The Nation Newspaper

Tag: security

  • The politics of security, change and culture

    In China recently the authorities organized earthquake drills to educate citizens on how to react to real earth quakes and escape or save lives in what is a dangerous natural disaster that has claimed many lives and property and is more common in that part of the world than others. In the UK a great debate ensued in Parliament recently on the gay rights Marriage bill that polarized the Conservative party, the senior partner in the ruling coalition just as two men shouting religious slogan killed a British soldier in Woolwich in a terrorist act that saw the PM cutting short an official trip to denounce the terrorist act while stressing that Britain will never succumb to terror or terrorism. In Kenya the Truth, Justice and Reconciliation Commission -TJRC – which investigated various political crimes and assassinations in Kenya from independence till the 2007 post election violence, found the newly elected President and Vice President in the March 2013 elections culpable, but did not recommend sanctions as the two leaders have similar charges pending against them on the matter at the International Criminal Court at the Hague. In Nigeria the newspapers were replete with pictures of the Chief Priest of a cult whose members killed over 20 men recently with the Chief Priest asserting that his god protected him against the policemen who he said had been given orders to bring him to the state capital dead or alive, but got killed instead as they were drunk on their way to destroy him.

    From preparing against a natural disaster, to making laws that change the face and nature of marriage, to having financiers and executors of thuggery and violence in positions of power in a democratic dispensation or allowing a security risk to market the prowess of his clan god or deity on a national and global scene, the contention I am making today is that a cultural and religious sea change is abroad in the world as we know it today and this has great and far reaching import for the peace and security of the world as we know for now.

    Let me start on a happy note even though the issue is a natural tragedy like an earthquake but it is its planned management and the foresight involved, that creates a good lesson on crisis management. The new Chinese leadership in China has identified corruptionas a target for zero tolerance and elimination in China under its new mandate. But natural disasters have no calling cards and do not give notice of appearance. China’s earthquake drill is therefore a pragmatic and innovative effort to protect lives and give people courage when such disasters happen so that people, as far as is possible under the circumstances, know what to do to keep alive or even to save lives in the process. Coincidentally a recent survey on the global perception or sovereign reputation of key nations of the world put Germany as No 1 dethroning Japan which obviously lost its enviable position because of the way it handled it nuclear plant radiation explosion in recent times . It is instructive that Germany closed its own nuclear plants after the Japanese nuclear disaster at great economic costs but in deference to German public opinion. Iran was rated the worst nation in terms of global perception not unlikely because of its quest for nuclear power on the pretence of getting electricity for which it is facing UN sanctions. In addition Iran has been reluctant to ask for expert aid during outbreak of natural disasters in which it has had more than its fair share in recent times.

    My fascination with the Chinese Earthquake drill stems from the socio economic and cultural problems of armed robbery and now terrorism facing some nations especially Nigeria. People flee here at the sight of armed robbers whereas if drills can be organized the robbers would know that people in the environment have some knowledge and information on how to react to them rather than just fear and that they can thwart their criminal activity successfully. This itself can be a formidable deterrence against the current high incidence of armed robbery or rampant terrorism or even kidnapping. In the Woolwich terror killing in the UK, a lady reportedly boldly told the terrorist who was saying that terrorists would wage war on London that they will fail and the lady even asked him to turn in the bloodied knife he was wielding after killing the British soldier. Really I think drills and mass orientation campaigns to resist armed robbers and terrorists will go a long way in reducing their menace and in making our environment safer than hitherto.

    On the gay marriage bill debate in London, my view is that the world is turning upside down in that part of the world and a culture shock is afloat. But the government seems hell bent on getting the bill through with the active support of the leadership of even the opposition labor party. Which really is to be expected as leftist parties have such inclinations towards gay rights and marriage just as the Democratic party of President Obama is trying to bulldoze its way through in Congress and the US Supreme Court. This is in spite of the fact that the public is getting annoyed at the redefinition of marriage by a go British government that got to power in a hung parliament and does not have a mandate for the policy it is rushing through in the UK. Indeed those opposed to the great gay marriage drive have complained that no party in Britain put this in its manifesto in the last elections and it is unfair to create such a cultural and religious change without the requisite democratic mandate. This is also unlike the situation in France where the socialists made it clear in their campaign manifesto and are fulfilling their promise although most French citizens have now woken up from their slumber and are now frowning at the development.

