The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Public security

  • State police and public security

    The debate over the necessity for the establishment of state police has been on for quite some time. A latest disclosure by the vice president, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, at the security forum organized by the National Assembly about the expediency for state police has, however, suddenly given hope to advocates of a decentralized police system that victory is near.

    State police is an important component of true federalism and emblem of authority of governance, since sovereignty is divided between the federal authority and federating components. Though the 1999 Constitution provides for a single federal police, this precludes states from taking charge of the protection of lives and properties of their people as chief security officer and denied them the emblem of authority. If Nigeria is really a federation, this is a constitutional lacuna that must be addressed through constitutional amendment to pave way for state police.

    Considering recent level of threat to public security across the country, taking recourse to state police seems a more attractive option. Without a doubt, the centralised policing system has not really been effective and it is only logical that we consider other plausible options.

    Aside the well accepted philosophy that that policing is essentially a local matter, every crime is local in nature. Hence, it is only rational to localize the police force. No matter its form, crime detection needs a local knowledge that state police can better provide.

    Similarly, police officers who serve in their indigenous communities are stakeholders with vested interests in such places. Considering the reality that they will always be part of their respective communities, even after retirement, it is doubtful if they will perpetrate anti-social activities in such communities. A recent Human Right Watch survey reveals that most of the accidental and other extra judicial killings that have taken place in the country were perpetrated by officers posted outside their states of origin.

    Knowledge of the local environment is needed for effective policing. It is only logical that to fight crime in the locality, you need law enforcement personnel familiar with the terrain. Using police officers from Jalingo, for instance, to burst a crime in Onitsha could at best be counter- productive. The local criminals with good knowledge of the area will always outwit such ‘foreign’ police officers.

    Intelligence gathering is an indispensable necessity in crime fighting. But this seems to be currently lacking in the system. It is difficult to access high-quality intelligence, unless you know the people very well, and they in turn trust you. The present arrangement certainly negates credible intelligence gathering. We live in a society where people treat perceived strangers with lots of reservation.

    This, no doubt, is quite understandable.  It is difficult to trust somebody whose language, culture and tradition you are unfamiliar with. The truth is that people will always be afraid of passing on information to those they don’t trust, and this is for obvious reasons.

    Perhaps more importantly, it is important that a state governor who ought to be the chief security officer of his state has the control of the police command in same state. The current trend where the police commissioner in a state takes orders from Abuja concerning security issues in a state is not too tidy.

    Ironically, almost all state governments in the country invest significantly in the diverse security agencies in their respective states. In Lagos, for example, the state government has in the last 17 years invested billions of naira on public security. In –fact, the first Security Trust Fund to be established, by any government, in the country was initiated by the Lagos State government. Many other states have since followed the Lagos model, in the process committing several billions of naira into the project.

    Now, will it not amount to double standard that a governor bears such a huge financial burden, which in the first place should be that of the federal government, only for the system to turn around and deny him un-hindered control of same institution at crucial moments?

    To properly address current security question in the country, we need to tackle the touchy issue of state police. No matter how much a state government spends on security, the reality is that it has no direct control over any of the national security organs. The current centralized police structure in the country will continue to limit the capacity of states to effectively and clinically address security issues.

    It has been argued severally that state police is nothing but a recipe for anarchy as it could lead to abuse of power.  This argument is neither here nor there. The reality, however, is that the present centralized policing arrangement has, over the years, equally been subjected to limitless abuse in diverse ways. At some periods in our national history, we have witnessed instances of distasteful use of police by the appropriate authorities to perpetrate gross injustice.

    In an ideal federal system, the issue of state police should not be a contentious matter. If we are really serious about overcoming current security challenges in the polity, the time to embrace the option of state police is now. A viable and dynamic security system is required to sustain significant development and ensure adequate security of life and property.  The police as we currently have in the country might not be able to ensure effective security across the nation.  Currently, the police does not have up to 400, 000 personnel in a nation whose estimated population stands above 180 million. This is the clear picture of an institution that is in dire need of restructuring.

    Let’s face the fact; Nigeria is too large and complex to be policed centrally. In the First Republic, there were regional police and local police existing side by side the federal police. If we are really serious about overcoming current security challenges in the country, we need to re-examine the issue state police more earnestly and objectively. If Nigeria is really a federation, this is a constitutional lacuna that must be addressed through constitution amendment to pave way for state police.

    We need to come to term with the fact that, state police is a necessity in a federal system like Nigeria if we are to effectively combat crime as it is being practiced by other federating units the world over.  Given the required political will, we can successfully and efficiently operate state police in the country. The time has come for us to give the subject the desired attention.

