Combatting Nigeria’s Contemporary Internal Security Quagmire and the Advocacy for State Police
CHAPTER ONE
OBJECTIVES OF STUDYย ย
The following aims and objectives of this research is to sufficiently address and answer the aforementioned research questions:
- To bring to fore the detailed factors that have necessitated the recent debates and advocacy for state police in Nigeria.
- To interrogate the actual readiness of the country to effectively put state police system in place.
- To evaluate the efficacyย of state police as the concrete solution to the nationโs host of security challenges.
- To predict attendant challenges and flaws of the system should it gets implemented.
CHAPTER TWO
LITERATURE REVIEW AND THEORETICAL FRAMEWORKย
INTRODUCTION
This particular chapter presents a review of previous academic and scholarly studies on areas relating to this research topic. The main essence of this literature review is to identify the gaps in these previous works and studies so as to provide new information. Thus, vital areas to be reviewed in literature include the severity of contemporary internal security quagmire in Nigeria, the inefficienciesย of the extant Federal Police System( Nigeria Police Force) inย containing the numerous security problems,ย the institution of State Police itself,ย the appraisal of theย growing debate and advocacy for State Policing as a panacea measure, the attendant prospects and issues in relation to State Policing in adequately addressing the security problems.
CONTEMPORARY INTERNAL SECURITY QUAGMIRE IN NIGERIA
The Nigerian state has witnessed plethora of security challenges, especially since the sustenance of democratic dispensationย since 1999. As a leading state in the African continent, available evidence shows that Nigeria has peculiar security challenges which some observers had expected the internal security policies (a component of the National Security Policy of Nigeria) to address. In Nigeria, ritual killings, cyber crimes, car theft, carjacking, advanced free fraud, drug trafficking, human trafficking, among others; have continued to pose serious challenges in Nigeria. As it was the trend in some states in Africa like Ghana, Liberia, Sierra Lone, Gambia, etc. these security threats were witnessed along other non-violent threats such as HIV/AIDS, cholera, bird flu, Lassa fever, among others.
Beside these conventional threats, Nigeria is plagued with violent security threats. However, such threats include the Niger Delta crises, Kidnapping, Boko Haram crises and frequent clashes between farmers and herdsmen in the Northern part of Nigeria. However, some of these threats have long historical antecedents, while others like the menace of Herdsmen are recent occurrences. In Nigeria for instance, armed robbery, arson, murder, rape, car theft, among others are not new. They are among the old internal security problems confronting the Nigerian state. Paradoxically, Nigeria in recent times witnessed new forms of security threats in her internal security management. Such threats were undoubtedly crimes perpetuatedย by some Niger Delta Youths, Boko Haram sect, kidnappings inย the South-East andย some other zones, terror-attacks by Islamic extremists in Jos, frequent attacks against farmers by Fulani Herdsmen and killing of Christians by extremists at southern part of Kaduna State; which is also located in Northern Nigeria. Consequently, these internal security challenges have not only posed threats to corporate existence of Nigeria as a sovereign state, but also undermined the quest for unity in diversity which underscores the rationale for adoption of federalism in Nigeria (Chris Nwagboso, 2018).
Theย alarmingย levelย ofย insecurityย inย Nigeriaย hasย fuelledย theย crimeย rateย andย terroristsย attacksย inย differentย partsย ofย theย country,ย leavingย unpalatable consequencesย forย theย nationโsย economyย andย itsย growth.ย Toย addressย theย threatย to nationalย securityย andย combatย theย increasingย wavesย ofย crimeย theย federalย government inย theย 2013ย budgetย madeย aย hugeย allocationย toย security,ย andย theย nationalย assembly passedย theย Anti-Terrorismย Actย inย 2011ย (Ewetan,ย 2013).ย Despiteย theseย efforts,ย the levelย ofย insecurityย inย theย countryย isย stillย high,ย andย aย confirmationย ofย thisย isย theย low rankingย ofย Nigeriaย inย theย Globalย Peaceย Indexย (GPI,ย 2012).ย Despiteย theย plethoraย of securityย measuresย takenย toย addressย theย dauntingย challengesย ofย insecurityย inย Nigeria, governmentย effortsย haveย notย producedย theย desiredย positiveย result.Thisย hasย compelled theย Nigerianย governmentย inย recentย timeย toย requestย forย foreignย assistanceย from countriesย suchย asย USA,ย Israel,ย andย EUย countriesย toย combatย theย risingย wavesย of terrorismย andย insecurity (Ewetan and Urhie,ย 2014).