    The situation in Kenya however is a clear case of locking the stables doors after the horses have bolted. The two leaders indicted in the Truth, Justice and Reconciliation Committee Report are now the newly elected and sworn in President and Vice President of Kenya even though they were on different sides when they commited the post election violence five years ago. Now, who in Kenya will bell the cat for their prosecution? Also given their new alliance and their running successfully on the presidential ticket in Kenya, who can say that violence and thuggery do not pay, at least in the politics of Kenya? Even though the 2013 Kenyan Presidential elections were said to be free and fair there is something suspect in a legitimacy or authority gained in an atmosphere of violence as choice is a prerequisite for true democratic power and legitimacy. This surely is sorely lacking in Kenya’s two leading politicians for now given the TJRC Report just published in Kenya.

    Lastly the picture of the aged Chief Priest of the Ombatse Cult Alla Agu was on the front pages of some newspapers this week as he reportedly spoke through an interpreter when a senator from the area visited him with some pressmen in Lakyo, Nasarawa state this week. Obviously the man whose cult members reportedly killed 20 policemen had no regrets on the incident. Instead he seized the opportunity to glorify the god of his sect. Reportedly he said ‘It is the governor that asked the police officers to come here and arrest me, cut my head and take my head to him. When they came because they were themselves drunk, my god did not allow them to come to me and they died on the way.’ As reported, the Ombatse Chief Priest spoke in the presence of Senator Solomon Ewuga of the Federal Republic of Nigeria during a visit to him in his Lakyo community. Really, I wonder what the Inspector General of Police will make of this, given the high death toll of the Police in the hands of the Ombatse cult members as reported by the governor of the state. To me it is unbelievable that a man like the Ombatse chief priest is not yet in police custody at least for his own protection not to talk of the image of the police in providing security for all Nigerians including policemen. In addition, the interview has helped in marketing unwittingly the ‘protective capabilities’ of the Ombatse Cult god and this is bound to open lucrative opportunities for the cult with people looking for protection from all sorts of attacks and assaults on both sides of the law in our society. I find it thoroughly amazing that the police have not been able to find their way to Lakyo to see the Chief Priest at least to take a statement on what happened. Surely that speaks volumes on the security of all of us who greatly sympathise with the police on the loss of so many men in the incredible case involving the Ombatse Cult of Lakyo in Nasarawa state in Nigeria.

  • Security awareness conference for kids

    A conference that will focus on the general trends of crime in the country will hold on the Children’s Day at the Civic Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos.

    The parley, which will also discuss social media, cyber crimes, psychology of crime, impacts of crime on its victims and survival tips for young people, is being organised by Crime Fighters, producers of a television crime programme.

    The executive producer of the television programme, Aisha Agberebi, said: “The overriding goal is to educated our children on security and crime and prevent them from being brainwashed into criminal activities,” she said.

    The conference with the theme: “Security awareness among children,” will have the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Mr Umar Manko; Special Agent, Embassy of the United States of America in Nigeria, Mr Kerry Brooks; Dean, Faculty of Social Sciences University of Lagos (UNILAG), Professor Omololu Soyombo; an expert in Victimology, Mrs Gloria Egbuji, and a representative of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr David Adeboye, as speakers and lecturers.

  • Economy stable in spite of security challenge, says Okonjo-Iweala

    Economy stable in spite of security challenge, says Okonjo-Iweala

    Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister for the Economy, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, has assured Nigerians and the international community that the fundamentals of the economy remain strong in spite of the security challenges facing the country.

    She said: “The economy recorded a growth of 6.5 per cent in the first quarter of 2013, inflation is down to single digit, fiscal deficit is only 1.8 of GDP, foreign reserves stand at $48 billion and the government is working very hard on many projects that would impact positively on the populace.”

    A statement from Paul Nwabuikwu, Special Adviser to the Minister said she made the remark yesterday during an international forum organised by Standard Chartered Bank.

    Responding to questions on the implications of the state of emergency declared last week by President Goodluck Jonathan in Yobe, Borno and Adamawa States, the minister explained that the government is taking decisive action to secure communities in the Northeast affected by the activities of Boko Haram.

    She explained that the intention of the government is to restore security and order to enable economic activities and normal life resume. The state of emergency, she explained, gives security agents the latitude to flush out insurgents from their bases.

    Dr. Okonjo-Iweala noted that the Presidency is adopting a multi-dimensional approach which include political dialogue, counter-terrorism tools and economic inclusion to solve the problem.

