A former Minister of Defense, retired General Aliyu Gusau, has declared that Nigeria was too complex for the police alone to ensure security in the country.
Gusau, who spoke on Wednesday at the Community Protection Guard graduation ceremony, a community-based security outfit established by the Zamfara State, called for a review of the nation’s security policy to achieve results.
Gusau said, “With an estimated population of 223.8 million, and a diverse terrain covering 923,768 square kilometers, Nigeria is a difficult country to secure. Therefore, expecting a single police force to patrol and control such a large and complex nation effectively is a very tall order indeed. The time has come for us to rethink this strategy in the best interest of our country.
“Currently, innocent lives are lost daily as terrorism, banditry, kidnapping, armed robbery, organised crime, drug trafficking, human trafficking, and cultism become the order of the day in theatres across Nigeria. While perpetrators now act with impunity, additional deployment of the military to hotspots has not achieved the desired results.
“However, for it to succeed, strategic consideration should be given to creating appropriate support structures across the board. We must understand that security is a community effort and the responsibility of all, not only the police or armed forces.”
“Naturally, there is a need for greater inter-agency collaboration, but also for cooperation between government and the private sector. From the common man on the street to traditional leaders and state institutions, we all need to join hands to tackle insecurity.
The former National Security Adviser referred to the public-private partnerships to enhance security advocated by a former Inspector General of Police who is now the Chairman of the Police Service Commission, Dr Solomon Arase, saying the call underscores the need for initiatives to support federal efforts on security.
He said, “Structured and formalised collaboration between the unitary police system (as currently prescribed by the constitution) and state and other private security outfits will contribute to a solution for the myriad security problems that plague our nation and our state.
“Some states have already initiated structures like the Community Protection Guards to assist the national police. Still, I would like to emphasize that safeguards must be put in place to forestall possible abuse.
“Taking the broader picture into account, technological advances have had a huge impact on how policing is conducted and viewed. Using technology, intelligence, and data in innovative ways has become a priority in crime fighting efforts.
“Gathering and disseminating intelligence effectively among all security agencies and outfits on a regular basis, and across state lines, are key to successful action against criminal activities. In this context, local knowledge is invaluable. Effective security is anchored on fully understanding the environment before deploying appropriate tools that involve the buy-in of all critical stakeholders.”