CHAPTER THREE
HISTORICAL BACKGROUND TO THE ADVOCACY FOR STATE POLICE
INTRODUCTION
ย The increasing clamour for the establishment of state police into the Nigerian Policing system has largely been birthed by the endemic and disheartening internal securityย quagmire inย theย country particularly in these present times.ย The phenomenonย has acquiredย ย popularityย due to the ever increasingย rateย ofย highlyย violent internal crimes and even non violent ones that take different forms inย the country as well as the apparent inabilityย ofย the present central policeย system toย impressively combat theย theย problem.
As a matter of fact,ย during the 2014 National Conference held in the Jonathan Administration, critical issues bordering on the Nation’s security were discussed. The discourse as well saw the advocacy for the introduction of state police system to work in synergy with already extant Federal Police Force. This according to the advocates corroborates the needย forย devolutionย ofย theย highlyย centralizedย policeย powerย toย repositionย the institutionย toย adequatelyย maintainย lawย andย orderย andย secureย theย livesย andย propertyย ofย people.
It is as well believed by the protagonists that the proximityย ย ofย theย stateย policeย toย theย communityย ofย itsย jurisdictionย gives it a leverage to have a moreย proactive positionย forย detectingย andย uprooting anyย emergingย crimeย beforeย itย grows.ย However,ย this advocacy cum clamour isn’t without some criticisms which have been thrown at it by critics from different quarters. These largely form the views of the antagonists who are much more pessimistic about the true success of state police should it gets introduced. Some of the opinions enunciatedย is thatย stateย policeย willย leadย toย aย situationย inย whichย thereย willย beย two rivalingย institutionsย of ย theย sameย responsibility,ย dutyย andย natureย inย theย country.ย ย Nevertheless,ย theย protagonistsย ofย theย stateย police are convinced and insist thatย theย creationย ofย stateย policeย isย theย onlyย solutionย toย allย Nigeriaย securityย conundrum , givenย theย acquaintanceย ofย theย institutionย with theย peopleย and theย terrain.
However, before diving deeply into the historical basis and actual debate for state police which is the crux of this chapter, there will be a a more indepth examination of the the history, development structure and modus operandi of the extant Nigeria Police Force, there will as well be a detailed review of the contemporary internal security problems that the country is faced with. Lastly, there will be the analysis of the historical basis and points put forward by most advocates of State police in Nigeria.
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CHAPTER FOUR
THE ASSESSMENT OF THE WORKABILITY OF STATE POLICE OPTION IN NIGERIA
INTRODUCTION
This chapter of the study mainly focuses on addressing the previously stated research objectives. Hence, it presents the analysis of these objectives which include interrogating the actual readiness of the country particularly with regards to both Federal and State government in putting it in place. In the same vein,ย the evaluation of the possibility of state police as the concrete solution to the nationโs host of security challenges will be done as well as predicting the attendant challenges of the system should it gets implemented.
STATE POLICE STRUCTURE IN NIGERIA : AN ANALYSIS OFย THE COUNTRY’S READINESS
Despite the recent clamour cum call for state police measure from some entities and quarters in the country,ย it is very much apparrent that this call might not yield the desired end result any time soon. This is largely due to theย indifferent position of the Federal Government on it as they seemingly ‘do not buy’ into the rationale behind the call. Hence, it could be rightly said that the country isn’t set to put this in place any time soon.
However, some state governments who are mostly the lead advocates of this measure have deemed it fit to begin with putting in place a substantive alternative in the light of the ever prevalent security crises that bedevil their domain. This alternative is no other than the now famous and controversial South Westernย Security Networkย code named Operation Amotekun. This security outfit was officially launched on Thursday, 9th January, 2020 by the South Western Governors. In the words of Governor Fayemi ofย Ekiti State as reported by the Punch Newspaper on that same stated date, he said ;
Amotekun is a complement that will give our people confidence that they are being looked after by those they elected into office. So, we do not want this to create fear in the mind of anybody as we are not creating a regional police force and are fully aware of the steps we must take to have state police. We do not want anybody to misconstrue the concept of Amotekun.
