DEMOCRATlq j

GOVERNANCE
AND
·1 1

POLITICAL PARTICIPATION
IN NIGERIA 1999-2011' ;i1

Edited by
Femi Omotoso 8 Michael Kehinde
'1 1'1'.All> \ h.v1~ PRns
Dc1wcr • Barnmda CO S0226
· 10' Dcnn:r
:-E30 \I\' ..\lamcdi .\,"t:, Su1rc J •

Fu"· Pubfahed 2016 ~ -Spew ~lcdia Press

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To Nigerians:
t: f-cm i Omotoso & .\ lid-,ad l(dundt 2016
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 CONT ENT S
co , T I r-. T >

h A o & /keji Arakeji 16 Democracy and Ethnic Militancy in Nigeria

Adedayo o. Ola/eye, Josep Y 341
Ola Abegunde
7 1he 2003 General Elections 155
Bamgbose J. Adele 17 Security of Life and Property: Armed Robbery and
173 Kidnapping in Nigeria 359
R 1he Nigeria
. . 2007 General Elections Isaac 0/ayide 0/adeji
Bamgbose J. Adele
18 The State of Human Rights in The Nigerian Fourth
Ch 0 II nges of Democratic
Q Elec tion o n_d the . _e . A Appraisal of 2011 General Republic 381
Consolidat,on in N1geno. n LereAmusan
Elections 197
Usman A. Tar & Alfa Pamck Innocent PART FOUR INSTITUTIONAL FRAMEWORK IJ03
19 The Nigerian Senate 1999-2013 405
PA RT T HR EE ISSUES OF GOVERNANCE 215 Joseph Yinka Fashagba & O/uwakemi Shade Babatunde

20 An Assessment of The Civil Service and Democratic

1o Goals and Failures ot Anti-corruption Agencies in
Governance in Nigeria's Fourth Republic, 1999-2014
N,geno 217
425
Dec/an Amaraegbu
Felix O/anrewaju Awosika
11 Politics of Privat isation of Notional Assets 255 .
21 Women and the Politics of Representation in Nigeria's
H A.O. ldowu & T 0 . Asaolu
Democratic Governance: An Analysis of the Legislative
12 Labour Relations And Collective Bargaining In Nigeria Elections from 1999 to 2011 439
1999-2013 273 O/uwaniyi, 0 . O/uwatoyin
o s Elegoeleye PART FIVE FOREIGN POLICY IJ57
IJ Religion in Democratic Nigeria : A Janus-faced 22 Nigeria's Foreign Relations: An Assessment of The
Phenomenon 283 Bakassi Peninsula Crisis And Resolution 459
Segun Oshewolo Ajinde O/uwashakin

'"' The Politics of Islamic Banking in Nigeria 293 Bibliography 491

Michael Kehmde Index 535

15
Den_,oc~acy and Terrorism: The Boko Haram Insurgency
1n Nigeria 313
Agaptus Nwozor
xiii
Xii
 ' s cr "' .; D rOLI T I C AI. rARTIClrATION
l (, () \' f f< :'- 11 • IN Nier
1J f.M O ( ~A l l ' , Rfl\

. . ali , to :u·'I o,,, dcrnocr.K}' take root and germinate • so th at th

1n 11s tot I) nd unin' :imong all the ethnic units in th ere
will be dc,·clopmcnt a. , c country.

17

SECURITY OF LIFE AND PROPERTY: ARMED

ROBBERY AND KIDNAPPING IN NIGERIA
Isaac Olayide Oladeji

1''TRODUCTION

People's security around the world is interlinked - as today's global flows

oigoods,services, finance, people and images highlight. Political libcrali-
!irion and democratisation opens new opportunities but also new fault
lmcs,such as political and economic instabilities and conflicts within states
!Commission on Human Security, 2003). More than 800,000 people a
)tar lose their lives to violence. About 2.8 billion suffer from poverty, ill
health, illiteracy and other maladies. Conflict, deprivation and crime are
interconnected (Ibid). Conversely, wars kill people, destroy trust among
them, increase poverty and crime, and slow down the economy. Thus,
lddrtssing such insecurities effectively demands an integrated approach.
The need for security and protection of life and property predates
rn_odem architectural and modern practices. The desire for security of
Lieand properties prompted the development of perimeter walls around
tbe ~~elter of trees and barricades at cave entrances by th e early man in
flTthistoric periods (Duah, 1969). As civilisation increased and tech nol-
,;~l l' ld\"ln
. ccd, t he development of. da ring weapons, tools, an d mech amca . I
..-,dcl~LfO
. . dev1ces
nic . rendered ineffective, the securi. ty dev1ces
. t hac were
.:._..lier - 'd h
:;ch t ns, e~ed insurmountable (Atolagbe, 2011 ). Today, t ere is no t
·
1., 0 a physical barrier or anti -burgla ry devices that ca n offer adequate

,,' ~ ' resi~ t.ince to the onslaught of g renades, hack-saw, rock a nd steel
·...:tn 'mc:r ~ smelting and so o n in a civilisa tion and technology age w I1 ere

358 359
 • ~ I
;1Ll.~i. )'- k4 1 1t..L>fl\ f l! ~, ~

• p . [ J<Ton I IIL r lllL

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" lll<ll( l l .\JIO ,

. \ ·ri cJn ir11.:rn1ou, ,t:,·urirr cditicr, can hl· dl"\·

•
I',/\
T
1c,,· k1,..

il!.t.arcd
,l .

~, JJ\.'Tll
1
1 , ttl 1
J ,\ :",, JJ 1· 1tn 1· 1 rl 1 't·· \M. ..,1t n R'111 h1 u t

t:d th:11 pan~iw in:-n:urity i~ ;1 kc:_v rnanilc~tatiun of thl· hn.: a ·11 0 1·

Tu· . L
,\, n id ll:0-1\ !1 1_1 . _ 1
, 1:, , , , , IHI \

:11..: tr1 ,. . , . j i1 \ 'C f .1 dcl~dr a~o. ' . . ·1JI cuntrJd b) ' rhe ~ovcrnrnent. is r.t1s1.::. ,ln intc:n.:stinu ,1u,·• 1·1
( II 'd) ·, i\•,1_, wirnc:-,n 1hi~•0'- · "', ..., on
JI ,1 I .- J It in rln· 1ni1rl· dcn:lupcd cu untrin of rhc World h . I rhc1 citiLen:- ~huuld ~l.>ntmue Ill be buund by thi:. !>Ul"ial l'nntra ·t
It lb u "ivu• I ,, , - . . , 't c ol ,, i, - . . • - I • . ·- . . • . -· •. . . l.
'b'li . r, ,he ,n:unry of l1ll' .rnd prup-.:rry h,LS bC'comc a m l . _L. ine of rhc p,1rnr~ r u: st.111.: is mi.:reasmgly f,uling lo keep It, nwn
rn pun~1 I fl nr , . . . I dI u t1- ,m~nt . ,-,
. rh~t n,H 1mh rhc ~tare 1, 1m·o vc )UI indi\"iduab
d1• mcm1on.1J . _ 1' .
an d ·J fthe harg:un~· ·
1
,~,uc · · _ ,we Cl • •

