Bombings – And The Failure Of The Nigerian Security Apparatuses

By Osi Okponobi

Not long ago, I commended the Nigerian State Security Service (SSS) for coming of age, in an article that I wrote, after observing that their systems were able to detect persons, whether rightly or wrongly, listed on their ‘wanted’ list.   My compliment or commendation was more borne out of the civility with which they treated the detainee, with utmost courtesy and respect, rather than being too bogged down by why the person was on the ‘wanted’ list, which could have been for a number of reasons, and for reasons best known to them.
  Suffice to say that the person’s human dignity was preserved and respected.   And even after it became apparent to them (the SSS) that he was detained in error, and that his name should not have been on the list, they offered him their sincere apology.   I felt proud of the SSS at the time, and commended them for coming of age, and applying international standards in their dealings with that person. 
I contrasted their conduct, and described it as a far cry from the days of the NSO (their equivalent under Military rule), and most especially the documented tales of atrocities committed by the same body under General Muhammadu Buhari, the then Head of State.  The then NSO cells were like dungeons that were certainly not fit for animals, talk less of human beings.  If animals had been kept there, it would have been viewed as cruelty against animals, and if it were in the UK, the RSPCA would have intervened and prosecuted the culprits.  But we are talking about human beings being incarcerated inside those hell-holes that were not fit for animals.  The manner of their incarcerations inside those dungeons was archetypical of man’s cruelty and inhumanity to a fellow man.  It was an abuse and an insult to their human dignity, no matter what the offences they had committed, or better put, were alleged to have committed.  In modern times, or post 1 July 2002, such practice would have passed as gross human rights abuses and violations, and would have qualified for a date at the International Criminal Court of Justice (ICC).
Enough said of that, lest I get distracted and digress.  Sadly, and I guess I spoke too soon then, their overall performance, like the other security services in Nigeria, has been abysmal.  The SSS, the equivalent of the FBI, in the USA, and the MI5 (or MI6) in the UK, has failed in its overall responsibility of securing the nation.  The SSS apparat, and the rest, or the other security apparatuses, have all failed the nation in securing the country and her citizens.  Their performance, in the areas of prevention and detection of crimes has been very dismal and poor.   They have, for instance, left the Nigerian borders porous, to the extent that any Tom, Dick and Harry can easily cross our borders by foot or by car, and pronto, they are inside Nigeria.  These ‘aliens’, as Americans would, incorrectly, describe all immigrants or visitors, cross our borders and enter into the country armed to the teeth to cause mayhem and destructions, without being stopped by any of our security forces. 
It is rather, unfortunate, and very sad that these people causing these mayhems and carnages are said to be foreigners, that have infiltrated the country.  Even though armed, they cross the borders undetected.  Their motives are unknown, unlike when the then M.E.N.D of the Niger Delta, whose motives were well known, used to cause similar havoc, panic and fear, albeit, their modus operandi (mode of operation or strategy) was targeted, either at oil installations or oil companies.  Not that I ever agreed with their methods.  But even then, they had sympathy within the international community, which sympathised with their cause that their lands were being pillaged, devastated and spoiled, in search of oil, while the people lived in penury and abject poverty, despite the multi-billion dollars of petrochemical oil being lifted from their soil. 
As for the Boko Haram sect, the alleged masterminds of these present bombings and carnage all over the country, their motives are unknown.   It cannot be because they are averse to or frown at western education, as some people would want to postulate.  Nor, can their motives be traced to the suspicion and the alleged agenda to ‘Islamise’ the entire country.  If that were the case, they would have been carrying out their activities in mainly the Southern part of the country, which is predominantly Christian, and not in the North, where they are predominantly Muslims, and are already in the majority. 
The only trace to their motive, therefore, can be gleaned from the recent statement allegedly made by the sect, while claiming responsibility for the recent bombings, that they want to MAKE THE COUNTRY UNGOVERNABLE.   Does this statement resonate or strike a familiar chord?  Does anyone remember that those were the same or exact words used by Mallam CIROMA and his NPLF group, after President Jonathan expressed interest to contest for the Presidential candidate of his Party and the President of Nigeria?   One can, therefore, safely conclude, in the absence of any other genuine evidence or other motive, that it was that call by Mallam CIROMA that this Boko Haram sect is responding or adhering to. 
Unfortunately, in their bid to make the country UNGOVERNABLE, their modus operandi or tactics and strategy have been to make the NORTH UNGOVERNABLE.   That is why most of the carnage and mayhem have been concentrated in the NORTH.  But why kill your fellow brothers and faithfuls, and cause such havoc, devastation or destructions to infrastructures in the North and cause panic, and put fear into your fellow brothers simply because you do not want President Jonathan as the President of Nigeria, despite the fact that an overwhelming majority of Nigerian voters voted for him?   Everyone can recall the aftermath of the recent elections in Nigeria.  Immediately after the announcement of the results of the Presidential elections and President Jonathan as the winner, another round of carnage and havoc began.  The killers killed civilians in droves and even turned on their fellow Northerners, and caused large scale destructions.  But why?
Isn’t it time these killers retraced their steps and say ENOUGH IS ENOUGH?  Isn’t it time the likes of Mallam CIROMA and GENERAL BUHARI call these people to order and rescind their earlier call TO MAKE THE COUNTRY UNGOVERNABLE?  Isn’t it time that peace is allowed to reign once again and everybody lives peacefully again with each other, and not in fear of one another?  Isn’t it time that life resumes as normal again, as we once lived and stood in brotherhood, like brothers and neighbours?
