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Imagine the havoc usually wreaked on the nation by leaders’ legendary negligence and intransigence. Take for instance the issue of flooding now ravaging most of the states of the federation, which could have been averted long ago if successive governments have been proactive enough to ensure that dams were constructed in strategic areas to contain the inflow of water into the country.
Now, the failure of the government to act at the right time has led to the loss of so many innocent lives, which is quite regrettable and unfortunate. Maybe, the government will now start to search for how to avert a recurrence in the future but this is nothing short of locking the stable’s door after the horse had bolted.
Another avoidable disaster, which is not given attention is how police officers are allowed to operate without any provision for bullet-proof kits to protect them and make them combat-ready at all times.
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Failure to properly equip police officers has led to the sudden deaths of many of them and it’s high time something was done to halt the sad trend. Even police officers accompanying bullion vans are never given any proper protection against sudden attacks by hoodlums.
Yet, it is a well-known fact that bullion vans are easy targets for the men of the underworld and many officers have lost their lives in the course of doing their jobs. It’s better late than never. Let those saddled with the responsibility of securing the state, first of all, be properly secured by the state.
Jide Oyewusi, coordinator of Ethics Watch International, Lagos.
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