,l(lllUp~ at 111crcn
d. ,r . 1 kl'd,. .Jn rhesc c,> untrirs, t:veryhorlv l·onrribute L· .
. _ _ , . , ,- s •JJs
:-,,:·rn•ri:tn~ in n:o:nt times have witnessed an unprecedented level of
, 't-· _ , _. . . . . . . . .
, ·un h ol ~ cir and all. 1liu ~. ~uunt) 1s achieved through th . , rin•, llm, lu~ m.1de n,lt1on,tl scrnrtty threat to be a maJor issue: for
qu• 1IJ 111 IIIr ~Cl , ' e 1n.-r,11 . . .
. -' tr uf dc,j,.-,utcd
,, 11n Im1L-o rn 0 r1'
1
,....
agt'nr,
•
lp~1 l1u: .,md othrr. .
law cnforccm en, h tnlmcnt Jnd h.1s prompted huge allocat1on ot the national bud(Tcf
r r g,11 "'
,1,l(i:111,-) Jrlll ~ n J!l'fl , furthcl>rning .
Jnd .:•1rt'!-,1ou, c1t1zcnry, wi1h ttspc,1. c urin' 1Ai:humha, lghomcreho ,md Akpor-Robaro 2013) In order
ro i , . •- • _ • •
_ ,
Iur II IU l \ 1 a.I•Ju-1 i!nJ , uri•dr.ttl' ri,1,:lit~; Jnd ,,mn.· rn for 1lrderl,, •
nation-st•t• l~ iii
- rtlicr ,trcngthcn rhc Clpai:1tY ot government to tackle insccuritv
tu
' • -;,

(Ihid ) . . . rhe federal go,•ernmcnt has embarked on criminalisation of terrorism

1lal ~,ru,tlill:1 111 d11: lo~dcvdupcd ,:uuntm:~ I !. different. Hc-rc, mu~r
.ici,.,-n, Jiad k:Ji:k,, Jlikr ,ra\'c for !-d( in ,rn ,irmmphcrc of weak, insc~i -
liH', uurt~pL •n,in· and un,·L1t>pcrativc law cnfor.:cmcnt agencies. Security
0 ( lifr and prorcm · Im bn·o mc hi~hlr priced that only the wcll-to-d~
LJll atford rd;llil'r ~c,urit)·, whid 1 in mo~t i:aso. do not even secure them.
G1r.crnrncnt J ' rhc am.ilgarnarion of di\'c:rgcnt inten:sN and arbiter of
r!u: ,11n , □ rut.i1111 111 ,i )talc, ,hoow, .r:. •1 p,,int of rcvcrcn.:c the sanctity of
hu111.m Ii.fr Sc,., ril) of hu mJn lire:• ~ sJcro,a11c1 to 1hc cthu3 of its o:istcn,r
J ' p.rrr o( du: ,1hr, •_l!'Jl r,l ri,('.ht, 1 if ind n·idu.u:- freely given in .in J_gt:-lon~
I l11hbo1;U1 rhron , 11 ~r.trc. J-Lr\'rn_t.: g,va:ri lc~timac_v Jnd .tuthori 1r t n thl'
,w (' 111 .1poliuuu , ,-ial ,,,ntrad, cxpcdati nn, .tb11und Jor the prdctica l-
11
,n ul ,uL h duthuril\ Jncl 11 i, 111,1 tu br ,ulwcnc.d h_ ,. ckmcnt, withm the
" Jrl , th u,. rc:luming them 10 the: crJ o l medieval hruti,h no, where lin·•
l'I p.1."in~ the Anti-Tcrrurbm Act in 2011, installation of Computcr-
~1.-ed Clo5cd Cirl1.1it Television .:ameras (CCTV) in some parts of the
,,,untry, cnhani:ement of surYcillancc as well as investigation of criminal
rdared offences, heightening of physical security measures around the
,11;:nrry·Jimcd at deterring or disrupting potential attacks, strengthening
~i }C,-urirr agencies through the provision of security facilities and the
dn•dopmcnt and hroadcast of security tips in mass media (Azazi, 2011).
Doritc this., thi: le\'cl of insi:curity in the county h,lS continued to rise h>
the c,ttnl that Nigeria has consistently ranked low in the Global Pcai:c
l:ido. (Gl'I. 2012). H owever, not much result has been n:cordcd. in this
,1~;i.i c,·t n when g1wc rnment has partnered with other foreign security
,gm(1c, 111 ~ti:m 1hc trend of insecurity in Nigeria. Among other \'kL'S l>r
.r1mr- in the: cnuntry, armed rohbcry and kidnapping seem robe major

.rnJ prupcrl') Jre 11u1,r:~urcd. Sc.-urir.r odifc: and prnpcrrr rn Ihe b,r rime
Jn Jdr, in :\'1gcri.1 lu, hcc:11 ;1 ~uh,icct llf cxp:.1ndin_L! dehatc ,,·irh ,t JlC''
Jr1frrng 1111,JtJ, l••tnplcrc h:rpl o~nc!., . Sn.:i1,c.-, 0 n11m1.- 1nn 1ua litin h.m·
, rc~rcd ui!Jj,1,111 br rwcrn ,i1i:u·n0·, puttir,_i:: to quc~twn the :1hro~,11 i1111 01
,rh -hclp .111J r cf', m;il ,crnr1 rv. Citi;,cn~· a~r~mcnr r1, the ,· rc-al inn ,it' J
• 11 \\...'\·1,i.:-n l'Hl1 c1 ll'dli 11.~I\' or unw illin(!I\'. thco rcc icJ! I\ i11 N1 .~ n.1, ~r,1rn•J
w1!11d1r .,111ic.:..\.ll wn nl l~.,~P.., 111 l ~l• I, ~,-hrn 11nr1~h l l1loni:.1li~111;, ik ,,i r 1
~l1r .iJrninh tr J f11t: i,:,ncrn ,1n,·t· (11· LJ~m aud ~ub~cyucntl~· Ni~cn,1. L 11 11 c 11 '
/,!f,duJlJ_i .~J11• up d 1ri1 t1gh 1 ru ~c-lf. hdp bnau , c- Ul('\ ' \ \ C: J t' 1•,fy _c ,L_!,:1'.°I
I11 c'"ll(' IIJC', 1 ,11 J'11 1, ,11, 111 ., pn:,u 111C"l j ,1.1 1c ,d- 11;11 utc· \\'lC
J re Irk 11 •1'
~1,, J!I II J\I) JllJ hru t1 , h' 1 hi, ,, till' u11Jnln11~ ph ih ,~1..1r lI\ ' ,) ( lhC' ~t),J.J
uortrr..Kr bcr ~,·C'rn chC' l,!'l ;~e r11rnrn r ,111 J the gm cin,d 11 , .. uld d icf1'l <lf1
1~,uc~at ,take. \Vhile armed robbery has been a major aspect of crime in
\;1~ni1 iur ;1 Ion~ timi:, kidnapping is a recent phenomenon which that
1' 1~1,ing lwd for thr security agencies in the country to tackle he,1dlong.
Wnh the lin)!cring security challenges and the inability of the SCl'U -
n~· •1J1p.u J lUl>CS uf the gowrnmcnt to guarantee safety and security in
:hl ' 11 u111ry, the m.1jor questi on un the lips of an ,m:r,1ge Nigeria n today
i,i iw \rn rhcrt hr ~rcuril'\•~" ls sccuril'\' nflife ,ind properric~ achic,·-
lHr 111 :"\i~cri.1~ It •~ t1l,vi11~-, th at. the li~.:uriry situation in Nigni;t h:ts
)iJr,,r.,, ·\.lil'l" Pn, .1,11<· h i, l11.1ppi11~ in Ni!,;t: ri.1· '-pnp111111 ~ ,..,- :t l·:,,iling Stalt·:"
~r,r. •n,, , hnlln J t°J 1, J.(11111 ' ,h"" :\rtiL·l.: .php ~.udil=J04&c.11lcl=1 (r~I rll'l't:d Jul)' J 1.
• I•