    Government, she said, hope that the return of peace will create a strong foundation to spur economic growth, particularly through agriculture, the mainstay of the region.

    Responding to a question on whether the country is expecting a supplementary budget to tackle security challenges, the minister answered in the negative. She noted that a Contingency Vote was already built into the budget to take care of emergencies such as security and the flooding that affected many parts of the country last year.

     

     

     

     

  • ACN condoles with families of security agents killed in Nasarawa

    ACN condoles with families of security agents killed in Nasarawa

    The Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) has condoled with the families of the security agents killed by a militia group in Nasarawa State.

    It described the killing as brutal and calamitous.

    In a statement issued in Abuja yesterday by its National Publicity

    Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the party prayed that God should grant the families the fortitude to bear the losses and also grant eternal rest to the victims.

    It urged the Federal Government to ensure that the wives, children and other dependants of the slain security personnel are catered for to minimise the impact of their bereavement.

    ACN decried the rate at which insurgents and militia groups are targetting and killing security agents.

    It said the development was unacceptable and barbaric.

    The party enjoined the authorities to declare a zero tolerance for the killing of security agents by ensuring that those who perpetrate such killings are fished out and brought to justice.

    It also called for continuous training and provision of equipment for the security agents so that they could protect themselves while carrying out their constitutional responsibilities of protecting lives and property.

    “A poorly-trained, poorly-motivated and inadequately- kitted security agent is a soft target for the kind of stone-age marauders now rampaging our country,” ACN said.

    The party hailed the police authorities for assuring

    that there would be no reprisal against the community where the dastardly killings occurred in Nasarawa State and for opting for negotiation rather than violence to secure the release of the policemen still said to be in the custody of the militia.

    “By that singular act, the authorities have portrayed the Nigeria Police as a civilised force, which has respect for its rules of engagement, unlike the medieval groups that have been so quick to take the lives of those saddled

    by the State with protecting lives and property.

    “We have always warned the security agencies against descending to the level of the barbarians, who have been unleashing violence against them, and we are glad our gallant men and women in uniform have heeded this warning. That does notmean the perpetrators must be allowed to get away with their heinous crime. It only means that innocent people will not bear the brunt of their actions,” ACN said.

     

  • FG, security agencies should tighten security

    SIR: The Community Defence Law Foundation, CDLF, a grass-root based civil society organization calls on the security agencies to immediately begin to tighten security around the country.

    The recent recorded increase in violence in Borno, Plateau and Nassarawa states resulting in the loss of many lives including that of about 30 policemen calls for worry and the need for the security agencies to indeed be on top of the situation. The President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan had had to abort his foreign trip to attend to this security lapse, realizing the carnage. Again, there are worries on threats and counter-threats by some political leaders of the north and militant leaders of the Niger Delta on making Nigeria ungovernable if things fail to go their way politically come 2015.

    We may not also close our eyes at the arrest of a woman on Thursday, illegally possessing police uniforms at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja-Lagos. The woman was about to board an Aero airline flight to Kano, when the security details at the airport accosted her and, she failed to provide convincing answers. All these and many others portend danger to Nigeria’s corporate existence.

    CDLF, calls on our security men to intensify security patrol at our borders; arrest and prosecute all those who have truly erred in law; begin aggressive mop up of fire arms in illegal and idle hands. We also will recommend that the Ministry of Information, National Orientation Agency, National Christian and Muslim bodies embark on enlightenment campaign to educate the people to embrace peace, respect and tolerate each other’s religion and culture. The Police must remind the politicians not to, through their unguided statements, overheat the polity thereby, sending wrong message to their supporters.

    • Uzodinma Nwaogbe

    Abuja

  • Activist to Nigerians: demand security, good governance

    Nigerians have been urged to demand security of lives and property as well as good governance.

    The Chairman of the Governing Council of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), Dr Chidi Odinkalu, made the call during a two-day summit on security and governance challenges in the Southeast, held in Owerri, the Imo State capital.

    He attributed the growing security challenges across the country to inept leadership.

    Odinkalu asked Nigerians to rise and insist on qualitative leadership that will guarantee the protection of lives and property.

    The activist noted that the inability of the government to provide employment for the teeming youths has fuelled criminality in not only in the Southeast but across the country.

    He said: “In Nigeria, we are not only faced with the threats of terrorism but also serious issues of human right abuses in our homes and offices, which often spills over into the larger society.

