The law of unintended consequences, that is the only thing that comes to my mind when I think about Àmòtékùn, the security outfit set up by governors in Nigeria's southwest. It is difficult not to see how it's formation doesn't have basis in the way Nigeria's security apparatus appears skewed in favour of the North, leaving other parts of Nigeria wandering whether they still matter in the "security" scheme of things; more so, when those parts of Nigeria are experiencing security challenges, with accusing fingers pointed at marauders suspected to be from the section of the country from where the hierarchy of the security agencies hail from, leaving them suspect as to whether there exists a reluctance to bring perpetrators to justice. This is coupled with the fact that in many, if not all of the cases, justice isn't seen to be done, in the midst of the impunity with which the acts of killings and brigandage are carried out.
The speed with which the attorney general rushed to condemn the outfit, calling it illegal, when there are groups setup with similar objectives in the North (especially in areas ravaged by insurgency, and banditry, besides Kano's hisbah, which is "religious police", so enabled that recently a member of the police landed in their net during a raid at a hotel), further confirmed the fears of many that the federal government, not only appearing to be treating the security of lives and properties of Nigerians with levity, show no intent to allow Nigerians defend themselves. Indeed, it won't be the first time, as before now Nigerians had been urged to submit arms and ammunitions in their possession, whether legally or illegally obtained, without extending same to herdsmen who brandish theirs in broad daylight for all to see, under the guise that they come in handy when they are attacked by humans (raiders) or wild animals, when they traverse the forests especially at night.
All it took for the attorney general, Abubakar Malami to sing a new tune, was the statement by APC's national leader, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu which tried to soothe nerves at both ends of the divide. A meeting of the governors, with the attorney general, and the vice president followed later, and from the look of things a place of accommodation was found, and just like that Àmòtékùn wasn't illegal anymore, or a loophole was found via which their operations could be legalised. Now, every region in Nigeria seem to be keen to setting up a security outfit of the likes Àmòtékùn,
like "Shege Ka Fasa"
setup by a coalition of northern groups. Interestingly, while Àmòtékùn's sigil is the leopard, the lion is that of Shege Ka Fasa, leaving me to wonder what animal the southeast (whose dying regional party, APGA's symbol, is the cock) will use as symbol, when their regional security outfit comes online.
Interestingly, military operations in recent times have also had animals depicted expressing emotions, such as "crocodile smile, python dance", etc especially at a period snakes and monkeys have been accused of stealing and embezzlement, by Nigerians who at one time or the other had public funds placed under their care, yet many Nigerians took exception when Nigeria was referred to as a zoo by one seeking a referendum to determine whether a part of Nigeria, should remain in Lord Lugard's contraption or out of it. The fact that soldiers were deployed to police any or every part of Nigeria shows an aberration in the first place, worse still to have the populace lose confidence in them too, like the police before them, enough to have to be accused of colluding with bandits (evidenced not long after with the now cold "Wadume" case, interestingly in the same Taraba State, as that of General T.Y. Danjuma who made the allegations) and marauders by an ex-military general, who thereafter asked his people to defend themselves, shows how badly things have gone security-wise with Nigeria. Even the American government based its visa restrictions to Nigeria on security, in what can be described as the lowest Nigeria has ever been since it gained independence.
It therefore didn't come as a surprise to me when Àmòtékùn moved from conjecture to the real deal, because the clamour for regional police has been on for sometime, achieving a deafening crescendo under Buhari's administration, which is perceived as thinking that members of security agencies from other parts of Nigeria, including civilian and political officers charged with key security responsibilities, weren't competent enough to address security matters and challenges, when over time not much improvement has been recorded with the present crop of officers in command and politicians/civilians in charge. Interestingly, the military chiefs overdue for retirement, yet still retained have been a source of concern for close watchers of security events in Nigeria, who surmise that this may affect the morale of officers who have found themselves stagnated in service, or even forced to retire, as there's been a ceiling to their enhancement because the top has yet to give way. As for the men, prosecuting the war on terror, it is no surprise that morale is low, as there seem to be no change in tactics, and if recent amateur videos from the war front are anything to go by, they are also battling with lack of equipments, and most importantly, simple basic amenities needed to maintain life, and sustain the onslaught against insurgents in the northeast.
What couldn't be achieved by democratic means, via a referendum for instance, or by an act of legislation, in terms of decentralising the police force, as you'd expect from a federation (Nigeria's federation is a lie) appears to now being fondled with, with the formation of Àmòtékùn and the likes that may evolve from the other parts of Nigeria. Sadly, lives have been lost, properties destroyed in the face of a helpless and "disinterested" security architecture. These regional security outfits, should they become a thing, and thrive, may become the precursor for state policing, that many who seek the restructuring of Nigeria have been asking for. The present knee jerk rhetoric by the federal government to midwife "Community Policing", that will include just about every other regular person, on a voluntary basis, I consider dead on arrival, because it still doesn't take security issues serious, as it mirrors what was behind the formation of the civil defence corp, whose duty today in the scheme of things cannot be distinctly explained, one of them recently shot dead the politician he was attached as aide to, while shooting "into the air", in celebratory mood at a victory party organised by the latters' colleague.
