There is no gainsaying the fact that the Nigeria’s security personnel
are doing their best to ensure safety of lives and properties from
acts of terrorism in the country. As citizens, we still want them to
do more even though domestic policing against sophisticated criminals
can be daunting and risky. Collaborative efforts with relevant
security agencies and other stakeholders, including volunteers and
community leaders, could make some positive differences.
The General Officer Commanding, 2 Mechanised Division of the Nigerian
Army, Major General Ahmed Tijani Jibrin, recently disclosed how Boko
Haram members were arrested by his men in Ondo, Edo and Kwara States
through the support of the public, which provided useful information
on suspicious movements and behaviours of strangers in their
communities. The military officer disclosed how the military had been
on alert, closely monitoring entries into various cities in the South
of Nigeria. This, he added, was necessitated after the declaration of
state of emergency in some Northern states, with awareness that some
suspects may find their way to the South, particularly the South West.
While admitting that the task of detecting and apprehending suspected
militants and other criminals is not easy, Jibrin sought for more
understanding and support of the media and the public in curtailing
the activities of the underworld.
Also, the recent Boko Haram attacks in Sabon Gari area of Kano, Kano
State came after persistent warnings by security agencies for the
public to be more security conscious when they sight strange objects
and movements in their communities. The public refused to heed the
warning until the terrorists attacked.
In a statement issued by spokesperson of Joint Task Force in Kano
State, it said that the disaster “could have been avoided if citizens
maintain vigilance when packages are dropped in their area as it was
in this case. The JTF had urged residents of Kano metropolis to keep
an eye on their environment as members of the terrorist sect had
planned to drop packages in bags or cartons in areas with high human
traffic.” The JTF therefore reminded residents that the security
agencies will continue to count on their support and cooperation to
achieve an atmosphere of peace conducive for business.
While the JTF and other security agencies should not rest on their
oars to rid the states of all terrorist elements, the general public
are enjoined to report promptly all unattended packages or suspicious
persons to the closest security agency for immediate action. It is
worthy of note the impressive activities of some of those
joint-security team, including the Quick Response groups that operate
in fast-moving vehicles. The security personnel are well composed in
terms of men and equipment and able to rapidly assemble, come down,
form quick checkpoints, conduct their checks and quickly assemble
again and move forward. Deliberate measures should be put in place to
ensure that, at least, the security agencies detect movements of
terrorists and other criminals and apprehend them.
Relationship with people in the local communities should also be
intensified, as most arrests have been made when the resident alert
the appropriate authorities on movement of suspicious people in their
environment. Nigerians need to be extra careful when hiring security
personnel. Such measures would circumvent the mistake of recruiting
terrorists and people with criminal tendencies. Investigation had
revealed that some of the security personnel patronised by several
individuals, communities and organisations were in most cases
unqualified people with questionable characters.
While the military should ensure that they hand over suspected
individuals to relevant agencies after investigation, regular patrol
and surveillance should be mounted by plain-clothed military, police
and SSS officers. The supports of critical stakeholders too are very
essential. Such peoples as landlords, tenants, road transport workers, okada riders, traders and others who come across travellers and strangers most of the times should be security conscious enough to raise the alarm when there is the need to so do.
As disclosed by Major General Ahmed Tijani Jibrin, the security
agencies need the media to draw the attention of the public to the
fact that no matter how good the intelligence outfits are, no matter
how well widespread they are, they are not as widespread as the people on ground.
The public will help by giving information about the arrival of people from other parts of the country.
The media, through their Corporate Social Responsibility act, should
also publish emergency numbers and email where the public and those in distress can send an alert on suspicious movements.
Ola Lookman is of the Youths Against Disaster Initiative, Abuja, Nigeria.
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