360 361
 AND POLITI C AL PARTICIPATION INN . L1'E 1' N D P R O PE R TY : AR M E D RO ll 8E RY AND K l .
. , •~Ji l 0 ~ DNAP P JN G I N N I G E "I
C n,\Tlf GOV F.: RNA NCF. , IC~R1 ,_ §fl • " ,\
Df-M O "

and insurmountable to the extent that th . _ the point of view of the sociologists that a society can .
I. herculean tas k ere is trorn _ . not expcn-
compliance to the rules and regulat:J.ons govemin •
eoce rotal
t)ccorne . _ . the people on the efforts of the governme . _ . . · g society. 11'\e
h diV1s1on among . nt 1n
a s arp . I me quarters, it is believed that government has .
acnv1u . ·es of the deviants
. m such society should
. _ be overlook d
e or un er
d
kli g the Vices. n so . . not
tac n h kle the problem of security, parti.cularly kidnapp· esri!llated. Rather, soc1_ety should be pr~act.1ve in dealing with such devi-
d e enoug to tac · . .. 1ng,
on . te conducive environment for the c1t1zens. 0th :Ult activities by ensunng that mecharusm for the protection of human
to rovide or promo . . .. . . ers
P. . • that the situation 1s a political machination of 50 uves and properties is guaranteed and provided for. When this is done
arc ot the opinion me
_ _ .,. h ere adversely affected by the results of the 2011 gene-• with easy accessibility and responsibility, it is referred to as security. Th~
indiv1du;us w O w 'd.l

elections in the country.
'all therefore ' this paper attempts to underscore the natu re
Esscnn Y
and dimension of anned robbery_and ki~napping in Ni?eri_a and how this
has affected or is affecting security ~f life and pro~erties m the country.
In doing this, the paper is divided mt~ seven sections. ~e first section
gives the introduction to t_he paper while _the scc~nd sec~1on provides a
conceptual clarification ot the te~m secun~ and i_nsec~nty as part of a
la r discussion of human security. The third sect10n gtves an overview
o~med robbery and kidnapping in Nigeria. The fourth section examines
the underlining factors of insecurity in Nigeria and the management of
these vices while the fifth section gives information on how to curb the
vices. The sixth section provides possible ways forward and the last section
gives the conclusion to the paper.
SECURITI' OR HUMAN SECURITY? TOWARDS A CONCEPTUAL
C u \RIFICATION
The debate on security/insecurity in the global village today has made
the conceptualisation of the concept of security/insecurity to become
elusive and intractable. As a matter of fact, scholars believed that the
notion of security oflifc and properties should not be treated in isolation
bur as part of a larger discussion of human security. Nevertheless, it rn_ay
suffice to understand that security is not absence of violence or conflict
in a society. Security refers to "the situation that exists as a result of th c
esta blishment of measures for the protection of persons, information ao<l
proper{)· against
. host1·1e persons, ·influences an d act.Lons
· " (Akin ' 2008).Ir
is thr.: existence of conditions within which people in a society can god
b · · li cs an
a out their normal daily activities without any threats to their v .
rn1pc:rtic5 (Achumba, lghomereho and Akpor- Robaro, 2013 · t .15 obvious
. ) 1
notion of security embraces all measures designed to protect and safeguard
the citizenry and the resources of individuals, groups, businesses and the
nation against sabotage or violent occurrence (Ogunleye, et al, 2011). It
also demands safety from chronic threats and protection from harmful
disruption (Igbuzor, 2011).
As observed by Achumba et al, security can be described as stability
and continuity of livelihood (stable income), predictability of daily life
(knowing what to expect), protection from crime (feeling safe), and free-
dom from psychological harm (safety or protection from emotional stress
which results from the assurance or knowing that one is wanted, accepted,
loved and protected in one's community or neighbourhood and by people
around. It focuses on emotional and psychological sense of belonging to
a social group which can offer one protection). This description partly
explains what is meant by human security as a larger or broader concept
of security.
Debates on human security and its value in light of continuing and
deepening threats to the survival and dignity of millions of people have
gained impetus globally. In order to conceptualize security, various mean-
ings and adjectives have been employed by its national and trans-national
advocates. Terms such as "extended security", "comprehensive security",
•~re~entive security", "state security", "internal security" and "human secu-
rity are gaining even more prominence in the wake up 9/11 and the war
on terrorism. Three features of the debates on human security illu strate
how varied the objectives of human security can be. As an instrument
of national strategic priorities, human security has been seen as a way of
reducing the human costs of violent conflict; secondly as a str ategy to
enabl e governments to address basic human needs and onset a-
tl1e ·ineqmt:tes
··
of glob a1·1sat1on;
· and thirdly as a framework fo r prov1·d'mg socia · 1secun.ty .
10 people living in deprivation because of sudden and severe economic

362 363
 . CE A'-D J' O LITI C A!. l'ARTJ C ll' AT I Q:-, I:-; - r 11F \:- 1, 1· HOl' [RTY: A R\ JtO Ru& b L R)' A , .
ll r~IU ( ll :\ TI< GO \ ' f p ;,; ,l:S . • ~ I C£R1 ~ • I\ I f \ l>t • ~ U h'. I U '\ AI' p I \; f, I ' .
,r "t ' l l., t k l.\

. vc:rrv (Taylor, 2003) . Human security is a res ·o·cution of Crnada, the Constitution of South Ac. .
crisc~ and chroruc P0 p .- · · · · P0 n~c he Con~ irrca:' N·1 ·
. today's world. o11C1es, mst1rut1ons and civil s .
• •
·· t other laws ;\round the world. · ' icna
to the challenge..~ 10 · . . - - . . d . 0 oeiy nd
d these insc::cunt1es in stronger an more intc l LTl'ner.il, th 1:·ng
In i-- ' ht tot he :.ccunt)
· · · , ot· one~· person · . .· .
,11:ton, must n:spon to . . b b h . . grated . . • . . is associated with
·· U, h rn,w :,n:unrr I:> a uut ot preventing violent cona, . . . .i.nd in.Jude~ tht: nght, 11 one 1s unprisunccl uni ,c. II
war,. Essentia ), u . 3) I . . •u1.:t hb~rt) . J \\ 1U V, tu the
,· . d \ iation~ (Tavlor, 200 . r 1s 11nporranr to stress th d " of habca~ l'.orpus. If there 1s no security, there i. 1.b·
and reducing cprt · . . d ._ . . at renlc -' . .- . . , s no I crtv and
. Ja)' put~ people first an rt:1.:ogmzes that then safety . . h r. ·
1 s no liberty, lite 1s not meaningful and society· rev L · k
hum.in si.:cunty 10 . -~ • • • 1s it t c c · . . errs oac to
intevral to th e proml
ition and m:untenanu: ot nattonal and internaf al
. . ion h 1. ,v of the ·1·unglc,
1e~ .
that 1s,. the survival_ of the fittest and ma n~pninan·
, .
,... d . . , The security of states 1s essential, but not sufficient objective of forming a state is defeated. ' ' A traditional definition of th~
Pcaci.: .i.n sccunC). · . f h Id' , to
fullv ensure the safen• •_, .ind wdl-bcmg o t c.wor s peoples. While st ate •tc often attributed to Max Weber, required as a necessan•
5t I0 •
conditio n
• . lonsn
secunl)' . •rute the central focus of secunty . debates before the end of the effective monopoly on the use or license of violence within a gi\'cn
the Cold War, the current agenda emphasizes the concern for people's territory. The security of states is therefore threatened by any chanie that
~ecunt)' . an d put the responsibility· at the door step of both the state and might threaten that monopoly of violence--whether through external
the ci\~I society with more resting on the shoulders of the state. This now inrasion or internal rebellionx 11• Attitudes of robbery, kidnapping and other
de ends on the capacity of the state to firmly carry out this responsibility vices constitutes internal threat to the state's monopoly use of violence
rn~ ensure rhe securiry oi lives and properties of individual and groups and general safety. Herc , the legal definition of armed robbery being the
ll'ithin the ~ociery. forceful use of dangerous weapon to take possession of personal propt:rt}',
The principal difficulties involved in the attempt to define 'security' money or goods from a person/victim that lack consent on the part of
iies in the di,·crgcnr opinion that usually accompany studies in the Social l'iaim, and with the intent to steal on the part of the offender. Robbery
~cii:ni:es and specifically, the dynamism of the object of relative concept requires taking of property from the person or presence of the victim, which
undmrudr. How the concept has extended beyond traditional concern means that the taking must be from the victim's possession, whether actual
of imli\id~al safety to include groups, government and dilemmas states' or constructive~ 1, the crime is completed when ownership is transferred
face in sustainability and existence has made definition of terms multi- from the victim to the offender, even if for a very short period of time.
faceted. Security is an encompassing phenomenon that is paramount to While kidnapping is to take away illegally by force. A criminal activity
incfo·iduals, entities, communities and even nations. Security has to do of unlawful restraint of a person's liberty by force or show of force so as
with self-preser\'ation which is the first law of existence. Security implies a take to another location or concealed. Kidnapping is often accompanied by
~table, relatively predictable environment in which an individual or group
may pur~uc its ends or objectives without disruption, harm, danger and
withour fear of disturbance or injury.;; .
Security of the per~un is a basic entitlement guaranteed by the Un.1• ·, Sec cn.wikipcdia.org/wiki/Sccurity_of_pcrsc ,n
\·eM1 Declaration of Human Rights, adopted by the United Nations in :•John Kulfour, 2012 . "Ni6rcria: Security, Development and National Transti'.~ution"
1948. Ir is also a human right issue explicitly mentioned and protected by bcrn? a lcxt of speech at Nigeria's 52nd Indepc.:ndc.:nt Annil'c.:rs.1ry Lc.:turc, ~l,mstry of
Foreign Affairs .