     

    • Ogunbiyi is of the Ministry of Information & Strategy, Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos
  • Ikorodu robbery, the police and public security

    Ikorodu robbery, the police and public security

     According to eye witness accounts, the recent armed robbery operation, that threw a part of the ancient town of Ikorodu into pandemonium for hours, was executed in a most daring commando fashion.  Unusually, according to reports, the 16 man dare-devil robbery gang that carried out the dastardly robbery plot was led by a young lady in her early twenties. Like in the movies, the robbers were said to have used explosives to smash the rotor doors of the two banks where they operated to gain entry and instructed the banking staff and customers to lie down motionless. While the robbery operation lasted, the robbers allegedly made away with cash loots running into millions of naira. In a bid to, perhaps, frustrate security operatives from successfully trailing them; the robbers purportedly set the three SUVs that brought them for the operation ablaze. In a fashion that has been compared to the March 12 robbery attack in Lekki, Lagos, the robbers, shooting sporadically, ostensibly escaped with their booties through the Ipakodo jetty at Ikorodu, using two motor boats.

    Aside the destruction done to the buildings housing the two banks where the robbery operation took place, a few people were equally reportedly injured. Fortunately, as at the time of putting this piece together, no life was reportedly lost through the operation. But then, as it is always the case with such high scale robbery scheme, the two banks involved, as well as people working and living in the vicinity are still counting their losses. Similarly, some of the customers that were trapped in the two banks, while the operation lasted, are yet to get over the traumatic experience. Indeed, some of them might live with the shock of the horrible experience for a long time to come.

    Now that the dust gathered by the sad event is gradually settling down, it is imperative to properly scrutinise some of its far-reaching fallouts. First, it is instructive to stress that the banks that were robbed were allegedly located directly opposite the Ipakodo Police Division, Ikorodu. Ordinarily, this is supposed to be an advantage to the banks, but as things eventually turned out, it is rather sad that the robbers held sway for as long as they wanted with such irritating audacity. According to reports, as soon as the robbers had satisfactorily completed the robbery act, they brazenly challenged policemen at a police station close to the scene of the event to an open gun duel of which the latter thoughtfully declined. This only goes to actually confirm what have been the fears of many Nigerians concerning the preparedness level of men and officers of the Nigeria police to deal with such anti-social occurrences.

    It smacks of unbelievable effrontery for robbers to audaciously hold a group of people hostage for as long as they are willing to in a country reputed to be most populous black nation on earth. It was gathered that some of the gunmen were outside the banks firing into the air for over an hour and that the whole operation lasted for more than three hours. While it lasted, the policemen at the station were said to have fled for their lives. Eyewitness account had it that some of the policemen hid at the back of Ipakodo Grammar School for more than one hour to escape the fire power of the robbers. The puzzle herein is that if banks, public institutions and people that live close to a police station are not really assured of their safety, what would then be the lots of those who are located in places where there are no police presence of any sort? Your guess is as good as mine.

    It is rather amusing that in our clime, it is characteristic for robbers to hold people hostage for hours only for police and other security operatives to surface immediately after their departure. This is exactly what happened in the Ikorodu episode. A few minutes after the robbers were gone; the whole place reportedly became flooded with policemen, armoured tanks and one Operation MESA men. This is a rather disturbing trend that the police authorities and the leadership of the various security agencies have to properly look into. In as much as one understands the various challenges of the police especially, it doesn’t speak well of us as a nation that a gang of robbers could hold a place hostage for as long as they want without any resistance whatsoever from the security operatives. If this odd pattern is not frontally addressed, it portends a great danger for us as a people.

    It is also important to point attention to what is fast becoming an emerging escape pattern of robbers through the waterways. As it has been previously stated, the armed robbers that recently took Ikorodu by storm escaped through the Ipakodo jetty at Ikorodu, using two motor boats in a fashion akin to the March 12 robbery in Lekki, Lagos. This definitely calls to question the vulnerability of our waterways. It is, therefore, important that relevant security agencies and stakeholders swiftly look into this with a view to coming up with strategies that will effectively ensure the protection of our waterways. This is particular important now that the Lagos State government is making practical and noticeable efforts to promote water transportation in the State. The assurance of   Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Kayode Aderanti, that the waterways would soon be fortified, if backed with required action, is, therefore, a welcome development.

    The Ikorodu robbery episode also calls attention to the deplorable situation of youth in the country. It is pathetic that the youth who should normally be in the vanguard of nation building are taking to destructive social vices. This, if not quickly checked, signifies a bleak future for our dear nation. Hence, faith based organisations, key social-cultural bodies, related government agencies and other youth based stakeholders should continue invest in the development of the youth. This is the best way to safeguard the future of our deer country.

