On Wednesday, March 6, 2024, the Senate moved to meet with President Bola Tinubu over rising security challenges in Nigeria following a motion of urgent public importance raised by the senator representing Benue North Senatorial District, Emmanuel Udende, on the killing of over 50 people in fresh attacks in not less than five Benue State communities by terrorists disguised as herdsmen and the increasing insecurity in Kwande, Ukum, Logo, and Katsina-Ala local government areas of the state.
To date, we are not told the outcome of the meeting, whether it was held or not, but we were told that the lawmakers will present a summary of the reports and resolutions of the National Assembly on insecurity since the eighth and ninth assemblies as recommendations for the president.
The Senate then also urged the Chief of Defence Staff, Chief of Army Staff, Chief of Air Staff, the Inspector General of Police, and heads of other security agencies to, among other things and as a matter of urgency, deploy security personnel to address the continuing attacks by armed terrorists parading as herdsmen in those communities.
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While it is appreciated that the Senate is showing interest, raising questions, and seeking solutions to the nation’s security challenges, these responses seem knee-jerk and impulsive, rather than coordinated, organised, and purpose-driven.
Every time there is a security challenge, there is a cry and call for meetings and explanations, and then things go back to normal, with little or no solutions put in place until the next incident, and then the same ineffectual cycle replays itself, and so on and so forth.
Nigeria is coming under increasing security challenges, even with the recent announcement that there is a new terrorist group in the country, with the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja not left out.
Today, Nigeria is plagued by an unprecedented surge in cybercrime, armed robbery, kidnapping, domestic crime, armed banditry, farmer/herder conflicts, communal clashes, ritual killings, and attacks by unknown gunmen, Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa insurgency, ethno-religious killings, militants attacks on security personnel, government infrastructure and installations, drugs and child trafficking, as well as crude oil theft, among others.
Several factors have been identified as being responsible for crime and terrorism in Nigeria. They range from poverty and unemployment to illiteracy and contention for arable and hospitable land by groups and communities as climate change shrinks up the green space.
This challenges the government to address the volume and quality of education delivery, especially artisanal skills, in the medium to long term for meaningful impact.
Crime prevention strategies play a crucial role in maintaining law and order, preventing criminal activities, and promoting a peaceful society. These are essential for reducing crime rates, protecting individuals and communities, and fostering social stability and development.
In Nigeria today, community policing is believed to be an approach much advocated by security experts. It is a proactive strategy that involves collaboration between the police and the community in preventing and combating crime. It aims to build trust and establish a partnership between the police and the people they serve.
Then comes intelligence-policing that involves gathering and analysing data to generate actionable intelligence, which guides law enforcement activities. Intelligence policing focuses on identifying crime patterns, trends, and potential risks to prevent criminal activities.
“While it is appreciated that the Senate is showing interest, raising questions, and seeking solutions to the nation’s security challenges, these responses seem knee-jerk and impulsive, rather than coordinated, organised, and purpose-driven.”
Utilising technology and data analysis in policing is also important. The Nigerian Police Force and other security agencies would become more effective with the proper adoption and proper deployment of technologies such as closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras (although this depends on constant power supply), crime mapping, and data analysis software to enhance intelligence-led policing.
These tools enable law enforcement agencies to preempt and quickly respond to emerging threats and allocate resources effectively. Furthermore, increasing police patrols and setting up checkpoints in high-crime areas create a sense of security, discouraging criminals from engaging in illegal activities.
It is also critical that the Nigerian Police collaborate with other government agencies, such as the Nigerian Immigration Service and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, to enhance intelligence sharing and coordinate efforts in combating crime.
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The effectiveness of technology applications in crime prevention and detection takes us back to the bungled $470 million Abuja Closed-Circuit Television project.
The close-circuit cameras were part of the National Public Security Communications System (NPSCS) contract awarded in 2010 to a Chinese company, ZTE Corporation, at $470 million. The Chinese Exim Bank provided a $399.5 million loan, while the Federal Government paid the balance of 15 percent, amounting to $70.5 million in counterpart funding. One thousand units of the CCTV cameras were supposed to be installed in Lagos and Abuja. The purpose of the CCTV contract was to facilitate real-time online communication between security agencies to enhance their capacities in fighting crime. But it has apparently come to little or no effect.
The federal government is advised to find a way to make this project work, as it has been proven to be a most effective tool in crime prevention and detection, it has been paid for, and it has worked and continues to work in other countries where it has been deployed.
We know it is never too late to start, as the engine house of this project would be coordinated planning, delegation of assignments, information sharing, impact assessment, strategy reviews, and periodic progress reports and town hall meetings on security management and control by relevant security agencies and interfaces with other key stakeholders.
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