CHAPTER FIVE
SUMMARY, CONCLUSION, RECOMMENDATION
SUMMARY
ย Theย paramountย ย purposeย ofย thisย research workย isย to critically examine the underlying factors that haveย been necessitating the increasing clamour and advocacy for theย introduction of State Policing in Nigeria.ย Theย study further seeksย toย appraiseย the debate, arguments for and against the call for State Police in Nigeria. This is particularlyย ย in the face of contemporary insecurity quagmire that has hitherto been bedeviling the country despite the presence of the central cum Federal Police structure and some other law enforcement agencies in the country.ย Hence, having been convinced by the objective findings of this research, the study concludes by asserting that the establishment of State Policeย appears to be indeed ripe and needful at this very critical moment of grave security crisis in Nigeria.Chapterย oneย presentsย theย backgroundย to theย studyย andย goesย further to addressย theย statementย ofย theย problem,ย clarification of concepts, researchย questions andย researchย objectives, significance of the study, research methodology which presentsย theย proceduresย used inย answeringย theย researchย questions and scope of the study.
Chapterย twoย review various relevantย literatureย onย theย subjectย matterย andย threeย theories were employedย toย putย theย studyย intoย properย perspective.ย Theย chapterย isย dividedย intoย two sections.ย Theย firstย sectionย focuses on an in depth analysis of salient issues related to the research topic that have as well been examined in some literature.ย These issues range from the severity of the contemporary internal security quagmire in the country to the examination of the presentย Nigeria Police Force in relation to its brief history and current inadequacies. It as well reviews the State Police system as practiced in several countries of the world. In addition, the growing advocacy and debate on the subject matter was appraised by the examination of the argues for and against State Police systemย in Nigeria.
The second section then utilizes three fundamental theoretical frameworks in order to put the study of the research topic in a very much better perspective.ย These are the Relative Deprivation Theory, Social Conflict Perspective and Social Contract Theory. These set the theoretical framework for explaining factors that propel some entities to crime and jeopardize the nation’s security, the differential rendering of security services to different strata of the society and their inadequacies.Also, the last theory helps in understanding the existential reasons ofย the Police institution and they right individuals in the society have to seek alternatives for the protection of their lives if theย state has become incapable of absolutely ensuring such.
Chapter three isย centered onย the examination of the historical basis of the advocacy for State Police in Nigeria. This particularly include a more detailed analysis of the history, development, structure and inadequacies of the centralized Nigeria Police Force. It also wentย further to critically analyze some very endemic and deleterious insecurity crises that characterize the Nigerian state in the recent times. These include notable crisis across geo political zones of the country like Niger Delta agitations, Kiddnapping, Jos crisis, Boko Haram terror, Fulani herders/farmers crises and host of other severe crises in the country.
Chapter Four is completely based on the objective analysis of the State Police system, particularly in theย fom of interrogating the country’s actual readiness to have such in place. It as well made reference to the recently adopted “regional” police chm securifit outfit by the South Western governors, Amotekun. It also tests the workability of this proposed solution in combatting the ever worsening security difficulties. It goes further to identify the probable limitations of this measure if eventually putย in place. Most of these analysis wereย done with the aid of secondary data sourced from credible publications, articles, newspaper interviews. Content analysis method was employed to analyse theย data gotten.
Chapter five is where the conclusions are made. The ultimate objective of this study is to give an objective appraisal and make a critical examination on the increasing call for State Policing measure across the country. Thereby, ascertaining the actual needfulness of this measure in the country. This is mostly done with reference to the already overwhelmed and ineffective Nigeriaย Police Force and other sister internalbsecurity agencies in sufficiently mitigating the scourge of security quagmire in the country. Finally, having examined the arguments for and against, probs and cons, I recommendย that interested and capableย state governments should be given the permission to indeed establish the State Police system in their various states. However this must be done with the highest sense of caution and strict management and administration. So that it doesn’t create more problems or become a problem itself, thereby, making it counter productive. I as well stress the need for a stringentย recruitment process into this system which shouldn’t be later abused . Such that the first criterium for recruiting itsย personnel is that potential officer must genuinely be well conversant with the security terrain of the state. The state police must work on the endemic ills that mar the extant Nigeria Police Force so it doesn’t become an unproductive and disappointingย venture eventually. Also, there has to be in place some strong institutional checks to ensure state governors don’t unduely abuse this security measure. Moreso, the regional policing measure (Amotekun) , although called community police by some, adopted by the South Western governors appears to be a clear indication that the much advocated state police system might eventually get adopted, be it sooner or later by various interested and capable state governments.ย ย ย Thus, with these concluding remarks, this study opens windows for further research and constructive criticisms.