- d" bcinv J . "Stephen E. Sachs. 2003. "'lhL· ChaUcnging Ddinition ofSccuriry" lntcrnarional Rcla-
Slffibt, OJ,uki , 2013. "Nigcria's Sc.:urin• Challenges: The Way ForwJr ' \b'\ lions ' ri,1.crton Co II cgc, Oxlor<l:
- http:// www.stc\'c.:sa.:1is.co ml paper. s/papcr
· - sccurin·.html
·
. , . ·h
t.:.\t 0 1 ;p,.:cc
J 1· . • • . D •fi· .
c ivcn.:d at th1: 3rd St:m1nar held at rhc N1gcnan c encc.:
CoJlccrc,r UJ•
0 !02/0I I

~r rl:c .-\Jumni ,if the Illstituti, ,n. littp://Jcadership.ng/nga/articlcs/46623/20 13 . Sec http://lcgal-dirtio11ar\'.thcfrco.:Ji.:1in11ary..:c1m/ _/

Ji,t.Jspx;rd-J&'•
·· - . t1l,cry
won I =.irmcl I +n1
fl •l(cnJ , _,n un1y_c hallc11gcs_ way_ forward .hrml

365
364
 CI I\ ,_ D f' O LI T J (. I\ I. I' A RT ft . II' A ·r I o N I N Of LI rE 1' NI> I' R IJ I' CA T Y . A RM r. l> ra n JI n r I< y .
-u 11T1 A:.u K I U NAl-' Pl
l' I !'1 0 ( I \ I\ "11 l f • I/ V I ll '- JI N . ' N I G f. l I A 11 • N (; I N N i t;E ll.l A

.
_ ,., ·,1 s-.auJt or a dcman d tor ran som . t involves detc .
NJ }
. . 'l\~JFESTATIONS OF ARMED ROOU ERY AND KIIJN ·
[' • • APPI NG IN
h,,d,I\' 1111ur}', !-eXUa.i · • . . nt1on
. · _ 1 •11 11 r int<·nr . Kidnapping occurs when a person is rn N1GF.RIA
~
3 11 ,.. p c r5n na \'\1 _ _ ,. . . . ovcd
. 1 _ ·t· 1 ..-,.T\;.,,.wn nr request ,,1th intenti on to use the kidn 3
w11hnut a \\' u pc-,"' · . . . Ppcd
. . h · 1 tc a -hi cvc other ench. Kidnapping, the taking away f Criminal reverberations
. across
. the Nigerian state sp annmg
. c.irom the
\ 't C' U 111 J'- .I. I I I. • • 0 Q
pcr,<>n a~.i.•n~
. t tl,c r cNln·s w"ill, u~ually tor ransom or m funhcra,, .
. . . cc o
f urn e of Jshola Oyenus1, the Kmg of robbe rs in the 1970 s an d \ 'oupcllc
. . Lc-(lminrt c\"crvo nc s ntghtmarc in o ur dear \'.ou D.i..l.1Jro, the arm}~ desertc~ who_ mastcrmjndcd the most vicious daylight
:i n n t h e r ,-nmc, •~ l' 1. ~ • • - ntr\'.

l) 31.1\ ", we re ad ni..,.htmarish , ; rorie.5 of people bcmg abducted as the)' · ro1Lbc"' in Lagos an 1978 m which two policemen were killed , th roug h to
~ , . . • go 1 ·1 • •
· h . ... . .·1 ),· hu<.incss
a h(lUtt ciru .. ., ·· ·
A cnrnanal acf, .·
which fin:t . attracted
.
natio _1
n.u
L:wrence Nomayagbon Amn1, Mo~da~ Os~nbor (Anini's deputy} and
. n 26 February 200 6 when Nager Delta militants kidnapped Inspector George Iyamu (who supplied intelligence and arm!; to Anini's
,1 t1 cn nnn L' •
. •t ,..or'·er'i ro pre--~ home their demand, kidnapping has s·in gwg), had subjected rhc nation to a reign of terror with criminalc; living
1,,rc1gn 111 ~ "' . . - cc
hc(nmc ubiquirous and C"o mmerc1ali sed . !t
ha~ spread from the Niger brgcr than life, dwarfing the apparatuses of govemmenr in a civil society.
DeIra 10 virrually aU noo~ and crannies ot the country, with some states Anini spear-headed a four-month reign of terror between August and
cit" course be-in~ horspo~:,. Similarly ,~~ti~s ha~•e ch::i_ngcd from being December 1986 that gripped part of Nigeria. While he and his gang
rrcdn minantly fo reign 011 workers to N1gcnans, mdudu~g pa.rc:nts,grand reigned, they killed, maimed, kidnapped, robbed, and raped their victims.
parent!>, and tnddkn; and about anyone who has :t relative that could be The episodes were replicated with increasing sophistication, brazenness
hla('kmailcd inti--. i:-ou_f.(hing out a ram.o m ti '_ and :i.rrogance. At the end ofit all, 20 persons - 11 policemen and nine
"fhe ~i ~nian .:;rate has dic;playcd serious incapaciration in her rcspon- chili:ms were killed. Indeed, Anini's siege on Nigeria was described as 'a
!>ihilirv of proYid ing !>-Cn.J riry of lives and properties of Nigerians. This nightmare' and 'a metaphor of horror.'8-1
1nca p-~ 1ta tion ha~ manifc.,rcd in ~ ri ou.;; anned robbery attacks on various
This ern signifies Nigeria's retrogressive dive into a failing state, charac-
~ i,-.Jtri:an, in \-;1n ou, ,c_c :mcnts of the !'-oci cty. There is hardly any passing terised by a weakened ability to provide basic public services and security
da\· d1Jt r a~c-, o l armed rohhcry " i ll not be repo rted in the dailies in the wh.ich metamorphosed into widespread corruption as people think of
, n~nm ·. Thi~h:1 ppcm nn the hi~hway"!'- 1 individual h o m es a nd mostly in themselves first, following the failure of the state to perform its traditional
functions 8' of protecting lives and properties. Since the early 1970s, the
b,1nk,.
Al""· the rate ::it which kidnappi ng i<; rcign in~ in the country shows incidence of armed robbery has increased at an accelerating rate in Nige-
rirn cities. It is argued chat widespread corruption at the most influential
tha t rh c ~!lite tu ~lo,;;t the ha rtlc fo r !>CC1.1riry to the evil m en of the under·
levels of national life encourages and provides the justification for armed
c;'l'ound T ndJ\', , ever.ii n:.i, nm h:i.,·c b een :1dduccd for the maru fcst:1tion
robber's acts of condemning their victim s to perpetual penury and ~t
rd d a~,e , nmc, 1n the- ,nunt ry.1hi . . . . ha ll he: the fol. LI '> of t his paper in the
other time maiming them for life. The socioeconomic or~er ~~ape~ in
n c:>- 1 •c...1 11 ,n
lirgc part the prevalence, rnagnirudc, and seriousness of N1genas cnme
problem. In the same vein, the form , emphasis, and extent of success or