    “The time has come for the people to rise and demand for good governance and improved security, which, of course, is their right”.

    Presenting a paper at the summit organised by a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), CLEEN Foundation in collaboration with the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) and Ford Foundation, Dr. Ukoha Ukiwo of the University of Port Harcourt, blamed insecurity in the Southeast on the increasing number of Ndigbo who were displaced in the cities as a result of urban renewal and safety city programme.

    He said as a result of the demolition of homes and business places of most Igbo youths in major cities, the population of displaced persons who were forced to return to the Southeast increased with its attendant consequences.

    Also speaking, the regional representative of the Ford Foundation, Innocent Chukwumah, noted that the huge decline in the socio-economic development in the zone was largely responsible for the current security situation.

    Chukwuma said the traditional self-help development efforts of the Igbo should be complemented by the government for good governance to thrive.

    He urged the participants to come up with a declaration on how to rescue the zone from the claws of criminals.

  • Police in Kano strengthen security

    Security has been strengthened in the ancient city of Kano for a smooth Workers’ Day celebration.

    The Commissioner of Police, Musa Daura, said the measure was to ensure that life and property are secured.

    He said the step taken by the Command is to ensure that the Workers’ Day celebration is hitch and violence-free.

    Daura said: “The Command is leaving no stone unturned in its quest to ensure adequate protection to life and property. “We have deployed policemen to strategic locations in the city.”

    Daura warned trouble makers to stay out of the streets or be ready to face the wrath of the law.

     

  • Lagos NUJ calls for workers’ security

    The Lagos State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) has urged President Goodluck Jonathan to protect workers in the face of growing insecurity in the country.

    It urged federal and state governments to ensure prompt payment of salaries, including the 22 percent Weigh-in Allowance for journalists.

    The Council urged the private sector to also pay workers promptly to avoid industrial disharmony.

    In their goodwill message to workers, the Chairman, Deji Elumoye and the Secretary, Sylva Emeka-Okereke, described as serious, the growing insecurity in the country.

    “Nigeria is losing its best workers to other neigbouring countries due to insecurity in the country and if urgent steps are not taken to address the heightening situation, the country might be very unsafe for Nigerians and by extension, workers.”

     

  • Imbibing the culture of collective security

    Imbibing the culture of collective security

    The way things currently stand in the country has clearly shown that there is an urgent need for Nigerians to become more security-conscious in their day-to-day life. If there is any time in our national history when we need to be very alert in terms of security, it is now. This is because all across the country, cases of kidnapping, pipeline vandalisation, theft, armed robbery and terrorist attacks stare us in the face on a regular basis. And the usual thing we do when we hear of such negative cases is to first heap blames on governments across the country. While it is true that government has the onerous responsibility of ensuring security across the country, it is equally not far from the truth that security is a collective responsibility.

    For instance, for a Mega city like Lagos, the Police-Personnel Population ratio of 1- 400, is considered a big security issue that must be the concern of well-meaning Nigerians. Hence, the Fashola administration in living up its billing, envisioned more highly trained men and women working with modern logistic support, with effective cooperation and collaboration with other stakeholders through the now popular Lagos State Security Trust Fund.

    In-spite of the state government laudable security initiatives such as the acquisition of two Bell EP helicopters, restriction of the activities of ‘okada’ riders on highways, opening of gated streets between 5am and 12 midnight, lighting up of the city at night, situating and naming of streets responders to get to crisis centres on time, sending those who live or trade under the various bridges in the state packing to get rid of unscrupulous elements hiding in such places to perpetrate evil, among others, it is still quite clear that government efforts alone cannot surmount security challenges. Consequently, it is important for Nigerians to become highly vigilant about happenings within their immediate environment.

    Since it is often said that all crimes are localized, criminals and perpetrators of evil deeds no doubt live within us and obtain the information about their victims through our carelessness. They are not spirits and do not have any magic to know our details. We, therefore, have a responsibility in our various neighbourhoods to observe basic security rules. We all have to take interest in strange characters, movements as well as conduct in our area and swiftly report same to the appropriate quarters for necessary action.

    We must identify people with funny tendencies in our various streets, estates and communities. This includes people with no clear cut source of livelihood who, nevertheless, live ‘big’. We need to constantly be on our guards at all times because the agents of evil are very cunning and smart. Religious houses are not excluded in this process of renewed security consciousness.