     Equally, all the partners of the Lagos State Security Trust Fund must not relent in their efforts towards equipping and empowering the Lagos State Police Command in the onerous task of checkmating robbers and criminals in the state. It is only a common frontal response that could effectively forestall future occurrence of such dastardly robbery act as the one recently experienced in Ikorodu.  Public security cannot be obtained without the active involvement, participation and support of everyone in the society.

    Despite the magnitude of the Lagos State government investment in public security, there are still herculean challenges that government’s resources alone cannot tackle. In as much as everyone in a state pursues varied interests, the pursuit of public security should, nevertheless, be the common goal of all. The involvement and participation of individuals and non-governmental actors in the issues of public security is, therefore, a necessity for the actualization of a secured society.

     •Ogunbiyi is of the Features Unit, Lagos State Ministry of Information and Strategy, Alausa, Ikeja.

  • Public security

    Public security

    Book review

    Title: The Police, Public safety and internal security

    Author: M D Abubakar

    Reviewer: Ben Okezie

    Pagination: 135

     

    The Nigerian literary community is witnessing the unfolding of new literary minds from the security fold of Inspector General of Police.

    It is impressive to note that security chiefs despite their tight security schedules created time to capture experiences they had acquired while in office for the betterment of their institution and the society at large.

    It all started from the tenure of Mike Mbama Okiro who while battling with armed robbers in Lagos as the Commissioner of Police came up with an instructive book he titled Surviving the city, and while in office as the Inspector General of Police still confronted by the war with Niger Delta militants and kidnappers, he authored two more books he titled Policing Nigeria in Democracy and Overcoming security Challanges. Before then, Sunday Ehindero, a lawyer, followed suit and authored three books in quick succession while in office as the Inspector General of Police titled A Policeman as a prosecutor, Police and public order and Police and human right. Today, Mohammed Dahiru Abubakar has picked the literary baton from past chiefs and despite the fact that he is faced with the arduous task of tackling issues of kidnapping, insecurity and unending surge of insurgents, he still found time to author the book titled The Police, Public safety and internal security.

    The important lesson in all of these literary exercises is the attention these men have succinctly drawn not only to themselves but to the institution they represent. They have also sent out a strong message concerning themselves as they extract from their wealth of experiences to update our libraries as tributaries of security knowledge.

    It is such disposition that has marked them out as noble literary models of the security community and such venture should be applauded and commended.

    Articulating individual experiences while in highly sensitive and challenging security office or when out of office should be encouraged as this goes a long way to better equip those stepping into such offices as guide. This is why one is not comfortable with former security chiefs whose tenure were lased with controversies. A book from them would have helped to straighten some unpleasant happenings while in office. For not putting pen on paper to immortalise their experiences through biographies may gravely deprive the country of such important information. The same is applicable to military generals who after dropping their uniforms do not deem it necessary documenting their activities and binding them as books. Such attitude end up creating a laconia in the institution.

    By creating time to script ideas and experience into a book while in office means that MD Abubakar understands the dynamics of literature of security in a society as ours. Experiences that are not unveil before death is a wasted destiny and answerable to our creator who exemplified his by documenting every of his actions into a book. Great institutions are the result of past documentations of ideas that oozes out from the medulla of leaders so are great nations.

    The 135-page book ingeniously delved into the fundamental rudiments and factors that make public safety necessary. The first chapter opened up by emphasising whose shoulder the need for a stable internal security should rest. A historical exhumation of how the Nigeria police arrived at the unfortunate situation it found itself was narrated. Abubakar went further to argue that the Police is the only security institution constitutionally empowered to enforce law and order and to provide all round security of lives and property noting that the armed forces are also empowered to save lives. The book further shed more light into the circumstances that warranted the recruitment of more police applicants in the nineties. A very well written book well imbedded with comparative analogies of security situations in the country and other countries. The selection of topics and the quantum of research carried out speak volume of the meticulousness of the writer. He clearly brought some traits well known with him to bear in how he handled some of the topics. His thoroughness, fitness and strong grasp of knowledge cum experience were very noticeable as he dissect the arguments trailing community Policing, it’s history and acceptability in police circle and methodology. Abubakar did not leave his reader glutting but led them through the basics by simply shredding known international understanding of community policing and also proffer better standard of operation as it concerns Nigeria. His argument is that imported security ideas should be carefully weighed before being implemented in a society such as ours. Abubakar also delve into the intricacies that have beclouded the country electoral processes and affirm that while security agents and the police are integrally necessary for a successful election, it is appropriate that there should be an electoral reforms that is updated according to world standard. The book offers realistic suggestions and solutions to conflicts between members of the public and the police and what ought to be done for the country to attain the expected level of public safety and effective internal security.

  • Public security and Lagos Traffic Law

    The recent murder of 27-year-old medical doctor, Irawo Adamolekun, by a gunman operating on a motorcycle at the Anthony Village end of Ikorodu Road, Lagos, has once again brought to fore the need for Lagosians to support the state government’s implementation of Traffic Law as it particularly affects the activities of commercial motorcycles operators.