''. PE J · r
· · gbin uvia (1 98 8) . "Wo un d 13:illislics, Rc;isnn:ibh.: •orcc: an
J A ' ni's Incap·1ci·
ni '
tit, • 1 . I C · · / 12(1) pp 131-135.
un rill'm11tional j o11 n1al ojC0111pamt h 1.- and Apf1u , r trllllltl · ' '
lSpnngJ.

,. Jid~ufor Adi bc, O p. Cit.

367

366
 ' il (~~· ,J f L t ~r· •.\,· 11 l'R Vl't.~T•t : :\.f.t.:\ll'll KUhl\1:.R. , .\ :\U l\. l u , _..._, . i' l :\i....1~ '\ 1L L K. l 1\
!' ... .. ~

_ ·a1 _ tr >I md ..::rime prc\ention programmes arc in lar
failwt' vi ~o.::.i ,,,n l . ,, ' gc
- . of rhe upc:TJ.tl\'C 1.1rdc:r.
Pa.rt, tum:ti un~ · . _ 11 . •
. JtrJchcd 111 sccunt)' wa;; we captured m the Nig,. .
The 1. mp0rcan,c . -.nan
. . - ') '): Section H (2) (b) which states that, "the secu ..
con.mtunon or 1 9 . nl)
and welfa.n: of the people shill _be ~he pnm:.uy purpose of governmenrnx:_
lm·.uiabl~· thc:rc:iorc the Conso~uo~ has saddled the Government with
the rcsronsibilitY of safeguarding lives, property, welfare of Nigerians
~Hoo
. L..th intc:~ and exmnal threats including other forms of dang"~
Thu~. it is incumbent on the Government to monitor public order and
~en~induding law and order. United Nations Charter, Article 3 also
•,-e; .:rcdcnce ro security of person where it stares that, "Everyone has a
gi dS . -· P
right ru Life. Liberty an ecunty ot erson ·
"i-,
. state had recorded the highest in abduction of government officials and
Along the ,ice of armed robbery that has deamated the country"s
sc.:uritr m,.:cm is the ugly trend of kidnapping. Just as Armed robbery
took shape following 1967-70 Civil War, with the proliferation of a~
in ungua.rded hands. kidnapping started initially as part of methods used
by Nigtr Delta militanrs to attract attention of oil companies and the
gon:mment tu their struggle for resource control. Today, it has taken
a different lease uf life with high concentration in South-East, while
gndually ~pre:u:iing to other parts of the country. Investigation revealed
that kidnapping fin.t captured people's attention in February 2006, when
milit.ams in the Niger Delta started abducting foreign oil workers. Most of
the i:arly victims were usually set free: afo:r few days in captivity. Howe,•t:r.
"~rh time. the potential for quick m oney in a rela tively lower risk venture
made kidnapping to blossom int o a ~lucrative business".
In .1 report by the Campaign for De mocracy (CDY"'. it said that a
lu t.tl 11umber of 938 prominent sons and daughters of the South-East
· 5.unhu D.!Suki, 2013. ".\ 'igeria·~ Security Challenges: Thc Way Forw.1,J", being_J
'"'~:i:h
lt:.:i.1 " 'r- daJ\'Cft
.,~ ·d JI t hc .,r . hel, d ar c}ll'. N'•~nan
' d St:JTUn;U
,,,rJ,c. ··\l wnn 1_" 'cth ~· l n, 1 1!\Jl .11 ,11 . h11p://lt:ld~·n.h1. p.11g/ nbr;thru. clt:Y-l
rugcrLL> _,.:-, urn~ _ch.tl.lcng~--,, _way_fi ,r,\ ,1rd.h t rn I
Th~ .\ 'igt'fi.u1 199'.I C,, 11~uruti,,u.
' Th .: L n1tnl ·:\ J 1101 11, C' h.llkr
. 11 n Pc-Jee .ind Sccunry
. • Ibid.
h.1,-c been kidnapp_ed between January 2008 and August 2012. ln thi~
..irt, the group said that the total number of people kidnapped had paid
:sorns ,·alued at about Nl.2 bil~on within the last five years. Anambra
Sure has the highest incidence of kidnapping of 273 peJ'Sons, especially
within the commerdal axis of Onitsha and Nnewi. And it is happening
ata constant rate for over five years now. Imo State, with current upsurge
of kidnapping incidence, has recorded 265 cases; while its residents are
living in heightened fear. Abia follows with 215 persons so far, although
thr inciden(c of kidnapping had continued to reduce for some months
now after the death of a notorious kidnapper called Osisikankwu. Enugu
rus recorded 95 rnses of the incidence in the past five yeaJ'S. However, the
iotem:itional personnel. Ebonyi is the least, and quite of all the five states
,1ithin the South East. It has recorded 90 cases so far officially. Howc:ver,
apart from kidnapping; the states are ladened with communal crisis.' 4'
Though the granting of amnesty through Federal Government
Amnesty Programme of June 25th, 2009 reduced kidnapping in the
South-South area of Nigeria, criminal elements, most especially in the
South-Eastern part of the country, have adopted kidnapping as a strategy,
believing that kidnapping is a less risky and more lucrative venture than
:urned robbery. 91 Armed Robbery, Kidnapping and Boko Haram insur-
gency in the North are today regarded as the main security challenges
confronting the country. Prominent Nigerians, lawmakers and traditional
rule~ ha,·c fallen victims. Kidnapping gives the impression that lives of
oil workers, prominent citizens and ordinary Nigerians are not safe and
consequently portrays Nigeria as insecure, with attendant consequences.
When a British national was kidnapped near Lagos international
airport on the 16th ofJuly, 2013, the US EmbassJ in Nigeria sent an alert
~hour the kidnapping, saying it "' urges all US citizcns living :md travelling
in Nigt:ria to take extra 1~n:c1utions for their pa~onal sc(urity and safety"
. D c J'l:nu - , C••ll••re
v · o ' At,111,
·1 , be,·ause of the "high threat of kidnapping of expatriates country-wide."
_1 6J3/ 70 I V011ll l
6 - - - The embassy advised US dtizt:ns to be p,uticularl~· vigilant arnund (hun:h

