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Denials And Counter-Accusations By The Nation’s Security Services

October 5, 2011

It is alarming, the denials and counter-accusations by the Nation’s security services, entrusted to secure and protect lives, and to arrest and detain criminals, over the release or the missing suspected chieftain of the ‘dreaded’ Boko haram sect.  Between the Nigerian Police, the SSS and the Military how can they not account for the whereabouts of an arrested TERRORISM suspect in their custody?  Or, how can a suspected TERRORIST escape from their custody, just like that? 

It is alarming, the denials and counter-accusations by the Nation’s security services, entrusted to secure and protect lives, and to arrest and detain criminals, over the release or the missing suspected chieftain of the ‘dreaded’ Boko haram sect.  Between the Nigerian Police, the SSS and the Military how can they not account for the whereabouts of an arrested TERRORISM suspect in their custody?  Or, how can a suspected TERRORIST escape from their custody, just like that? 

Surely, somebody must have facilitated his escape or release from custody, unless, of course, the sect now has magical powers to vanish or do a ‘disappearing act’, amongst the other sadistic vices they are known for.  And to make matters worse, the suspect did not only escape, but he went public on television and disgraced or embarrassed the IGP, Mr Hafiz Ringim, by telling on him that he warned the IGP and gave him vital information about the activities of the sect and their plans.  Given the information that this suspect claims the IGP, Mr Ringim, was privy to, how could he escape and be on the run?  And is he really on the run?  By going public and giving a television interview, it does not seem to me, that he is a man on the run.   He seems more like a man about town, and with no qualms about appearing in public and granting press and television interviews.  This is, perhaps, just a ruse to blind-fold the populace.   I believe those responsible for his escape must know where he is!  And I also believe that they know where to get him rearrested, if they so desire!

The suspect may well have been lying about the information, he allegedly gave the IGP, but my worry is why the security agencies, combined, allowed him to escape from their custody and without trace?  This is gross ineptitude, and I dare say that heads should, and must roll for this lapse.  And not only that, those responsible should also be tried as suspects, for colluding with a known TERRORIST and for conspiracy and aiding and abetting TERRORISM.  These are grave crimes, which cannot be swept under the carpet.  I hope the authorities and those responsible are listening?

The accusations and counter-accusations or denials by the nation’s security services make a mockery of Law enforcement in Nigeria.  A TERRORIST vanishes from custody without trace, just like that!  Is it not time for the nation to re-jig the security services and put square pegs into square holes, or round pegs in round holes?  Is it not time for the security forces to purge or rid themselves of extremists or extremism elements within their folds or among themselves?   The fight against TERRORISM is not an easy one, as the Western countries, like the US, Britain and the rest, will tell you.  And in Nigeria, I am not even sure that we have any anti-terrorism or counter-terrorism experts in the clime.  We therefore, need the support and assistance of the global community, particularly the west, to tackle and curb this problem.  But, we cannot even start, if we are unable to do the most basic of Law enforcement, of keeping hold or in safe custody, a suspected TERRORIST.  How sad!

Surely, those responsible for watching over the suspected escaped TERRORIST may possibly be sympathetic to the cause of the Boko Haram sect, or they may have been compromised or ‘settled’.   If the former is the case, then we are in real trouble and in dangerous times.  What the country does not need right now or at this present time is a compromised security service or one that has been divided along religious extremism, sectional or regional or any other extremist lines.  

This has been my fear and the reason why I am opposed to the clamour and call for State Police, because I don’t believe that Nigerians are matured enough or integrated or united enough, as a people, to handle this.  Things will usually be seen from either religious or ethnic lines or from the narrow and sectional prism always.  State Police works well in the US, and surprisingly, in the UK.  But then, these societies are different.  They are not sectionalised or divided as Nigeria is.  A country where Annie (with a foreign origin) can become the Governor of California, or where Tony Blair and Gordon Brown, both Scots, can become the Prime Ministers of Britain, and in succession too.  Or, can a CHIKE OBI ever aspire to become the Governor of Jigawa State or Ogun State?  In the two countries, I cited as examples, though they may have State or County Police, but the security services have one common goal, which is to secure the entire country and protect the lives of the citizens, and not only just their States or Counties.  They are also not prone to be used as instruments for the State Governors to use willy-nilly and against Political opponents.  

If, as it is being murmured that the security agencies are being used by the President of Nigeria against his Political opponents, then multiply this by 36 States, by the time each State has its own Police service or force.   While, it may be a good idea to have State police, I do not agree that Nigeria is ripe for that yet.  The issue of the existing States, their viability and the clamour for the creation of more States is another issue, reserved for another day.   What have we done with the existing States that we have, that people are still clamouring for more or new ones?  How viable are some of the existing States, when nearly all of them still draw from the same pool, rather than create their own wealth?  I recommend and suggest that viability should henceforth be one of the criteria for creation of new States, that is, if we really need them and have to create them.  Any State that cannot demonstrate how it will sustain itself, or that it can generate or create wealth should not qualify to be a State.  The clamour for States creation is borne out of selfishness and it is the handiwork of politicians, who are not concerned about the effect or the pressures this would have on the nation’s finances, talking about the resources and infrastructures required.

I urge the President not to allow this cock-up by the security services to simply wish away, just like that, like the rest of them that have happened in the past.   Heads must roll!  The culprits must be fished out.  Those in charge or responsible for keeping the suspect in their custody must be fingered and ordered to produce the Suspect within a given deadline.  Failing this, heads should roll!  Unfortunately, it is a catch-22 situation for them too, as whether they produce the Suspect or not, they are still not fit to remain officers of the Nigerian security services.  They are also conspirators, and must be so charged for aiding and abetting TERRORISM.  I can just imagine what would happen to such officers, if this happened in the UK, or worse still, in the USA.  I bet Guantanamo Bay would not contain them.

Jokes apart, this is a very serious issue and a serious failing.  The nation’s security services must all live up to their responsibilities and duty to secure and protect the lives of Nigerians, resonating the President’s avowed and renewed promise to curb insecurity.  No excuses, accusations or counter-accusations, please!


Osi Okponobi
([email protected])
 

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