By Kayode Abdulazeez
Security of lives and properties is enshrined in the Nigerian constitution as one of the cardinal responsibilities of government at all levels. Federal, State, and Local Governments are granted the power to maintain law and order because of the sensitivity and prices that come with it.
Section 14 (2b) of the 1999 Nigeria Constitution as amended, “states that the security of the citizens shall be the primary purpose of the government. Thus government at all levels owes the people a constitutional duty to protect their lives and properties, irrespective of their ethnic, religious, and political affiliations.”
The above constitutional provision prompted me to call on the Kwara State Government under the leadership of Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq to take decisive action in tackling incessant kidnapping in the southern senatorial district; cultism/armed robbery attacks in the Central; and Kidnapping/Communal clashes in the Northern senatorial district of the state.
All these unrest cases could be averted on many occasion or better still brought to a minimal level by providing adequate security guards for surveillance and on-spot action.
A quick check at recent kidnapping-reported cases in the state shows that urgent attention needs to be taken by the present administration led by Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, the Chairman of the Nigeria Governors Forum, to live up to one of his major constitutional responsibilities:
On January 16, 2024, four members of the Afin Community in Ileire district of Ifelodun LGA were kidnapped including the High Chief in the community.
On February 1, 2024, gunmen invaded the palace of Onikoro of Koro in Ekiti LGA killed the monarch who was a retired Army General, and kidnapped his wife.
On March 11, 2024, gunmen invaded a guest house located along Ilorin/Ogbomoso road in Asa LGA and abducted a Chinese national identified as Williams Zang.
On June 2, 2024, no less than 21 students of Confluence University of Science and Technology (CUSTECH) Osara in Kogi State were rescued in the forest in the Kwara South area by security agencies.
On August 17, 2024, gunmen ambushed a commercial vehicle along Osi-Obbo road in Ekiti LGA and kidnapped 20 passengers.
On September 28, 2024, gunmen invaded Olla community in Isin LGA and abducted Rev S O Adewumi of Olla ECWA Church and Engr Adeyemi.
On September 11, 2024, gunmen invaded Kosubosu town in Baruten LGA and abducted Mr Emeka C. Nwachukwu.
On September 30, 2024, gunmen invaded the Boriya community in Baruten LGA and abducted Adamu Aliyu Galadima.
On September 30, 2024, gunmen invaded the Igbaja community in Ifelodun LGA, abducted three persons, and killed the head of the community security guard (Chief Lukman Balogun).
On October 10, 2024, some unidentified people suspected to be kidnappers were seen around Oreke/Okegbo community in Ifelodun LGA, and one person was later killed around Awere River with another person sustaining gunshot injuries.
Similarly, there is hardly a midnight, in recent times, without a report of an attack on innocent travellers around the Otte/Alaparun Communities in Ilorin/Ogbomoso expressway by armed robbers who would forcefully dispossess travellers along the route of their valuables. This often leads to killings and several people have been victims.
Meanwhile, the cases above are only those officially brought to the attention of the security agencies.
We also have reported and unreported cases of cultism clashes, most especially at the state capital, armed robberies, and ritual killings across the state.
Back to the bone of discussion, it is obvious that the Nigerian Police Force, (NPF), Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), and the Department of Security Services (DSS) that are constitutionally empowered to maintain the internal security of lives and properties are short on manpower to cover our communities not to mention ungoverned areas (deep forest) that perpetrators of this devilish act often hide to carry out their activities.
As the number one security officer in the state with millions of naira allocation coming every month as security vote from the Federal Government to keep safe lives and properties of your citizens, His Excellency, Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq is expected to be more proactive in tackling the menace of insecurity ravaging the state.
Yes, security matter is always ascribed to be sensitive to be discussed publicly, alas, citizens have the right to know and question what their leaders are doing when the matter seems to be going contrary and they think they no longer feel safe.
Kwara State government could have even taken a clue from what a neighboring Oyo state and some other states in the South West are doing in the form of creating job opportunities for teeming youth and middle-aged people by recruiting them as security agents (Amotekun) to support state security agencies in terms of manning of communities and ungoverned areas (forest).
We understand the existing unofficial collaboration between some groups of local vigilantes and the Police force but the argument is that this set of volunteer vigilantes would never be fully committed to the course because they are quite aware that they are only doing voluntary service with no serious recognition from government. No hazard allowance or compensation to their family if anyone died in the course of protecting their fellow citizens.
The worst and most annoying of it is that they are aware that some people are being paid huge amounts from taxpayers’ money to carry out this responsibility or do this job they are doing free of charge.
The state government can collaborate with the local government and recruit certain numbers of people as security guards across the state, giving them a sense of belonging to serve as subordinates to state security agencies.
Meanwhile, We already have a similar example in the Kwara State Traffic Management Agency (KWATMA) established and being paid a salary by the state government.
KWATMA was established despite the existence of a Traffic Warden which happens to be a branch of the Police Force. They were established to serve as support for Traffic Warden in controlling traffic at major junctions in the state.
Although, they are believed to be generating revenue for the government by imposing fines on whoever is caught violating rules and regulations of traffic on the road.
However, a responsive and responsible government should know that the safety of lives and properties should be taken as a priority than revenue to be generated for state government at every point in discussing state matters.
In conclusion, organizing a security summit will do better justice to this matter because it will create an opportunity for the security experts, securities agencies, community leaders, and concerned stakeholders to come up with valid ideas and ways to go about tackling this menace that is fast projecting the peaceful state in red alert.
Kayode Abdulazeez, a Journalist writes from Ilorin, the Kwara State capital.
Kaybizmind@gmail.com