S.l!Tlb.. Di,...1ki, Up. Ci t ' Kidn appin~ and lnsc,uri t)' in ~ igi.: ria - . \n :\ SI Gl,,b:1I Rl·pMI, Di.:,i.: rn b~r 6•20 12

368 369
 . .,; ' E , . -..D rO ll TlCA L P.-1. R T I C IP AT I O '
Of ,_1 O ,: i;; .\-;- ! ,: ,--; () \ f it -. A · '- · "
-es wnrshin \oc.1rions where crowds gather, go,·ernmcnt
an d Ol h c::r pl a.c 01 ·· ,., . •
-tJ. ·- .li . _ ..1 ,, _,,_ ,::,..,.nuentcd b, · fo reigners b ecause of an ongomg th ....... t
• uc:s anu .._. ___,. ....., - -
f~:,. h,l.J.mj . :: a m:mists orcra~g ma.inly l~n n o rtheast N igeria, whc~
there is J 2- month-old ~rate ot emergency..
The nujor challenge of Policing and managing the spiralling trend of
in.~--uritY i~ Nigeria can be craced ro the de.liberate neglect by the mili-
ran· :ind ·'5)-Stcroic looting of the funds meant for the force by a few top
offi.:crs d~g the~~ ofMilitar}' administration of the Nigeria State.
Hcm"C'· a. ~incc 1999, there has bttn a significant itnpro,•emcm in terms
of numeric~ srrength of the police though not explicitly adequate, the
recommendation of the United Nations' ratio of one policeman to 450
citizens is put under ,icw. Of importance is the need for the police to be
well equipped. ~--pite the staff strength of the Nigeria Police co,-ering
abO\-e J00,000 rersons. skills, intelligence, sophistication and modem
armoun• still pl.int producti,ity and efficiency in bad light. Though no
manc.r bow· endowed and organized a country is, it can hardly be totally
free/devoid of securiry challenges. The sc.curity challenges nations contend
with an: inatriobh·. Ii~ \\irh their historv, . culrurc, social structure and
economic conditions.
H owe\·c.r, the issue of se...~ry of life and property does not begin
:ind end with the police. The armed forces :is well as o ther se.::urity agen-
o~ in th~ country should be well equipped and m o ti,--ated in the t~s~ to
cni.u.re :.ecuriry of life and property of N igerians :ind foreigne rs ~ ding
in the country. lhis paper suggests that de- emphasising materialism :is
tbt prime value o f society, ro~ ther with the c re:i.tion of J. h u m 3 ne 3 ocl
· a re ducnon
· liUC d SOO· et)·, m ay b.nng
di •Op · ·10 arme d robben. · ;rnd related
properw uffc:nce-s.
U~Dl::RlJ N"l:'\G FACTORS FOR l~SECURITI'
Th.c in ,ecurin · prcsen t1v bei ng witnessed in N .1ge ri.:1 .t:.- r.1n t •imount
• • ~ . ·• O CT)lll l
111 wlu t tran~pi res in w .ir- to rn environ m e nt :;, wh e re che re •:.
. \-\'.,~\J 111nc,· hrrr. 1Wllrld .timt:.wm/2U13 u7/1 9/
1-nr, •!1-\...i,.irurrc-l · nc.u-ni~· bs, ,s- .lirpMt/
370
IS :S:IGERI, - - 1-r or un: A.SO PR OPE R TY : .... it :!l! ED R011 8 E &Y AND i: I . .
! l • • ll , D1'A PP I:>; (, t!> S IC Ulo \
t.:n-cauinC)' in the air. Kidnapping in N igeria defiles social stratification
.......
~-bodyworth the ransom is liable to be kidnapped. At a time a 3-vear~
old son of a State legislator"\ three female primUJ• school teach-~r of
Orhogbua Primary School, Ekekhuan, Edo State were part of the many
nctims "ith ransom ranging between N50 million and N70 million. The
!l'lilquillity once inherent in the nooks and cranny of N igeria has been
ruintd. Majority of the metropolis like Lagos,Jos, Kaduna etc known for
thrif mnquillity ha\"e all took on the togas of insecurity and fear.
In an online poll carried out by the Niger Delta Budget Monitoring
Group, seeking the key causes of insecurity in Ni~ru, result shows that
&81 per cent of the nation's aggregated insecurity is caused by corrup-
tion, ,vbile the remaining 11.8 per cent is due to government in-action~ .
.\ new concept, of~human security," has been suggested to express the
nttd of individuals for safety in other arenas of basic need-access to
dean food and water, environmental and energy securit)~ &ccdom from
eoonomic exploitation, protection from arbitrary ,iolencc by the police,
gangs., or domestic parmers, etc. However, while this concept may be
usd\J.l in indicating the varier)' of human needs that must be satisfied,
it is fu too expansive to be an effective policy goal, and does not offer
m ippcaling alternative to traditional conceptions of security (Kuffour,
2012). Kuffour est1bllshes that imb:tlance dc'\"clopment that in\'olves
horizonbl inequalities is an important source of conflict (insecurity) and
du.tis costing Nigeria the opporrunit)' to be the giant nation thar it can
uid should be. Overpopulation a.nd economic discrep:incies, can thus be
csllblished as part of sources of insecu rity w o rthy o i security planner's
m~tion95 • Insecurity is a social cost. police expe nditure for crime pre-
\"'tnnon m made by every classes of government in N ige ri:i - local, Sta~e.
ind federal. In 2005, the feder:tl government budgeted S5 1,516,750 t or
th ~police department (Po lice Annual Report , 2005) . Also. in .2005, an
.1
ls
:._W~ IJ lame~: http://world.timc. romi :!OLVO,/ 19.'
•• ·•• IQ· ki..ln-~ I
~ ....1-'r-u· nc.u--nigcri.1s-l:i.gus-.urp, rt 1
.~:~Sec _http://www.
r t un....,_
· r• .....
nigc.rrlelt1bud gt:t.org/i ndc:.x.
,ccom_po U&id= 8:wh.at-,1n:--thL~ kc,··C1Use5-0l·•nsi:.:u
l -·
. .
•
. •
nn - 111-m •:'\:OJ
~
., Jidaifor Adibc, Op. C it .
371
 u\ I U, 4 , l I A .... L• p l, LI I I C AL r• A RT I~ I ,, AT IO-' I !\. I\ I(, t RI A \ O f 1 1Ff ,\:,. U l' lllJl ' [ kT V: .\lt~!rl) nnoorn y .1.:,.0 '" .
. ,cu ~ ll U~ ,\ ~~l !';f, ' ' ' "•L U I ,\
IJl \l l l l I, .\! l l t,

