… Faults IGP’s 60-month timeline

… Says Nigeria target of international terrorism

The pan-Yoruba socio-political organisation, Afenifere, on Thursday stated that the continued delay in establishing state police in the country risks plunging Nigeria into intractable ethnic wars.

While stressing that the spate of insecurity in various parts of the country is capable of pushing citizens to resort to self-defence, the foremost Yoruba group stated the state police cannot tarry for a 60-month gestation period as proposed by the Inspector General of Police, Olatunji Disu.

Afenifere, in a statement signed by its secretary general, Sola Ebiseni, warned that the federal government’s current fire-brigade approach to security deployment has left vast ungoverned spaces vulnerable to terrorist infiltration and cross-border criminal networks.

According to Ebiseni in the statement, Nigeria has become what he described as a deliberate target of international terrorism for an undisguised territorial agenda.

The group further advised that the issue of current insecurity should be of national concern to all and should be tackled the same way Nigerians teamed together to fight Covid-19 and not be used as a possible object of political gain.

The statement read in part, “The British, at the commencement of colonial administration, only resorted to signing treaties with several such independent kings.”

“At the time of the Nigerian adoption of federalism in 1954, the concept was not novel, having been with humanity in philosophical writings since the 15th century and practical governance modules by several countries, mostly from the 17th century, which concept and precepts were thus copied.

“However, the federal arrangements were abysmally altered by military rule, among which was the introduction of a centralised police structure which is ultimately responsible to the president through the inspector general of police.

“The federating states are consequently rendered prostrated as their governments became unable to discharge their most basic duties of security of life and property of the citizens within their territorial boundaries or enforcement of the laws passed by their parliaments.

“Let no one be deceived; Nigeria is a deliberate target of international terrorism for an undisguised territorial agenda by people to whom federating state boundaries, national sovereignty and territorial integrity have no meaning.

“The federal government should particularly note that terrorism is such a rapacious international scourge that seeking collaboration beyond borders for its equally vicious termination is not tantamount to a surrender of national sovereignty.

“For the avoidance of any doubt, it is no longer acceptable for the people who voluntarily consented to being part of the Nigerian state in the hope that they would be better protected by the created leviathan to now be permanently subjected to terror and apprehension by their supposed compatriots in criminal cahoots with other peoples of no nation.

“The Nigerian Armed Forces, hitherto the toast of international armed conflict resolution engagements and veritable ultimate peacekeepers and enforcers of the West African sub-region, are now virtually exasperated by numerous and multifaceted theatres of conflict.

Ebiseni added that “The fire-brigade deployment of federal security forces after each strike of terror is infeasible and ineffective in the protection of citizens, including particularly the farmers scattered in the huge ungoverned spaces all over the country, while such permanent engagements strip the military of the awesomeness of its invincibility.”

“The current Inspector General of Police, Tunji Disu, as soon as he shook hands with Mr President after his appointment, declared support for state police and subsequently submitted a memorandum to the National Assembly for consequential alteration of the Constitution.

“The same declaration of commitment to the State Police was made last week by the Senate Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele, in the same spirit with which the House of Representatives started some debate over it yesterday.

“If there is any issue on which there is consensus currently in Nigeria, it is that the time for state police is NOW. Contrary to the published content of the IG Memo, the State Police cannot tarry for a 60-month gestation period; its structure and recruitment will not be determined by the Federal Police or constituted by as many as 60% of federal police officers from the State concerned.

“The firepower should be no less than that possessed by the Federal Police or the terrorists they are recruited to tackle. In Yoruba land, the Amotekun Regional Security Network only requires immediate upgrading as State Police with appropriate and commensurate firepower and continuous training. They are prepared physically and mentally for the task ahead.

“The unnecessary vacuum being created by the intolerable delay in ensuring state police may soon be filled by intractable ethnic wars in response to the natural instincts for self and kindred protection if no urgent and immediate action be not taken.

“Political actors are advised that the issue of current insecurity should be of national concern to all, the same way Nigerians teamed together to fight Covid-19 and not to be used as a possible object of political gain.

“While the military and other armed forces are highly commended and appreciated in their patriotic combative assaults against insurgency and terrorism, their members are, however, admonished to shun any temptation or ill-advised encouragement and recruitment for intervention in civil and democratic governance.