President Muhammadu Buhari has been tasked to prioritize the security of ordinary citizens, as well as double efforts to stamp out corruption in the country.
The Executive Director, Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC), Auwal Rafsanjani made the call Thursday at a press briefing in Lagos.
CISLAC Director expressed serious concern on the conduct of some security operatives and prevailing insecurity challenges facing the country.
He lamented that the conduct of many Nigerian security personnel was unprofessional and a total contradiction to their primary obligation.
“Security officials are seen around the States and at check points, harassing and extorting civilians in any way they can.” I can tell you that I have once been a victim of this horrible situation” Rafsanjani bemoaned.
CISLAC Director recalled how he was harassed by the police officers on his way home one evening.
He said: “They just approached me and shouted that I should stop my car. At first, I thought they were thieves but as they came closer, I realized they were security officials. After all the shouting and the long talk, I was later allowed to leave. Just imagine number of citizens who face similar situation everyday.
Rafsanjani stressed that the challenge of insecurity has been with Nigeria for a long time, but added the successive adminstartions had responded with little intervention.
“I can assure you that CISLAC has come up with strategic ways in which these problems can be resolved gradually.”
He stated that over one year the operation of the group has kicked off; it has recorded many successful completed cases.
“CISLAC in conjunction with reliable security agencies developed ‘ALAC’, a physical platform and also ‘TIMBY’, an app that helps varieties of people reach out to us when caught up in horrible situations like harassment, sex or extortion by security agents or by fellow ordinary civilians”.
A member of the group, Salaudeen, alleged that many security agents has been ‘bought over’ by the elites, concentrating their efforts on the few instead of protecting the general public and property.
Salaudeen revealed: “over 150,000 policemen alone engage in guarding VIPs, whereas, many ordinary Nigerians are left without adequate protection”, a situation that had forced many to resort to self protection.
He noted: “the Nigerian Police Force is not set up to protect just the elites and those in power, but everyone who is a citizen of the country”.
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