Comprehensive Assessment of the Insecurity & Terrorism Challenges in Nigeria and Recommendations


By
Don Okereke
(Security Analyst & Consultant)
Abuja, Nigeria.
Email: donnuait@yahoo.com
Phone: +2347080008285




SECTION 1: EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:
The wanton insecurity, criminality, kidnapping, instability and terrorism currently ravaging Nigeria are symptomatic of a dysfunctional society and a failing State. Abysmal Poverty, hopelessness, joblessness, frustration, unprecedented levels of corruption, arrogance of power, complacent and retroactive Security Agencies, lackadaisical and corrupt judiciary, porous borders, covert foreign interests etc have a butterfly-effect on the unparalleled levels of crimes, insecurity, instability and terrorism currently bedeviling Nigeria. There is also a Crude Oil, radical religion-cultural angle to the mix.

Rather than a fire-brigade approach, Nigeria without delay needs a ‘’Coherent and Comprehensive Terrorism, Counter-terrorism Policy/Strategy cum a National Defence/Military Policy & Strategy’’. We can’t fight Insecurity and Terrorism by blowing hot and cold; it’s high time we took a definite stand. Nigeria is in dire need of a sweeping National Security Reform that embraces and emphasizes on human capital development and state-of-the-art infrastructure.

In addition to the foregoing, this writer also believes that an ‘’Extensive Vulnerability or Resilience Test/Audit of Strategic Public Infrastructures in Nigeria’’ is crucial. Juxtaposing ourselves in the position of the bad guys, our Security Agencies and government think-tanks must brainstorm on worst-case scenarios and have answers to them. Every thoughtful and security-minded country or individual, hopes for the best but prepares for the worst.

It is also imperative to put in place well-articulated programmes that will dissuade citizens from been radicalized and to resort to criminality or terrorism in the first place. Hence acute poverty, hopelessness, unemployment, religious fundamentalism etc must be aggressively tackled and curtailed through feasible programs. Research shows that death penalty via a terrorism law will not necessarily deter individuals or groups hell-bent on committing a crime or atrocities.

Another embarrassing and dangerous trend that must be urgently curbed is the propensity of some Nigerian governors to whimsically and promiscuously grant amnesty or release convicted criminals/terrorists to commemorate Ramadan, Independence Day celebrations etc. This prerogative of clemency MUST not be abused!

In my earlier Piece, ‘’The Remote, Immediate Causes of Crimes, Insecurity/Terrorism and Instability in Nigeria and Solutions’’ https://www.nairaland.com/1027585/remote-immediate-causes-crimes-insecurity, I proffered solutions which are largely Political, Social and Economic Reforms; here, my recommendations are skewed towards deployment of Critical Infrastructures and gadgets.
SECTION 2: INTRODUCTION
Security is a serious business world-over and is the primary responsibility of any responsible government.

There is no gainsaying the fact that terrorism is a growing threat to global, regional and national peace. It is a headache even for the advanced countries because of its unconventional nature. Akin to guerilla warfare, the masterminds are unpredictable, fluid and faceless. The political, social and military rules of engagement have been altered. An enemy who has nothing to lose is indeed a dangerous enemy. Our bane in Nigeria is that by acts of commission or omission, we shy away from the truth; we are rather reactive than proactive.

The Igbo’s have a saying that ‘’aru gbaa afo, oburu omenala’’. In English this roughly translates to ‘’when a crime/atrocity lasts for too long, it becomes a culture’’. Nigeria has become synonymous with terrorism and insecurity. Life has become very cheap here; there is no outrage anymore when innocent people are brutally hacked to death. Our government plays the ostrich and carries on as if there is no cause of alarm. The citizenry, especially those not directly affected go about their business without blinking an eyelid.

Sometime in early 2012, President Jonathan promised that Boko Haram will be history by June 2012. Year 2012 has come to an end and vestiges of Boko Haram miasma is still very much around. They have become more audacious.

Prior to penning this piece, this writer tried through formal and informal channels to ascertain whether or not Nigeria has a terrorism/counterterrorism Policy/Strategy or a National Defence Policy/Strategy but no tangible answer came forth except contradictory coterie of gobbledygook statements from different government functionaries and sources. Typical of most things in Nigeria, many times government Policies and information are generally shrouded in secrecy and spiced with half-truths, confusion, myths and sentiments.

I am struggling to reconcile myself with something; please can somebody in the know confirm that, ‘’the last review of Nigeria’s national Security Policy was done during General Babangida’s regime which gave birth to the National Security Agencies Act in 1986’’. This was 26 years ago! If this is true, then one is not surprised Nigeria is ill-prepared to contain insecurity and terrorism. We cannot continue doing the same thing, the same way over and over again and expect a different result. Honestly, we need to raise the bar and be on the same page with the rest of the world.

In an interview with journalists sometime in July 2011, the late former National Security Adviser, Lt. Gen Andrew Owoeye Azazi promised that a National Security Sector Reform was in the offing. Being the only person outside the core North that occupied the position of the National Security Adviser, he did not find it easy with many Northern folks. Now that he is no more, characteristic of our culture of lack of continuity and Policy summersault in Nigeria, one hopes his idea of a far-reaching National Security Sector Reform, have not been swept under the carpet.

National Security transcends an individual; National Security goes beyond randomly rejigging the leadership of the army, navy, air force or Police to soothe the agitations of some interest groups. Yes, nobody is important; anybody can be kicked out of an office but those coming subsequently need an established template and guideline to work with.

Contrary to widespread believe, Boko Haram may not after all be responsible for all the acts of terrorism accredited to them. People settle scores somewhere and the Sect basks on it. The Boko Haram quagmire is synonymous with the symptom of an ailment, until we deal with the causative agent of the disease (and not the symptom) as we are doing right now, we may just be chasing shadows.
Hence it is out of profound love, Patriotism and a call to National Service that I undertook to invest my time and resources in articulating these views. This is not aimed at traducing anybody, organization or section of the country. In a country where dissenting opinion or criticism is seen as ‘’Opposition’’, let me quickly point out that this treatise is apolitical and is devoid of tribal leaning or sentiments. This Piece is my little contribution to Nigeria’s progress on the occasion of the 2013 Armed Forces Remembrance Day. I yearn to see Nigeria running rather than crawling!


Please here is the link for the full text of this article: [url]http://www.scribd.com/doc/120448954/Comprehensive-Assessment-of-the-Insecurity-Terrorism-Challenges-in-Nigeria-and-Recommendations[/url . It is a 30 page document. Cheers


Don Okereke
(Security Analyst & Consultant)
Abuja, Nigeria
Email: donnuait@yahoo.com
Phone: +2347080008285