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The SSS Was Just Doing Its Job: The Case of Detained and Released American Intern in Nigeria. By Dennis O. Balogu, Ph.D., M.P.A. September 1, 2006
It is not too long ago, an American citizen who was alleged to be spying for the State of Israel was arrested, prosecuted, convicted and imprisoned in the United States. What surprised most Nigerians around me was that the United States is one country that has done and is doing everything in its power to protect and safeguard the Sovereignty of the State of Israel. The two countries can be said to have very close and friendly ties. So, the United States should not have worried of being spied by Israel. Others felt that America would be the last country on earth that Israel would want to harm. This is true, considering previous and foreseeable relations between the two countries. Still, the American spying for Israel was said to have inflicted from grave to irreparable damage to the U.S. intelligence by his actions.
Therefore, it would not be surprising if Nigeria’s State Security Service (SSS) agents tried to ‘take a second look’ on an unusual behavior of a foreigner in Nigeria even if that foreigner happens to come from a country that is friendly to Nigeria. According to the news, SSS press release stated that the so-called "intern" was reported to have had extensive connections with Saudi Arabia, was an American, living in an administrative premise of an organization (instead of renting an accommodation in a Hotel), and was surrounded by computers, telephone and other communication gadgets. Further this ‘intern’ refused to say who was paying his stipends. This is unusual. Those who have worked or helped to provide opportunities for interns would attest that this circumstance is unusual. There is no secret about who pays for an intern’s stipend. That is always, the first thing that an intern would want to know.
In a world of heightened insecurity, where terrorists have identified Nigeria as one of their prime targets, the SSS agents’ activities and rapid response to unusual behavior, in this case, would have been commended, instead of being rebuked.
Nigerians should learn what most citizens of other democracies have known all along and that is, that they should separate political issues from national or international security issues. Nigeria’s human right activists and organizations should have waited to know the facts before imposing themselves as seeming protectors of an American whose rights were about to be violated in Nigeria. The America government can, able, and ready to protect their citizens. The Nigerian authorities and Nigerians know this too. The intern was never in harms-way and the situation did not call for all the parades and publicity stunts by partisan politicians and human right activists. Nigeria signed into the international antiterrorist endeavor and it must do all in its powers to ensure that terrorists did not either gain footholds or succeed in Nigeria. In the course of protecting Nigeria against terrorism, some innocent people may sometimes find themselves in momentary uncomfortable situations — just like many U.S. bound international air passengers witnessed in the very recent past because of foiled terrorist plans.
So, for Human rights’ activists and opportunists to constantly attack Nigeria’s Security services and agents for every move made, may on the long run, weaken their (security agents) zeal to work which would ultimately result to security lapses. The consequences of such lapses may be very hard to bear by Nigeria as a nation. It may even create doubts in the minds of the international community of Nigeria’s resolve, desire, willingness and dedication toward fighting international terrorism at home and abroad.
It is in the best interest of Nigeria and its nation friends that national security activities are not politicized as it was in this case. Security agents are indeed working and intending to work for Nigerian and its citizens’ safety in spite of momentary lapses. It would not serve us well to label them as political agents of the current government in Nigeria. The security services, agencies and agents were there before President Olusegun Obasanjo’s administration. They will there to usher new administration in May 2007, still working for Nigeria and its citizens.
Prof. Dennis O. Balogu ______________________ Dennis O. Balogu, Ph.D., M.P.A. is Professor Agriculture and Balogu International Affairs Officer University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff, Pine Bluff, AR USA. |