The recent Plateau massacre has been one among too many. Condemnations have since trailed the unfortunate development. Vice President Kashim Shettima, like many others, took time to visit the affected areas, his message was resounding, including his earlier repeated calls for an overhaul of the nation’s security apparatus. The VP was emphatic and stressed that whatever it takes, ‘we have to defeat violence’ in Nigeria.
The Vice President gave the assurance that President Bola Tinubu’s administration would not rest on its oars until victims of the gruesome murders and attacks in the Bokkos and Barkin Ladi Local Government Area of Plateau state get justice. He said that in the attacks, which began on Sunday Christmas eve and lasted about 48 hours, where gunmen killed over 200 villagers and razed many houses, with over 10,000 peoples reportedly displaced were barbaric and act of genocide.
Shettima, with National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu, conveyed President Tinubu’s distress over the killings, pledging accountability for the perpetrators. Tinubu is profoundly affected by the tragedy, expressing sorrow that resonates nationally, transcending ethnicity, religion, geography, and politics. The shared grief reflects our humanity, emphasising commonalities over differences in this challenging time.
Nigeria’s past, present and even the future, makes the establishment and operation of a Federal, State and Local Government Policing or Law Enforcement un-debatably mandatory! Nigeria needs and should have Federal Police, State Police and Local Police! It just makes sense! The local people, the local authorities know the neighbourhoods, the local people and local circumstances better!
It is in the opinion of many analysts today, both within and outside the country, that human lives have become so cheap in the country that when people die, there is hardly the expected feeling of loss. Irrespective of the circumstances, it is always seen as a glaring act of man’s inhumanity against his fellow, and usually the number involved becomes the yardstick of government’s action.
Arguments have been put forward against the oddity of comparing the lives of humans to cows, and also the present government’s responses to issues of the lingering killings across the country, especially on the eccentric excuses of more lives being lost when a political party held sway in governance than today.
So, when calls are made with stern concerns, especially from highly placed political actors whose ordinary considerations should be listened to, it becomes of essence that such concerns are drummed louder for purposes of the needed actions. Nigeria has been seen as gradually heading towards the Rwandan experience.
Urgent action is needed to prevent the escalating killings in Nigeria from having international repercussions. It’s our collective responsibility to prevent further occurrences. Achieving peace requires collaboration from the government, faith-based organisations, the church, Islamic leaders, and community-based organisations. If necessary, seeking international assistance is a viable option to address this challenging problem and ensure a stable future for Nigeria.
Establishing Civil Complaint Review Boards in each Police Command is crucial to address misconduct, corruption, and abuses by the police. The Nigeria Police needs enlargement, reform, and decentralisation for enhanced efficiency. Despite the federal system in name, military rule distorted it into an over-centralized unitary system. Realising the initial three-tier structure is vital for meaningful reform and efficiency in Nigeria’s governance and law enforcement.
The Rivers state power struggle exposed federal police misuse by state leaders like Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his godfather Nysome Wike. Centralised control makes the police prone to manipulation. Essential reforms and checks are needed to prevent such misuse, ensuring police independence. Safeguards are crucial against influence by individuals, states, or the federal government. Comprehensive reform is necessary to address the vulnerabilities in Nigeria’s current police structure.
Nigeria needs community policing with officers familiar with local areas, possibly attending the same schools as residents. Proximity aids in identifying troublemakers and fosters relationships with law-abiding citizens. As the country grows, establishing local police becomes logical, ensuring officers intimately understand every corner. This approach prioritises familiarity for effective law enforcement, a crucial step for Nigeria’s evolving security needs and enhanced community engagement.
Sending a non-swimmer to be a marine police officer in Burutu, Bomadi, or Epe in Nigeria seems impractical. It makes more sense to deploy a police officer familiar with local waters. A citizen from Numa would better identify troublemakers there, and the same applies to Damaturu or Gombe. Local policing is not only logistically and law enforcement-wise, but also cost-effective. It saves Nigerian taxpayers’ money by avoiding the need to move federal police officers across states and the associated accommodation expenses.
Policing in Nigeria urgently need reforms, including but, not limited to the establishment of state and local police departments, the establishment of Civilian Complaints Review Boards or Commissions in every state and Local Government Areas to oversee and act as safeguard against police misconduct, police abuse or brutalities and Nigeria will save money doing all these and Nigeria police will regain their needed respect.
Amid ongoing killings, surpassing the 200 Plateau massacre, it is crucial for the government to heed security experts’ suggestions. Nigerians have lost confidence in government protection, making the establishment of state or community policing urgent. Security experts advocate for this measure, emphasising that self-help is not a viable alternative. The government must act promptly to address the escalating crisis, aligning with the collective call for enhanced security through proactive measures like localised policing.
Lives and properties in Nigeria will then be secure and insecurities will be a thing of the past! Effective Nigeria Police will result from decentralisation and the formation of state and local government policing; Nigeria needs more police not less.
