Experts Score Buhari Low on Security in 2017
Some security experts in the country have scored the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari low in the area of security provision in the year 2017. They said it was high time the government carried out some reforms and changed its approach, saying it was evident that the current model had failed.
A conflict resolution expert, Prof. Isaac Albert, and a United Kingdom-trained criminologist, Mr. Pedro Ayandokun, said there was an urgent need to do more.
Albert, who is a professor of African History, Peace and Conflict Studies at the University of Ibadan, said even though the capacity of the Boko Haram insurgents in the North-East had been considerably degraded, kidnapping, ritual killings, armed robbery and other security issues, had remained very high.
He also absolved the security agencies of blame, saying if politicians and policy makers had done their job well, the cause of the insecurity would have been addressed.
He said, “The intensity of the problem is actually not pointing in the direction of security agencies, rather it suggests to us that our political leaders are not doing well. Instead of dealing with the cause of these challenges, what you see in Nigeria is that our political leaders are creating more roots. When you steal resources that are meant to make life better for people, you are creating more criminals, whilst creating more problems for the police and army to deal with.”
“Our understanding of conflict management in Nigeria is faulty and not scientific. In 2017, government has not done well. Even in the North-East, if you do a sincere analysis, a more logical military would have achieved more. When you have degraded a terrorist movement, what is expected is that police and civil defence operatives be brought in, but the military wants to do post-conflict building. That is why there is flop. This military does not have the capacity to do ‘take and hold’.
He lamented that with the way government deploys soldiers in most of the states, especially to do the job of the police, the military would lose respect, stating that on the international scene, Nigeria had become a bad example that other countries warn their agencies not to emulate.
“Our security management is not being driven by sincerity; it’s coloured by personal interest. In this new year, one would suggest that the Nigerian state should be sincere with itself and do a scientific analysis of its problems and come up with scientific solutions,” he added.
On his part, Ayandokun also ranked the Buhari government low on security in 2017, saying the government failed to address the herdsmen crisis, kidnapping and terrorism head-on.
He said, “The Buhari government has not been tackling insecurity head-on. In the whole of Nigeria, the only state fighting insecurity very well is Lagos, and it is so because the state listens to experts’ advice. Look at the herdsmen crisis, for instance. Nobody can predict where they’ll attack next.
“In terms of insurgency, the Buhari government has failed because Boko Haram has been largely successful in recruiting young girls to carry out attacks. If the government had paid good attention to the well-being of internally displaced persons, it might have been able to stop the recruitment of young girls and children by the terrorists.
“Another aspect of government failure in 2017 is the infiltration of the country by Libya returnees. Much as it is good to repatriate our citizens from the war-torn country, we should be careful of who we are bringing in. Are all of them really Nigerians and are we sure we are not bringing in other nationals who are ISIS sympathisers?
Ayandokun said if the government would perform well in terms of security, it had to solve economic problems first, adding that security agencies like the Special Anti-Robbery Squad of the Nigeria Police should also be revamped to function properly.
Meanwhile, a former Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Abubakar Tsav, said the security situation of the country improved from that of 2016.
“The security situation in the country in 2017 is generally better than last year’s, following the disorganisation of Boko Haram by the military and intensified and successful onslaught against kidnappers by the police. The activities of militants were successfully curtailed by the military and the police,” he said.
Subscribe for the new edition now
Do you need to be heard? Or your articles published? Send your views, messages, articles or press release to: newswiremagazine@yahoo.co.uk >>> We can cover your (LAW) events at the first Call: 08039218044, 08024004726
-Advertisement-
Grab our latest Magazine, "Ayodele Akintunde, SAN: Legal Titan Celebrates and Reflects on His Life Journey.". Get your order fast and stress free.
For more details about Newswire Law&Events Magazine, kindly reach out to us on 08039218044, 09070309355. Email: newswiremagazine@yahoo.co.uk. You will be glad you did
