Security

Security: Any Use for Common Sense?

Abdullah Musa

Division of labor was necessary so that human society could develop to heights hitherto un- imagined, particularly with respects to production and distribution of goods and services. We are beneficiaries of the wisdom of our compatriots who chose the arduous task of learning and scholarship, in order for us to be able to tap from them levels of knowledge which left to us would have no time to un-earth. They on their part would have to thank the farmer who braves the weather, environmental challenges, and the taxing nature of farm work, in order to produce the food which the scholar would buy in order to survive to engage in his chosen undertaking.

What appears positive in one respect, must of course if analyzed from a different perspective, look like a deficiency: a learned person might be totally ignorant of what it takes to produce a crop; and a professional soldier may not have the patience to rear cattle for the beef that men sorely need. Division of labor thus produces extremes.

Were we to peep into primitive societies where all men were hunters; or in some cases hunters, farmers and shepherds all together, we could say that any man was kind of independent. He was able to provide for all his needs. Amongst such needs were the need for security of life and property. All men bore arms, and with the development of organized societies, men were expected to bear arms to protect their domains from all forms of aggression.

As our opening paragraph shows, development of society introduced division of labor such that we have members of society who are saddled with the responsibility of providing security to all: they should stay awake where necessary, while we go to sleep.

Some are beginning to convince us that Nigeria is a failed State. By this they mean that what is expected from a virile, sound State is absent from Nigeria: for a long time Nigeria could only watch helplessly as local and foreign crooks extracted its petroleum resources freely. Murders do take place at alarming regularity, but the culprits are never found. Of recent, particularly in Kano where I reside, armed robbery, even in broad daylight is becoming very common. The most recent one at Abubakar Rimi market is quite illustrative of what we are trying to convey with this long detour of ours.

In a nutshell, armed robbers entered the market in broad daylight, and headed to their target area: where gold ornaments are sold. They shot in the air to send people scampering for safety, and carted their loot. There were some deaths I gathered.

I listened to the spokesperson of the Police Force and he was trying to dispel the allegation that the police fled the scene of the crime. He said that the first problem they encountered was that the armed robbers were in a populated market, and they wore normal clothes, clothes commonly used in Kano. What did he want them to do: to wear a special uniform with inscription saying this is an armed robber?

Thereafter he went on to say that they were in hot pursuit of the robbers, who shot at, and damaged the windscreen of the police vehicles. None of the robbers were caught; they made away with their loot. In a bank in Zaria, many customers lost their lives; the robbers escaped. Many years back, when things were a bit normal, a policeman guarding the then entrance to a bank at Ciromawa along Zaria-Kano road was shot dead, and the bank robbed. Same type of failure keeps occurring, yet no solution.

Going back to the recent incident in Abubakar Rimi market in Kano;

one using common sense would come to the conclusion that the police were never trained for a possible combat within populate areas. I would have thought that scenarios of all possible crime acts in various locations be simulated, so that when reality comes, the police would be effective. When we were in our teens and going to the cinema, we saw in films where criminals were in the midst of innocent citizens. The law enforcement agent would bellow out orders for all to lie on their stomachs. Law abiding

citizens would obey, while the criminal would try to stand up to either fight, or flee, and the target is thus exposed. Was that feasible only in film situation?

With respects to the chase given robbers, the result so displayed shows that the police would only chase the robbers from one perspective: the robbers at front, with police at the back. This places the robbers’ driver at advantage, in that he may have clear windscreen to see, while the first bullet shatters that of the police, if not even killing the police’s driver. The robbers came into a city which is supposed to be known in and out by every policeman in the command. There should be many teams that are deployed across strategic areas, with effective communication, such that a fleeing robber must encounter three or more squads before he gets away, which will be extremely hard.

The spates of bank robberies are getting too much; and the casualty getting higher. The citizens bear the brunt and life simply continues till the next strike; are we insane? Banks are usually concentrated in one area. Is it not possible to shut off completely a given area the moment robbery is reported as taking place? How are exit highways manned? Once a robbery is taking place, all such routes should be closed; you may even create traffic jam to curtail ease of movement; and place very sharp and sophisticated shooters, who would turn the vehicle that refuses to stop into shreds.

To my mind, the authorities in Nigeria do not place any premium on the lives of their citizens. Left to me, it is high time victims of robberies who lost either loved ones or properties started suing the federal government for full compensation; in the case of Muslim life lost, diyya is what is supposed to be paid, and it is colossal sum now.

To enter into the security industry, one must have an inclination to violence; one must be thrilled at the specter of a combat, the adrenalin to be spurred into combative mood. The employers of security men must train them so thoroughly, that in any given combat situation, a police officer has more chances of survival than the robber or criminal. To make someone to love people is really difficult. To motivate policemen to heroic act, the reward system should be juicy, emphasizing recognition more than monetary gains; for too much monetary gain may soften the combatant, who would rather be in bed with his wife than chase a deranged criminal.

If a novice like me will see flaws in the security system, (granted that my observations are valid) then definitely something is seriously wrong with our security network. If we continue like this, we will definitely be a failed State which everybody will see without an interpreter; and the consequences would be so disastrous for the whole of West Africa. Given my extremely suspicious mind, I am coming to believe that an outside is testing the efficacy of our security system; and every time the results show that we are really un-coordinated, and extremely un-motivated.

At which crisis was it where policemen were running for dear life, begging bloody civilians to lend them agbada to cover their uniform, to avoid being identified by the insurgents? Was it maitatsine? May be we should let sleeping dogs lie: but where are the guerillas who invaded Kano recently, and took over the State’s water works, after killing scores of policemen? With their huge number they vanished into thin air!

To the leaders and security agents who are Muslims, let me remind that you would definitely be called to account over your lackadaisical attitude towards the lives and properties of those you rule over. Anybody who knows that he does not have the guts and conviction to confront evil, (armed robbers and the likes) should kindly take another profession: tuka tuwo at a local restaurant for instance. His trained, but wasted biceps will be highly appreciated there. And as we pass, we are under obligation to say: sannu goggo!

Abdullah Musa