    The various mosques and churches must be extra watchful especially towards men who hide under the pretext of coming for spiritual counselling to perpetrate dastardly acts. These are unusual times that need extraordinary precautions. Sometime in the past, it is unthinkable that places of worship could become targets of evil men. But that seems to be the norm today. Parents also need to be more proactive in the way they handle security issues relating especially to their children. If the children must be at home, they must be left under the care of responsible and mature adults.

    It is risky to live children alone at home, especially during holidays. It is also important that children are taught basic security tips such as being extremely careful with strangers, playing within the confines of their compounds and ensuring that necessary domestic security measures are strictly adhered to. Similarly, children that have come of age ought to know the phone numbers and other personal details of their parents. Also, schools, especially private ones, should step up on security efforts within and outside their premises. Under no circumstances must unauthorized people be allowed to pick pupils from schools.

    Every school must have a fool proof means of bringing pupils to school from their respective homes and vice versa. It is equally advised that organisations should, as much as possible, discourage the idea of keeping huge amount of money within their premises. Efforts should be made to embrace current trend in cashless transactions to the letter so that people will desist from carrying huge cash around under whatever guise.

    Night crawling is another aspect of our social life that we should re-consider. Except for those that must really work at night, it is quite risky to move about at night. For people who love to hang around at drinking joints after work, it is safer to do less of it now especially since they could as well go home from office and ‘catch fun’ with their families. Indeed, considering the prevailing security situation in the country, this is the right thing to always do after a hard day’s work. One other area where people need to exercise serious restraints is in their conversations.

    Most often, without knowing, people make themselves easy targets of unscrupulous elements through the reckless conversations they make in open places such as restaurants, public buses, offices, among others. Examples abound of people who have fallen victims to the antics of underground men because they could not ‘control’ their mouths. Some go to the extent of boasting of their material possessions in open places and inadvertently arouse the attention of criminals. Also, those who do business must be careful with the kind of people they deal with.

    It is important that they are cautious with the kind of ‘deals’ they are involved in. Most often, cases involving assassinations and other such vices arise from consequences of secret deals that people engage in from time to time. Now, Nigerians should know that as much as government has the responsibility to protect them, an effective public security can only be obtained with the active involvement, participation and support of every segment of the society. This is because public security is the responsibility of all individuals, groups, communities, organisations and other units that constitute the state.

    Traditional rulers and religious leaders have a critical role to play and should motivate landlords and market associations to help report suspicious movements and persons. It is a known fact 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 issue of public security is, therefore, a necessity for the actualisation of a secured society. God bless Nigeria!

    • Ibirogba is Lagos commissioner for information and strategy.

  • Youths urge Fed Govt to strengthen security

    The incessant attacks by members of the Boko Haram sect and the general insecurity in the land were the subjects of discussion at a meeting of the Youth Wing of the Christian Association of Nigeria (YOWICAN)  in Abuja last week.

    The group urged the Federal Government to be more proactive in tackling the security challenges just as it did during last year’s flooding.

    The group’s National President, Dr. Simon Dolly said the reconciliation moves being proposed to address Boko Haram insurgency can only succeed if certain precautions are taken into consideration.

    He said: “We want the Federal Government to be proactive on the security crisis just the way they treated flooding issues.

    “The victims of the crisis should be compensated before reconciliation. They have to be attended to first before proposing reconciliation and absence of it will show high level injustice. We all want peace, we need dialogue”, he said.

    Dr. Dolly who attributed the tottering progress in the country to lack of forgiveness on the part of Christians, called on Christians to have the heart of forgiveness, tolerate one another and avoid the politics of killing.

    While decrying the state of insecurity, he said, “It is difficult for you to see any Christian youth at the arms of any government affair in the far north, also, Christian Religious Knowledge (CRK) taught in other parts of the country is no longer taught in the north.

    “Our people are displaced because of insecurity, people die virtually every day and the level of suffering of people in the north is very alarming.  This country needs a lot of prayers”, he added.

    Reacting to the issue, the former Minister of Petroleum, Chief Dan Etete urged them to interact with other youth organisation irrespective of the religious belief.

    He explained that elders and leaders are ready to give support to youths but they must make contact with one other. CAN youths, Arewa youths, Afenifere youths, South South youths and other groups should meet from time to time.

    Etete donated N5million to YOWICAN for its upcoming convention.