Nigeria Must Counter Terrorism initiatives

Posted by admin Latest Politics, NNP Spotlight Sunday, October 16th, 2011

UN Building in Abuja

By Cecil Ibegbu – (Guardian) – I AM very saddened on the turn of events in Nigeria as it relates to security and the bombing of the Nigeria Police Force Headquarters in Abuja. All well meaning Nigerians must condemn such act, speak up against it, and overall, Nigeria government must seize the moment and institute a sweeping reform in its security business.

In February of 2007, I published an article titled, “Instability and Terrorism in Nigeria”, in which I argued that, “one cannot ignore the possibility that at least some of the militant groups are operating in a wider political context than that of Nigeria alone, and that their anti-American stance is derived from an Islamicist ideological perspective, and the sooner the Nigerian leadership understands the need for a social solution to the Niger Delta area, a more focused solution to the Islamic infiltration in the North with the Al-Qaeda Jihadist concept, and the overall assumption that corruption by the privileged few in many ways fuels the emergence of terrorism in Nigeria, the better for the Nigerian Nation as a whole, in terms of peace, prosperity and democratic gains that can be sustainable.”
Experts in the counter terrorism and intelligence community have known for years in regards to the direction that Nigeria is heading towards in terror index.

Unfortunately, these warnings were ignored either due to ignorance, incompetence or lack of will that is needed for this fight. However, now is not really a time to point fingers or for big convoluted publications, but for a time for seeking a well balanced structured solution for this problem that if not handled properly will undermine the existence of Nigeria. My solution and approach in as much as it is not limited to only the proffered will be addressed in the three key areas of concern based on my observation as found below.

Provision of a well balance and structured approach that must be embraced should include a credible intelligence collection capacity; retention of trained operatives in intelligence collection, preservation, and experience and ability to analyze such data as collected must be sought. Currently, the Nigerian security operatives are too fragmented and fractured in its approach to make a meaningful gain. The approach must be coordinated and also not for a privileged few in the circle of investigators. Data must be readily available to all law enforcement personnel and information must be timely. President, Goodluck Jonathan must role up his sleeves and know that a fight is about to ensue and that it may not be over in his four year term, but he owes Nigerians a structured approach that is sustainable and that will allow all law enforcement operatives to build on in the years to come.

There must be a need to understand that the Terrorism issue in Nigeria is a Nigeria problem and as such must demand a Nigeria solution. The culture of constantly depending on foreign investigators such as the FBI, or the British to lead investigation[s] in Nigeria is counterproductive. That is not to say that intelligence sharing among countries is a bad thing, however, local content must be enabled. Nigerian investigators must be adequately trained and even sent to America for a couple of years for adequate training on the handling and investigation of WMD, Bio Threats investigation, Radiological, Chemical, and other hazardous materials investigation. Operational considerations in order to address these areas must be implemented and ad hired to. It was discomforting to watch how the NPF investigators handled themselves after the bomb went off at the Police Headquarters. My observed concerns was on a lack of focus and leadership direction, crime scene was not adequately preserved; consideration was not accorded to a secondary explosion possibility, and the most disturbing was the absolute lack of an emergency response procedure that considers the well being and safety of all occupants of that building on that ill fated day.

Procedure must be in place through the Bureau of Public Procurement on security contractors operating currently in Nigeria. There must be a pre approval process that must include a security clearance by the SSS for all security contractors. Foreign corporations or entities contractors with ties to foreign governments must be excluded from handling Nigerian government security contracts and sensitive issues in Nigeria. It was disturbing to learn that a Chinese company was awarded a contract to install CCTV all across Nigeria. This to me is a security breach especially when the government does not control the storage and preservation of all data collected.

The issue of Terrorism in Nigeria will not go away or be wished away in a day or two, and as such, the government must set in place a workable emergency response system that must be functional. Adequate technology must be employed that guarantees inter agency communications, and the training conducted in areas such as the first responders unit, so that they know what to look for in order to make sure that casualties are taken care of timely. The first emergency responders must do what is required and needed to make sure that even the responders are safe. Emphasis also should be on how to preserve the crime scene for evidence collection and proper investigation.

As Nigeria sets forth in this new chapter of terror and destruction in its history, leadership demands that the citizens are protected by the government. Now is not a time to compromise on fundamental issues as it relates to security and as such, corruption must not be a part of this fight and solutions proposed. Funds that will and must be allocated to this fight must be allowed to be used for such and responsible individuals in all branches of government involved in this fight must see Nigeria first before self in order to succeed in this fight. The new anti terrorism law as signed by the President must be used to its full extent, and prosecutions must be applied to even on individuals found in any way conspiratorially responsible, whether through solicitation or provision of funding by any of the Political elite. The order part of the legislation that just became law which is on anti money laundry must be dusted up and put in good use so as to address the funding issue which is the most critical component of this fight. The need to interdict, intercept and cut off the life line of the funding of these groups will go a long way to get it right, especially on money laundry area.

Finally, data collection through a structured credible community policing had to be the way to go, however, for the Police to receive Maximum Corporation from communities, issues of Police assassinations, harassment and human rights violations must be addressed and controlled. Also, the Politics of this fight must be in place and that will be where the new Director for Anti Terrorism unit will take the lead in order to carry the public along, because what you don’t want is for Boko Haram or any other terror group to legitimize its grievances against the government. Since if that happens, they will become mainstream and subsequently undermine whatever tough stance the government might have employed in this fight. All hands must be on deck, and multiple areas have to be addressed at the same time in this fight. Capacity must be built and it must be targeted, thought out, and structured in its approach and execution.

-Guardianwp_posts