SECURITY ISSUES IN NIGERIA: quis custodiet ipsos custodes?

In one of his Satires, 1^st Century Roman Poet, Decimus Iunius Iuvenalis also referred to as Juvenal asked in a rhetorical manner... ‘quis custodiet ipsos custodes?’  translating in English to mean ‘who guards the guards?’ Amid the security challanges facing the nation, a question that readily comes to mind is ‘who guards the guards?’  In our contemporary world where crime has reached extreme sophistication, it requires extreme sophisticated policing to tackle.

Like every nation, Nigeria is bedeviled with numerous criminal activities ranging from armed robbery, fraud, insurgency, ritual killings among numerous others. Although it is the desire of every peace loving citizen to have a sane society, crime like cancer is ever present and can be either benignant or malignant; thus, making it is the onus task of a country’s security apparatus to curb or quell crime. Nigeria, like any other country in the world has a security apparatus postioned against internal and external intrusion.

Ever since independence, Nigeria has been plagued by ethnic conflicts, civil war, religious riots, electoral violence, armed robbery and of recent, Boko Haram insurgency. In recent times, the intensity of these conflicts has caused the government to deploy special military apparatus commonly known with different acronyms such as JTF (Joint Task Force) in the Niger Delta, ORO (Operation Restore Order) in the North East, STF (Special Task Force) around Jos and trouble spots around the country.

In Nigeria, violent crimes most times follow a common trend; firstly an aggrieved hatred against a targeted group of people and then targeted or sporadic killings with the security apparatus watching helplessly. Action from the government most times only comes after several lives have been lost. Of recent, the following security issues have once more raised the question ‘who guards the guards?’, viz;

*        The bombing incident at the Eagles Square amid the Jubilee anniversary celebration of Nigeria’s Independence. Independence celebrations have been confined to the Presidential villa since then

*        The attack on the Police Anti-Robbery Squad Headquarters in November 2012

*        The suicide bombing attack at the Nigeria Police Force Headquarters at Abuja in June 2011

*        The Suicide bombing attack at the Nigeria Police Force Zone 1 headquarters at Kano in January 2012

Among several incidents these stand out and call for the question ‘quis custodiet ipsos custodes?’  …. Who guards the guards?

The Sucide attack on the Nigeria Police Force Headquarters on 16th June 2011; an apparent attempt on the life of the Inspector General of police....quis custodiet ipsos custodes?

Around the country, the sight of armed soldiers manning roadblocks alongside policemen is a common scene. Whilst this give an additional security assurance to the common man, it must be noted that Soldiers are not meant to man road roadblocks; the sight of gun totting soldiers reminds one of no other thing but war! The police and other allied internal security apparatus are responsible for internal security whilst the Armed Forces (Army, Navy and Airforce) are responsible for the nation’s external security. While within the Nation’s borders, the place of the Armed Forces is at their respective barracks else a national emergency.

The current internal security situation in Nigeria calls for concern and proactive measures to tackle. All this while, the Nigerian government has been apparently reactive in tackling security issues. In tackling Nigeria’s internal security issues, the Police force must be repositioned instead of constantly involving the Armed Forces.

SUGGESTIONS

Tackling the Security issues from the proactive angle calls for a massive use of intelligence not incessant roadblocks! A coordinated cooperation among Nigeria’s Intelligence apparatus; the CID (Criminal Investigation Department), the SSS (State Security Service) and that of the Armed Forces (the DMI-Director of Military Intelligence) is required. This brings to question the issue of a National database which has not been tangibly pursued by the government for some time. This will help keep track of every citizen of the Nigerian State.

Another Proactive measure which the government must consider is arms control. It is common knowledge that the country is illegally awash with sophisticated weaponry or how else will one explain the arms with the Boko Haram militants (who initially started their insurgency with machetes), the Niger Delta militants and several armed terror unleashing gangs around the country? Implementing a stiff border control and small arms licensing is the key to curtailing the trend. One must not also forget that some of these armed gangs are armed by politicians during elections. In this case, nobody must be above the law.

Whilst the issue of State police is debateable among Nigerian circles, Community Policing should not be ignored. Instead of ragtag vigilante groups patrolling the neighbourhoods, a case of community policing will help bridge the security gap within neighbourhoods. This also involves the use of local intelligence and CCTV monitoring instead of roadblocks. As such, Community Policing can come under a command of an effective local government structure and help provide security cover in the deep hinterland and curb the excesses of Herdsmen.

In all, the reactive measures put in place by the government in quelling the Boko Haram insurgency is quite plausible. However, one cannot but wink at the re-insurgency of the Boko Haram gangs highlighted in targeted killings of local vigilante groups even after the Armed forces have claimed to have swept out the insurgency. A candid implementation of community policing measures will help abate the trend.

In conclusion, the question ‘quis custodiet ipsos custodes?’ …who guards the guards must be answered by the Nigerian Security apparatus. It is embarrassing when the Nigerian internal security situation degenerates to that of failed states and above all, it is most embarrassing when Military barracks, police stations, prisons, police headquarters are attacked with impunity. It does leave one pondering the question ‘quis custodiet ipsos custodes?’ …who guards the guards? There surely must be an answer to this!