MY DEAR PRESIDENT, COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF OF THE ARMED FORCES OF NIGERIA AND ‘NIGERIANS’ (GCFR)
Your Excellency, regarding the level of insecurity in Nigeria, I am compelled as a concerned citizen and security analyst to write this piece for your consideration. Insecurity in Nigeria has assumed an alarming rate that it requires deeper reflections on how to confront the menace. The threats to security at this stage are obviously 'real' and not perceived or imagined needing a constructive and proactive approach.
MY DEAR PRESIDENT, COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF OF THE ARMED FORCES OF NIGERIA AND ‘NIGERIANS’ (GCFR)
Your Excellency, regarding the level of insecurity in Nigeria, I am compelled as a concerned citizen and security analyst to write this piece for your consideration. Insecurity in Nigeria has assumed an alarming rate that it requires deeper reflections on how to confront the menace. The threats to security at this stage are obviously 'real' and not perceived or imagined needing a constructive and proactive approach.
National security (collective security) as the construct connotes, has since gone beyond government or regime security. The threats to national security are widespread ranging from economic, social, political and humanitarian. It appears events in the past and more recently are geared towards discrediting your administration as enfeebled to promote confidence in security of lives and properties or contain insecurity in Nigeria.
It is therefore an appeal, in the process of deeper reflection, for your administration to consider a clear departure from the usual past government REACTIONS and focus more on PROACTION. This would invariably reduce the effect of the sustained militarized society under democratic governance.
The recent United Nations Security Council Special Report on West Africa also identified four major emerging security threats including, drug trafficking and organized crime; terrorism; challenges to democratic governance; and piracy. These threats to Nigeria's security in particular are not only emerging, they are assuming new dynamics of delivery. It is assumed that an aide must have analyzed this report for your consideration.
Empirical evidence abound of past and present government interventions regarding insecurity of either 'too little too late' or 'too much too late'. It appears, among other government cliques, that Nigerians are fatigued with the usual 'we are on top of the situation', 'no stoned will be left unturned', 'will be brought to book' and 'white paper will be released'. These are again reactionary statements. Sadly, the highly attractive but toxic concept- terrorism has crept into our lexicon and drawn more attention to Nigeria. It is imperative to recall however that before terrorists or militants emerge with various forms of violence, there were signals of security threats from expression of grievances to mobilization.
While we need to focus on proactively, recent insecurity events have raised serious concerns about the handicapped nature or effectiveness of information gathering and processing (intelligence), and sometimes inactions on recommendations to higher authorities in Nigeria.
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In the contemporary age of high technology and sophisticated surveillance devices, the traditional human gathering of information still remains relevant. Without the immediate call for help from other struggling countries, it is believed that our intelligence prowess could be enhanced. Thus, the open ended question which provokes deeper reflection includes;
- Does our security agencies collaborate on intelligence gathering and do we have credible intelligence operatives that have not being compromised?
- Besides surveillance devices, why has the operations, networks, and activities of Boko Haram militant group (the recent upsurge to the myriad of security challenges facing the government), not been penetrated (infiltrated) with counter intelligence operatives? Fortunately, basic intelligence indicates that Boko Haram's base is in Nigeria.
- If intelligence were effective and without delay followed with constructive engagement, would the continued use of Joint Task Forces or military interventions with often negative consequences be considered?
- If security is a continuous process, have we sustained the scenario, preemptive and simulation exercises to stay a step ahead in maintaining internal security?
- Has there been actionable intelligence or recommendations that has been delayed or ignored?
- In the face of genuine efforts to enhance security, why has the borders remained porous with influx of human and material supports for discontent groups?
- Why has local or international sponsors of militant groups remained elusive?
- Are the youths (veritable forces of change), drawing meaningful inspiration, checks and balances from the legendary roles of elders, traditional rulers and religious leaders as guardians and custodians of traditional values or have they remained instruments for political brinkmanship?
- Is it possible for would-be perpetrators of security breaches in Nigeria to think twice before operations as a result of enhanced security arrangements?
Your Excellency will recall that early in the civilian administration of Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, the government was confronted with different militant groups with legitimate or illegitimate demands and, or attention. The frustration of the government led to the proscription of militant groups.
\Regrettably, without a constructive nipping in the bud, these groups will be quite only to be triggered or create the trigger to launch again. Boko Haram activities are assuming a trigger effect which is likely force the solace in ethnic, vigilante and other forms of self-help cover to ensure security. It is important to remind, sir, that unguarded comments especially from government officials, actions, worse still inactions, are potential triggers of threats to national security.
Reports have been replete with the porous nature of the West African borders especially Nigeria. The ECOWAS efforts of free movement of goods and services within the sub-region have also been trailed with serious security lapses. Among other security lapses from the air, land and sea borders, an empirical scenario is provided. Having traversed some of the land borders from the Francophone to the Anglophone West Africa, operations at the borders have directly or indirectly exposed countries to danger. It is a security risk that most security officials at borders posts are securing their own interests at the expense of the countries interests.
As a practice, individuals with legal documents pay a certain amount to officials to cross borders and those without identification cards or legal papers can pass with a fixed higher amount. These border crossings are often with unchecked goods. The security officials, who are deployed with expectations or made efforts to be deployed, would also ensure that superiors and supervisors receive incentives in order to maintain the deployment.
The unwritten agreements obviously oil the wheels of corruption. The scenario won't be complete without these officials drawing inspiration from the observation of what transpires at the top echelon or national level especially when their take home pay has to be supplemented. Although, there would always be the fifth columnist in every sector of the society, efforts should continuously be reinforced to reduce or eliminate their impact.
The operations of Boko Haram have signaled a notorious militant group which uses intelligence with the capacity to unexpectedly expand its networks under the cover of religion. Apparently before planting a bomb, engaging in suicide bombing and attacking a vulnerable or key point, they are aware of when the security is relaxed, ineffective and impregnable. Considering the trend of operations, when financial and material support is running low or detected, they may result to kidnapping as a resource mobilization tool with banks also as potential targets. Attacks on police stations especially armories are likely to intensify.
Your Excellency, it has been observed that governments in Nigeria have often fallen into the trap of being defensive and not staying ahead of events. It is recommended that your government should turn the tide by being constructively offensive with proactive confidence building measures for Nigerians.
For instance, you will recall that after the killing of Osama Bin Laden by the Americans, President Obama issued a security alert for all Americans and American installations. Although the alert was ideal, it may be wrongly timed, considering the pattern of operations of Al-Qaeda that such network would likely strike with a surprise and not an indiscriminate direct or immediate response to the loss of their leader. While the leader of Boko Haram and some members were taken out in 2009, the remnants of the group have emerged with reinforced capabilities and forms.
However, it is tempting and extremely distasteful to conclude that if the status quo of reactions is maintained, the last may not be heard of recklessly violent militant groups threatening the security of Nigerians. This is an appeal for our dear President to look at the security challenges not from in-between the lines but under the lines.
Adeolu Adewumi is a consulting Security and Conflict Analyst
Authored- Unstable Military Order to Stable Civil Disorder, Nigeria's Post Military Experience
[email protected]
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