'kovich
PICTURE CREDIT:
- www.dailypost.ng
The speed with which the attorney general rushed to condemn the outfit, calling it illegal, when there are groups setup with similar objectives in the North (especially in areas ravaged by insurgency, and banditry, besides Kano's hisbah, which is "religious police", so enabled that recently a member of the police landed in their net during a raid at a hotel), further confirmed the fears of many that the federal government, not only appearing to be treating the security of lives and properties of Nigerians with levity, show no intent to allow Nigerians defend themselves. Indeed, it won't be the first time, as before now Nigerians had been urged to submit arms and ammunitions in their possession, whether legally or illegally obtained, without extending same to herdsmen who brandish theirs in broad daylight for all to see, under the guise that they come in handy when they are attacked by humans (raiders) or wild animals, when they traverse the forests especially at night.
All it took for the attorney general, Abubakar Malami to sing a new tune, was the statement by APC's national leader, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu which tried to soothe nerves at both ends of the divide. A meeting of the governors, with the attorney general, and the vice president followed later, and from the look of things a place of accommodation was found, and just like that Àmòtékùn wasn't illegal anymore, or a loophole was found via which their operations could be legalised. Now, every region in Nigeria seem to be keen to setting up a security outfit of the likes Àmòtékùn,
Interestingly, military operations in recent times have also had animals depicted expressing emotions, such as "crocodile smile, python dance", etc especially at a period snakes and monkeys have been accused of stealing and embezzlement, by Nigerians who at one time or the other had public funds placed under their care, yet many Nigerians took exception when Nigeria was referred to as a zoo by one seeking a referendum to determine whether a part of Nigeria, should remain in Lord Lugard's contraption or out of it. The fact that soldiers were deployed to police any or every part of Nigeria shows an aberration in the first place, worse still to have the populace lose confidence in them too, like the police before them, enough to have to be accused of colluding with bandits (evidenced not long after with the now cold "Wadume" case, interestingly in the same Taraba State, as that of General T.Y. Danjuma who made the allegations) and marauders by an ex-military general, who thereafter asked his people to defend themselves, shows how badly things have gone security-wise with Nigeria. Even the American government based its visa restrictions to Nigeria on security, in what can be described as the lowest Nigeria has ever been since it gained independence.
It therefore didn't come as a surprise to me when Àmòtékùn moved from conjecture to the real deal, because the clamour for regional police has been on for sometime, achieving a deafening crescendo under Buhari's administration, which is perceived as thinking that members of security agencies from other parts of Nigeria, including civilian and political officers charged with key security responsibilities, weren't competent enough to address security matters and challenges, when over time not much improvement has been recorded with the present crop of officers in command and politicians/civilians in charge. Interestingly, the military chiefs overdue for retirement, yet still retained have been a source of concern for close watchers of security events in Nigeria, who surmise that this may affect the morale of officers who have found themselves stagnated in service, or even forced to retire, as there's been a ceiling to their enhancement because the top has yet to give way. As for the men, prosecuting the war on terror, it is no surprise that morale is low, as there seem to be no change in tactics, and if recent amateur videos from the war front are anything to go by, they are also battling with lack of equipments, and most importantly, simple basic amenities needed to maintain life, and sustain the onslaught against insurgents in the northeast.
What couldn't be achieved by democratic means, via a referendum for instance, or by an act of legislation, in terms of decentralising the police force, as you'd expect from a federation (Nigeria's federation is a lie) appears to now being fondled with, with the formation of Àmòtékùn and the likes that may evolve from the other parts of Nigeria. Sadly, lives have been lost, properties destroyed in the face of a helpless and "disinterested" security architecture. These regional security outfits, should they become a thing, and thrive, may become the precursor for state policing, that many who seek the restructuring of Nigeria have been asking for. The present knee jerk rhetoric by the federal government to midwife "Community Policing", that will include just about every other regular person, on a voluntary basis, I consider dead on arrival, because it still doesn't take security issues serious, as it mirrors what was behind the formation of the civil defence corp, whose duty today in the scheme of things cannot be distinctly explained, one of them recently shot dead the politician he was attached as aide to, while shooting "into the air", in celebratory mood at a victory party organised by the latters' colleague.
'kovich
PICTURE CREDIT:
- www.dailypost.ng
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