New year, new security challenges in Nigeria

PAUL ARHEWE
(Published 03/01/2012)

Christmas Day bombing in Niger state

Those of us who are alive to witness and partake in the celebrations that ushered in the New Year, especially against the backdrop of the enormous security challenges facing our country Nigeria, would definitely be grateful even when the country is still in a lugubrious disposition following the last Christmas Day bombings amid other senseless serial killings and maiming that characterised 2011.

While as a country we may be optimistic that the New Year comes with a miraculous salve that would immune it from the not too pleasant security malaise Nigeria experienced last year, the reality is that the New Year indeed comes with more new challenges for the country; especially in the area of securing the lives and properties of the people. It then behooves President Goodluck Jonathan to take charge and revamp the country's security apparatus by discarding ineffective and wane hands, or allow the situation to crumble his government in the New Year
The country's security network that should be a soothing factor and beacon of hope to the already traumatised and fear engrossed Nigerians, is even seeking for protection from the conscienceless Boko Haram sect. The National Security Adviser (NSA) General Owoye Azazi last week, to the bewilderment of the public, said it is difficult to effectively police a large country like Nigeria. It is absolutely difficult to man every point of the country when there are security problems. Like I have said before, there is need for security awareness.

Boko Haram and our porous security network

PAUL ARHEWE 23/06/2011 03:20:00

As a reporter on the foreign beat over the years, whenever there is any bomb blast in countries like Pakistan, Afghanistan or Iraq, this never takes the lead position in the arrangement of my stories. Why you may ask? There is a 90 percent probability that a bomb would be detonated in the aforementioned countries on a daily basis given the restiveness and the well sophisticated network of al-Qaeda in this region.

But for countries like the United States of America, United Kingdom, and others which Nigeria used to belong, it is very unusual to witness a single blast, and if by error of omission or commission one goes off usually they lead in screaming headlines. To say the spate of bombings in parts of northern Nigeria is out of hand would be an understatement. Last Thursday’s attack in Abuja Police Headquarters and the subsequent detonation of another in Borno is a vivid signal that the Boko Haram sect has declared war on Nigeria.

Careless deaths: A call for more police trainings

By PAUL ARHEWE 16/02/2011 05:16:00
The stampede last weekend at the campaign rally of the president in Port-Harcourt where 12 people were reported to have lost their lives, has again shown how shabbily events with mammoth crowds are organised in Nigeria and the role security men play to prevent misfortunes. Why should people be crammed and arranged in a space where escape routes during emergency are not visibly available?
The Port Harcourt sports stadium, venue of the rally, was turned into an arena of commotion and pandemonium as a shot from a policeman to disperse crowd sparked off panic. In this modern age, how can a policeman shoot into the air just to control crowd? This goes to show how untrained many of our security officers are.

Making our security forces more proactive

By PAUL ARHEWE

The increased spate of bombings and terrorist attacks in recent times have vividly shown and exposed again how unsecured Nigeria is and the lacuna in its security outfits. Alertness and professionalism which are germane to securing a country with teaming population like Nigeria, are virtually absent or been compromised. To many, these current spates of bombings in the country may not have come as a surprise; as our security forces have been forewarned of the attacks by sect groups, especially the Boko Haram. In July last year when the Islamist sect group, Boko Haram, commemorated one year anniversary of the death of their slain leader, a serious security apparatus in the country would have been on the alert and highly proactive to nipping in the bud any premeditated and nursed onslaughts. This would have saved the country from the lugubrious situation we find ourselves.