CONCLUSION
The Nigerian state has witnessed plethora of security challenges, especially since the sustenance of democratic dispensationย since 1999. It is also highlyย unfortunate thatย the Nigerian state over the recent yearsย ย hasย beenย perpetually bedeviled by the endemic surge and scourgeย of insecurityย challenges leadingย toย hundredsย ย ofย deaths ofย innocent civilians, foreigners,ย ย electedย officialsย andย many governmentย workers,ย even someย membersย of theย nationโs securityย personnel aren’t spared.ย Theseย insecurityย challengesย continuallyย assume seemingly insurmountableย dimensions on a daily basis.ย Although, the Nigerian government seemingly tries toย trudgeย on inย theย face ย ofย thisย daringย challengeย and adopt some strategies to contain or douse thisย conflagration. These range from the โforce-for-forceโย toย carrot-and-stick approach to diplomacyย butย theย problem keepsย surging withย greater monstrosityย likeย theย proverbialย phoenix. Worse still, the extant Nigeria Police Force and other internal Security Agencies have not beenย ย impressively forthcoming in combatting this very issue.ย Hence, these have form part of the fundamental reasons thatย haveย ledย someย toย argueย thatย theย onlyย solutionย toย the myriad of securityย threats inย ย Nigeriaย isย toย embraceย theย federatingย principleย ofย stateย police.
Therefore, after the critical and objective analysis of this debate and clamour, the conclusion made in this study is state police measure appears to be apt and needful at this critical stage of worsening security crises that as well exude some form of peculiarities in various parts ofย the country. However, it’s adoption has to be carefully done so as not to further complicate the already worsened security situation of theย country. Some recommendations wereย also made which are briefly discussed subsequently.
RECOMMENDATIONS
In order to genuinely combat and mitigate the scourge of Nigeria’s contemporary internal security quagmire via the adoption of state police measure, the following recommendations are pivotal:
There has to firstly be a constitutional reviewย process that will amend the Nigeria’s 1999 Constitution to give room for state governments to establish their constitutional security structure. That is, there should be a rephrase in the Section 214 (2) of the 1999 Constitution that forbids the establishment of any other Police Force asides the Nigeria Police Force (NPF).ย This amendment will not only provide a reconciliation with the provisions of section 2(1), (3) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria which provides for theย federal arrangement in Nigeria premised on a distinctive division of powers of the federation between the central (federal) and the Statesโ governments. But also withย that of section 12(2b) of the Nigerian constitution which explicitly states that security and welfare of the people (citizens) is the primary purpose of government. By implication, if the president is the Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces, a state governor is the Chief Security Officer of his state.ย Hence,ย the creation of state police will better enable committed state governors to better perform the corresponding duties of that title.
After the constitutional amendment must have been made to suit the call for state police, interestedย state governors also have a very sensitive role to perform during the adoption and administration of this security measure. Given the politicalย ecology of the country, any initiative that lacks proper management is highly bound to become abused and dysfunctional. Therefore, adequate caution has to be well taken by state governments if they must truly have a productive state owned security outfit. Hence, they must ensure that it doesn’t lack the fundamental facilities like adequate funding, sufficient and qualitative personnel and so on. State governments have to take an indepth cue from the challenges that bedevil the Federal Police Force which incapacitates it from impressively carrying out its existential functions.
Moreso, the veracity of the popular aphorism that “power tends to corrupt, absolute power tends toย corrupt absolutely” can not be gainsaid. Hence, there must be the establishment of viable and strong institutional checks outside the control of the state governors that will forestall the abuse of the state police structure by state governors. This particular recommendation is highly pertinent before some antagonists of state police measure and pessimists rightly argued that the then Native Police became a threat and problem of national security because it became terribly abused by regional politicians as a tool blindlyย wielded against the political enemies. Therefore, the creation of institutional checks in curbing the excesses of the state governors in the process of running this security outfit be made.
Lastly, the state police, when eventually put in place must be able to work in synergy with the already existing Federal Police Force. This should be learnt from other Federal and better developed states like the United States where the Federal police structure sometimes work in synergy like the local Sheriffs. Particularly when the security situation is though might be local in nature is beyond the abilities of the latter. Theย former is often called to give an helping hand. This therefore suggests that both the Federal and State police system should not engage in needless inter agency rivalry. Thisย will only hinder them from appropriately carrying out their duties for the benefit of the citizens who are mostly the poor victims the internal security crises in the country.
REFERENCES
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- Barameter, J. (2012). Institutionalized Deviance: Problems of Policing in the Thirdย World.ย London Press, Rutledge
- Bowden, T (1978). Beyond the Limits of Law (Hammondsworth: Penguinย Books Ltd.) p.19
- Brodgen, M (1982). The Police: autonomy and consent (London: Academicย Press) P.203