    According to the report, Irawo, who was driving in a black Kia Sephia II saloon car with Lagos number plate GP 388 AAA, was shot in front of the traffic warden spot linking Access Road to Ikorodu Road. It was learnt that the victim that had just left Osuntuyi Medical Centre, Obanikoro, where he works, was shot after he declined to part with valuables when the gunman attempted to rob him in traffic. The gunman, who was reported to have shot the deceased at close range, mounted a waiting motorcycle on the other side of the road and fled the scene.

    A recent police report shows that out of the 30 armed robbery incidents recorded in Lagos between July and September 2012, 22 involved commercial motorcycles. According to the report, it out of eight robberies that occurred in July, seven involved the use of Okada while it was also used in 10 out of 14 robberies in September 2012 and five out of eight robberies in August of the same year. Looking at available facts and figures, there should be no controversy about the fact that the operations of commercial motorcycles in the state need to be regulated.

    Aside constituting serious threat to security, the misery and grief that commercial motorcycles has brought into several homes in Lagos is un-imaginable. Statistics from the Lagos State Management Authority (LASTMA) reveals that not less than 619 people were killed or seriously injured in commercial motorcycles accident in the last two years. The breakdown shows that 107 people died while 512 sustained serious injuries. Among the dead were 71 males and 36 females. In 2011 alone, 47 people were killed while 98 others sustained serious injuries from commercial motorcycles accidents. Between January and October 2012, 63 people were killed while 59 sustained serious injuries.

    Fortunately, the security situation across the state is now getting better. Thanks to the meticulous implementation of the traffic law, especially the part that restricts commercial motorcycles from plying certain parts of the metropolis. Going by the available facts and figures, it is quite obvious that the restriction order placed on Okada by the law has helped, in no small measure, in stemming the tide of robbery cases in the state.

    Consequently, the urgent task before every Lagosian is to give the new law a chance since it is mainly enacted to protect the people. Lawlessness and social disorder don’t bring any good to any nation. A nation whose citizens derive pleasure in reckless and disorderly behaviours cannot achieve rapid social-economic transformation. Indeed, governance becomes easier and cheaper in a lawful and orderly environment. A few of the complications we experience in the polity today are the direct effect of the unruly and disorderly state of affairs in the country.

    As the Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola (SAN), has always said, the state’s road traffic law is for the safety and security of the life of citizens. It is about safety and security. It will be recalled that the governor once apprehended a commercial motorcyclist riding against traffic only to discover that the culprit was in custody of a gun and, a lady’s hand bag and a baby’s sanitary pad. The Lagos Police Command has continued to tell those who care to listen that one of the serious security challenges in the state is robbery with motorcycles.

    Being one of the most important pre-conditions for human existence, the state government has always placed high premium on the security of lives and property in the state. This explains the setting up of the State Security Trust Fund which has become a model for other states in the country. The main objective of the fund is to effectively fund the security needs of the state on a sustainable basis. In its determination to make the state crime-free, the Fashola administration has opened up most hide-outs and joints that hitherto served as bases for fraudsters and armed robbers and turned them into beautiful environment.

    Other steps that have been taken by the state government at boosting public safety and security include establishment of the state surveillance and command centre, re-organisation and strengthening of the state’s anti-crime outfit, the Rapid Response Squad (RRS), procurement of new telecommunication equipment, bullet proof vest and uniforms, and additional patrol vehicles, establishment of Nigeria’s first dedicated Emergency Call Centre which can be reached toll-free on‘767’ and ‘112’ numbers on all networks, beefing up of the Neighbourhood Watch ( a complimentary community security outfit), introduction of the Community Security Assembly (CSA) among others. Another major component of the state’s security programme is the ‘SAFE CITY PROJECT’ which is a comprehensive security programme, whereby a fixed wireless monitoring device will compliment a Central Security Surveillance (CSS) from a command post with the aid of surveillance cameras.

    In-spite of the state government’s investment in the security sector, it is vital that every segment of the society partners with it to ensure that the investment yields fruitful dividends. An effective public security cannot be obtained without the active involvement, participation and support of every segment of the society because public security is the responsibility of all individuals, groups, communities, organizations and other units that constitute the state.

    It is a known fact, in Lagos State for instance, that despite the magnitude of government investment in public security, there are still herculean challenges that government’s resources alone cannot tackle. In as much as everyone in a state pursues varied interests, the pursuit of public security should, nevertheless, be the common goal of all. The involvement and participation of individuals and non-governmental actors in the issues of public security is, therefore, a necessity for the actualization of a secured society.

    • Ibirogba is Lagos Commissioner for Information and Strategy