violent state actors in formal security sector reform processes, ensuring that their perspectives and experiences are incorporated into policy development and implementation.
“There is a need to strengthen counterterrorism strategy, through the creation of self-defence groups.
“Specifically, the government needs to legitimise vigilante operations under the control of security agencies.
“Also, there is the need for continuous debriefing, profiling, and rehabilitation of repentant terrorists and criminals. However, the rehabilitation process must not involve giving them free money. It should be done in collaboration with the private sector, through which they can learn skills and be paid for job done.
“Furthermore, it is recommended that self-defence groups be created to be known as Community Shields, to protect the peace of the grassroots.
“This should be done in collaboration with the community, religious leaders, state, and local governments. Governments could work with their stakeholders to train networks, such as groups with operational structures of security agencies, to enhance synergy.
“Each community shield office should have a full complement of staff, to be sourced locally, including organisers, profilers …who will operate in the years of security agencies.
“The community Shield is akin to what is practiced in Kenya …the community policing initiative introduced by Kenya in 2013 via a presidential order.
“To this end, there is an urgent need by the National Assembly to legally formalise the activities of Amotekun, a civilian joint task force – and such other non-violent State actors, with clearly defined operations, into the Constitution.”