. d 0-48 . ~~ (of .1rmcd robbery were reported nationwid cqu •iprnent and
. information technology to combat C)'bcr crimes-. A porou~
i.:,t1n1JtC l 85 • l• - dI e,
_, ,i • ·r SJJ 407 806.)0 were repurte ost. In total mo tiordcr remains a lteway for armed robberr and kidnapping, with vur
n> ct n· ,·.11ucu o\ c - • • . . . . • re
r PS Iu · ., illi' n w.,~ ~ncnt h) combat ~-nmc tn Nagena tn 2005 (4 percent e,xtcnsin: borders, pi.:ople can waltz in and uur of Nigeria without detection.
th.w ... m u ,
of n~·t nJtion.J rrodu.:-t) (Ibid). .. .. . . . ProliicCJtion of arms and ammunitions arc also common~placc councw
. .... unJcrlinin.,.,., cau~c. ot mstab1lity and
0 m: pnrn.1,: . tnsccunty
.. m Nigcr·i a of our porous borders. '!he Nigerian lmmigration Service, Customs, Na,y
,~ cI1r ;)\..~rem oi·govcrnmcnt which coni.:entrate. . Political Power at th c wd the Nigerian Air force must synergizc to ensure that our border., arc
'}(,
. e
LCOlJ'C' , In a 1J1J II
rcdcrJtion •
rhc federattng
• .
units
•
act autonomous
•
but inter- dfecti\'dy patro l1 ed .
rcbied with the centre,cvcl')' uni1 managing its secunty apparatuses, with
:1 judicial ~ysrcm 1h:11 interpret th~ la,~• in content and context. At present, CURBING THE MENACE
rhcn: •~ J ,,idopre:ad notion that JUStlcc can be bought or sold in Nigeria
de nding 00 one's bargaining power and contacts within the corridors The theoretical diffirnlty with limiting the concept of security to the
of ;wer. Some of the alleged masterminds of Kidnapping cases arrested use of physical violence is that all economic and political relations are
111 rhr pbt by ~ccuriry agents secure released due to political affiliation. characterized by force, whether thn.:atcncd or .11:tually employed . ll1c
:\ ~y:,tcm char pr~cution of offenders with levity encourages othu~ in pu~scssion of economic rights in a resource which constitutes threat of
that line of rr:ade. forceful withdrawal of such rcsoun:es by person(s) of lesser economic
Dcvc.lopmenl is a by-product of institutions and forthright leadcr- rights. Someone who has no economic rights to food or other resourct'S
~hip, powerful individuals with .i.ccompanying weak institutions only which can be traded for food, might be subjected to use available means
pla..:c:::, premium on wealth, thus, becoming an underlining factor to seek obtain what he feels he lacks even at gunpoint. To aid this, is the prolif-
ill wealth. Cabals and power-brokers are known to be stronger than the eration of arms emanating from the civil war to neighbouring countries'
government ur the institution. They see themselves as untouchables. They ci,il unrest, Niger Delta militancy and now Boko Haram activities.
~o.i.st that nothing wiU happen and nothing ultimately happens! .Many a In Nigeria today, there are contentions as to whether our system of
time:~, the Police, Economic & Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), national security is functioning effectively. A number of public analysts
Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC} etc needs so me freely opine that not much is being done to combat crime in the face of
kind of"clcarancc ' from the powers that he before they can do what the~· our resources being continually expended on International Peace Keeping
.uc nJturally ~uppu~cd to do especially when J so-..:alkd godfather or Operations (PKOs) and commitments. Of coun.e, most of these opinions
ptmerful indi,idual i~ involved. emanate from lack of understanding and appreciation of the dimension of
With h.:ss than 25 per cent of every graduating student securing job'. ~ational security and its challenges, the threats tu it and its management
the burde n of unrmploymcnt leads to vices. Unemployment ,ind l~ck ~I 10 a dynamic environment.

rwmi/data.b~e of criminals contributes to instability and insccun ry in Having identified the raison d'etre of instability and inse-:ur iry in
;\igrri.1 amungi;t .in~· other places. In othc:r dines, there an: soci.d wdfarc
N· · there is the need to c..xaminc the possible solution to tl1csc reasons
1 •gtna,

pack;igc) u~cd to duu~c the tensions emanating from unemployment ~nd b(causc if security to citizens colkcti\'c wdlbdng is not achieved, there is
yuu 1h rc~ti\'cnc~~. ll1cre is paucity of a cumprehcnsivc: dat:ib:i 5 c, m;1kin~ tendencies of stunted development ,tnd pc,llcti.11 (Ocxistcn(c .
c,u11urni, pbnnin~ ,and pru,·isions difficult. .
Th e •,,.,,gtna
,. . ~i.:nmtr
. I\ genc1es
. .i.n: not proactive
. duc to unc ncour.1g111g
. •
· . ·
rcmunrrJtw11~ wh1d1 make,; thc:m tensely rcacrive. l11e ran '11
ks . 1d tik 01
',ur s·rcuril)
. . ' nKc11uc~
I • • • .. • • • n modern
need 1.unstant tnunrng and n: - t1aini n!; 1
Jidc .. ri,r. Op. Cit.

373
372

"D r OLITI CAl PA RTIC lr A TIO!'. l :'11 :--1cER 1,•
• R ._; ' , c £ >..~
u1:-1oc r , T1 C' GO ' r .
POSSIBLE \VAY FORWARD
\'o11tb Engag~mmt . h ·
. _ n"" wcio-~ecunrv challenge t at successive govern.
Unemployment b O " - . '
have idenufied and acknowledged . Unfortunate!)•
ments on:r the yem . d . d .. . ' crcise must be transparent. ~lent must not be sacrificed in the altar of
. tr rts appear not to be making the estrc positl\'e impact.
go\'emments eno . . . . .
- r of these unemployed into cnmmahty 1s a matter of
The cngagemen - .. . . . .
_ _ for the govemmenr. Polmaans often enJO)' and equip this idle
1.. on. . em .. . . . h. h Concerted and visible effort must be geared towards exterminating
h.inds \\ith arms during political campaigns, 1t 1s t 1s arms t at is used
post eh:rions for robbery and ki~napping. _Unemployment needs to be
seriously radded and curtailed with the pnvate sector encouraged and
su ported ro create the much needed jobs. Constant electricity supply
willP no doubt boost employment an d ·increase pro duct1v1ty.· ·
Power availability in particular is very important to manufacturing and
industrial enterprises, as well as small and medium scale businesses. Once
power stability is achieved, there is bound to be marked improvement
in job creation and the standard of living of the people. Poverty can be
tackled from many angles, this is done through job creation, investment
in agriculture, increase in local content of manufactured products, power
generation, and impro,·ement in quality of infrastructure.
Corruption in theJorct
While addressing the problems of unemployment, inefficiency and
corruption in police force remains a major stumbling block in achieving
a secured state. The complicity of George lyamu, Deputy Superintendent
of Police, is believed to have triggered Anini's reign of terror in 1986. Till
date, security operatives divulging security information and sell arms and
ammunition to criminals is due to the indiscipline and wretchedness inher-
ent in the force which allows for proliferation of crime and insecurity to
life and properties. To achieve this end, there has to be holistic purging
of the system through proper orientation, training, equipment and mo st
importantly remuneration.
The Nigerian Police and other security agencies must be well-equipped
. . a1•fi~
and trained/re-trained to tackle present day security challenges. <2Y 1 •
and bright individuals should be encouraged with good incentives to enl• st
into the Security Agencies. The police must not be a dumping grou nd
374
_ u n~ ,\ND P RO P~RTY : AR:\IE. O ROD DCR Y "- ' D ~IDl'IJ\PP! .
,., a 1P O• SC I~ 1' ICC. RIA
" 1t• u
. d ,,_...,l 5_ One is encouraged with the recent enlistment ex,e • t-
tor lJIDUU . . . ra~e o
IT professionals into the officer cadre of t~e ~ 1gen~ Police Force. Other
fessionals should be wooed too. The Nige n a Pol.ice is also reported to
Cc: upped the ante by making O~dina.ry ~ a~onal Diploma and NCE the
ininiIDum requirement for potentl~ recrwts into the Police. Recruitment
clod-fatherism. The Police forensic laboratory must be well-equipped,
lnded and staffed with qualified personnel.
corruption and injustice within Nigeria system to eliminate the "get rich
quickly" syndrome that ~as_ perforate our body system. Economic and
Financial Crime Comm1ss10n (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt
Practises Commission (ICPC) must not only carry independence in name:
but be seen to be INDEPENDENT! There must not be sam:d cows or
smoke-screens! A situation where the Attorney-general of the federation
or the minister of justice can arbitrarily and unilaterally terminate or
discontinue any case instituted by the EFCC, ct al, no matter the merits
of the case, should be looked into as it is subject to abuse.
Ftdualism and Stott Poliu
There is a need to restructure the Nigerian state to enthrone true fed-
enlism, including true fiscal federalism. Classically, federalism is regarded
as a system of government in which the centre and the federating units
arc each, within a sphere, co-ordinate and equal. A true federalism cannot
work in Nigeria under the present condition where the federating units
m atomised into 36 unviable states, (with the possible exception of two
or three states), which are dependent on the centre for their survival. Insti-
tuting true federalism will require merging the present unwieldy number
of states into about six to make them manageable and cost efficient. The
federating units should be allowed to run their own police force and to
tak~ measures they deem fit, within the hw, co protect the citizens within
~~ir territory. Each federating unit ought co ha\·e a database of people
ll,,ng in its territory, including what su..::h people do.
Viahft Database
One of the fundamental essentials of security is rhe establishment