And most of all, isn’t it time that our security apparatuses begin to live up to their duties and perform their functions efficiently.  Isn’t it time professionalism begins to reign and becomes their by-word and watch word?  Isn’t it time our porous borders are fortified, to prevent ‘aliens’ from getting in, and prevent contrabands from being smuggled in?   These, and many more, are questions that constantly confront us as a nation and a people.  Isn’t it also time that those Northern Governors take these security problems seriously and use their monthly ‘Security votes’ to secure the lives of their citizens, rather than use it on frivolities and unnecessary travels in and out of Europe and the Americas?
I often ponder over and ask what became of the vessel or ship that was seized for allegedly docking at the Lagos Sea Port with large quantities of illegal weapons, including arms and ammunitions and rockets?  Could those weapons have been for the purpose of terrorism?  Why was the ship allowed to leave the shores before the completion of investigations?    Would this have happened in advanced countries like the USA and the UK?  Who were those that allowed the vessel to leave the country?  Has any punishment been meted to those responsible for this blunder for conspiracy, aiding and abetting terrorism?  And what happened or became of the investigations?  Who illegally attempted to smuggle those weapons into the country?  And for what purpose or what was the motive?  Perhaps, this has been going on for a long time, hence the proliferation of weapons everywhere in the country, which are now being used to cause mayhem and havoc. 
It is high time that all the Nigerian security agencies, without exception, sit up and sit down to carry out their business as professionals.  It is time they begin to function professionally and efficiently.  Starting with the SSS, it is time they consider moving outside the shores of the country and begin securing the country from across our borders.  They must invest in espionage and counter-espionage work.  They must be proactive and not reactive.  Since terrorism has come to stay in Nigeria, the security forces combined must now adopt counter-terrorism measures and strategies too, to keep on top of the game.  They must not wait until people have been killed or a bomb has exploded before they begin the indiscriminate arrests of persons, as if the terrorists or those responsible would be waiting for them to come and catch them.
The SSS should start training people up and investing in them, as informants.  They should be combing the length and breadth of the country, and with their ears to the ground, instead of sitting in their cosy offices and chasing after corrupt persons, which the Police and the EFCC should be capable of dealing with.  What business is it of the SSS to concentrate huge resources and time on vetting would-be ministers, commissioners and special advisers?   Especially when the real enemy is lurking about the place and planting bombs here, there and everywhere.  The real enemy is crossing the borders daily and seeking to cause mayhem in the country.  The real enemy is also wiring their underpants or their bodies with bombs.   They are also wiring cars with bombs and explosives. 
The SSS, the Immigration, Police and the Customs should all man our borders properly to prevent unwanted persons or ‘aliens’ from entering.  The new emphasis must now be on intelligence led policing and prevention.  They should be seeking to prevent the commission of criminal activities and foiling it while it is being hatched or still inchoate, and not dealing with the aftermaths every time.  The SSS should go beyond our borders and operate outside the country and undertake espionage duties.  Infiltrate, if they must, those groups that plan and plot these mayhems.  They must learn a lesson from the Americans, who through espionage works, were able to eventually nail Osama Bin Laden.  Similar espionage works have foiled many crimes in advanced countries and prevented similar havocs. 
As for the NIA (the Nigerian counterpart or the equivalent of the CIA), they have shown themselves to be the most redundant, inefficient and ineffective organisation ever in the history of the country.  Otherwise, it was under their noses that the underpants bomber entered and left Nigeria, and through the Airport, despite the warnings and tip off they were given.   They need to sit-up and do their jobs, for which they are paid, handsomely.  It is tax-payers’ money that they are wasting!
The CID arm of the Police (mainly in mufti) should also be travelling the length and breadth of the country infiltrating bands of Armed-robbers, kidnappers and murderers or would-be bombers.  They must not wait until there has been a bomb before they sit-up and mobilise.  By then, it would be too little, too late.  They should have no business sitting in offices, unless to do their paper work and file reports to their superiors.  The fight against criminals is not too hard or difficult, and it can, in fact, be won, if those responsible for checking and curbing criminal activities live up to their billing.  If the UK Police can combat crimes and police the Kingdom without carrying weapons, how difficult is it then for the Nigerian Police to do same?  It is all about strategies!
All of them, the Nigerian security apparatuses, without exception, need to begin to review and revamp their systems, strategies and apparat, and re-strategise to make them more efficient and proactive.   This includes the Military, who are paid by tax payers to defend the country and its citizens against external aggression (including the Boko Haram marauders or killing machines).   To curb or curtail their idleness and stop the military from turning on the Nigerian people, they could be posted around the nation’s border posts to assist the other security agencies to fortify our borders and stop these external aggressors from entering the country in the first place.
Enough, of this reactive policing and security of the country.   They cannot afford to fail, and must not fail.  The criminals, the culprits and their masterminds, whoever they are, and wherever they are, must be brought to book.  This is the time for serious business and no more ‘baby’ policing or security of our country.  They must now start justifying their pay and usefulness.  ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!
Osi Okponobi
(Jasol2kone@yahoo.co.uk)