_ . ,~ ••• ~ .,:-- u p ._H, J l I L" -\ l
i l f M O '- ll ,\ I re L, 0 1 ' ~ .
. . . d 12 b:isc: w ._-aprure relevanc data wh ich would a.id
of" comprc henswe l . . N' . . One of the roam secunry challenges in the countn· i, th .d
. . d monitorinu of the populanon. 1 1gena, as it obtain
doLumc:ntaaun an ~ . d
" . . unrrics must han:: J ..:omputcnze data base n
in most \ ye.stern .. 0 • . . . • , ot
. . al but of c,·cn-body within the country, mcludmg visitin
onh· o f comm s • , . .
. ·. _ S ch dau base needs not to be 1n one smgle place, it could
torC1gnm. u
be l:S~ablishcd at both the state .1.nd federal levels and b~ each se1..1..1rity
. . \Vhat is paramount. is for such data to be linked
vr~.uuuoon. . t0111"the
o- r.
In~elligi:ncc agencies rdy substannally on data_bases to do their work and
u~c: them to cr.lck crime: ..:J.)es. The data base, 1dcally, need to capture the
date of birth, death ..:ertificatc, photograph, finger-print, car registration
data, travelling passport number, ta.x identification number, and other
imporunt details, such as house address, details of o~v~ers of each house
lo..:,uc:d in any Joo) government area, records of building approval, and
other detills necessary for planning, monitoring and development. But
what is of major interest to security agencies is the data base on criminals,
those who have been comictcd of various crimes in the past, those jailed
for 0 tfencc.s, as well as those: of se..:urit)' interest to law enforcement and
intelligence J.gencies.
The~e data bases must be with or accessible to both the Nigerian Police
md State Security Service, the 2 main agencies responsible for internal
~el'urity. Arail.abiliry of a currem data base would go a long way in sur-
mounting many of the security challenges confronting the country today.
lndtpmdmt and Viahlt Jumciary
To eradicate or curtail instability cum insecurity, we need to strengthen
our judicul system by ensuring that justice is dispensed no matter whose
ox is gored. Nepotism and a culture of impunity must also be eschewed
from uur national psyche and life. Nigeria must be an egalitarian nation
md not .i country where there are two sets of rules-one for the rich aocl
J.norher for the poor.
The citizens muse see the Judiciary as the last bas-
tion of the common man where justice is dispense without fear or fav~ur.
~1casun:s must also be put in place ro ensure quick dispensation ofj~snce.
ln ~ igcria. people commit an offence that has say, a five years m:iximum
sentence and they spend si.x years in jail awaiting ~rial. Lee justice be d_on~
lnd seen to be done. Kidnapping should carry a more stringent punish
ment to dissuade people from seeing it as viable business.
376
~,r, C) ► .. . f !": 1,, , 1) PR CPt fl. T\ ,\. R \ lt:U k V Ka, t_((y " '- r
l' A R T I C !l' A T l O :S 1 :S :\ JC EAl ,1 J ' I .J '\ .\ p Jl I ' l ' ' ' : l. t Ill
porolli Bord.tr . .
., d . . . , - e w1 e e:-..-pan.~e
s
-~·venas porous bor ers with contiguous countries i\I . b d
ol 1 I:, . . · an) or er i.:orn-
""iries h;ive over ume, out of practice, come to depend O h·
g Ill""" n t e pru~eeds
·ro·".....ling and consequently, have come to see sud) p.., ,'ti _
o( ~ .-Uf,f,"'
•
• • ...l ... ce:. as a \\"JY of
ti[·...• or ,0 rositv. of the borders has .many• implications • apart t·rorn re,. ·1osr
enue
10 smuggling, small ar~1s and I_ 1ght \~Capon) .ire bruught into rhc l'. uuntry
in htrgt numbers. Unn1 an all-mdus1vc border fortification is carric:d ou~.
~cnt trans-border armed robb ery and kidnapping might be diffi1..11lr tCl
;uruil.A..:tivitics of dtizcm of neighbouring co untries often Jdd tu the
romplcxity and intensity of security ch,\llengcs we have in Nigeria as the
forcignm collaborntc with Nigeria citizens to perpetuate evil, this actions
.:111 for cross-country monitoring and information sharing to curtail this
accsscs of neighbouring countries.
Gtnml Enlighttnmtnt
Nigerians must be continually sensitized to be sernrity consciou~. We
b2ve a culture of taking everything for granted O\'cr here. Securiry is a
collective responsibility. Our lackadaisical attitude to ~ecurity must .:ease.
In most Western countries. people take note of a new neighbour when s.l
he moves into the neighbourhood. You will be ~urprised you wander up
md down a street in a typical vVesrern nation and the next thing you see
are police cars blaring their sirens. Apart from the security cameru cn: -
!)1vhere, probably an elderly man or woman must ha\·e tipped the police
o[ Here in Nigeria, most of us do not know our next door neighbour
not to talk of other neighbours living the next street. \Ve don't know or
are what our neighbours' are into.
The National Orientation Agcnl.y·, the State Sernriry Scni.::c ct.:.
hare to be more proactive. Enlightenment campJ.igm must be 1.rngoing
because the Nigeria populace cannot be described J.S se..:uriry comciol.15.
~s has to change dramacicallr and fast, for Nigt!ri:t to c0nfront m~y
01 ~he ~curit}' challenges being cxpaicn..:ed at pn:sent. There i, need ~or
rnlightenment of the publk co make them .1wa.rc th:H se(urity agcn(ies
alone cannot fight aime or terrorism. Sc:curity agents all over th e worl d
~ly on the people for relevanr information whi(h provides leJds th at
l1luld solve security related pro blems.
377
 OF LI FE ,\ND P ROPE R TY : A R MED ROll UEllYAND K I O N
. . s c r. A N O f'O LI T ICJ\L PARTICll'ATI O :- I~ NIG E RIA st c u RITl A PP l'; c; II', l'\ I GLIUA

lJ r ~l O C ll/1 T I C r, (') \ [ A I' A ,

r..,.ling of satisfaction. regarding access to the dividends ofdemocracy.

. h ner.il public must be made to have confidence 1I1e r~- . .
\t the ,.une nnu.-. t c gr. b Infrastructural prov1s1ons strengthen institutions to perform more
1 .· d th , ·curitY agencic.~, and must e re-assured that the
°
·111 th c PoLirc_:in . erb_c. ,, prmided
'
remains con fid enna · I an d protected dfectively. As Obam_a o~ce said, Africa needs strong institutions, not
·e of intormauon eJO.,;, . . d . strong men. Our institutions must walk the talk and not just be papcr-
sour, .. . h need to be sccunry consc10us an the dangers
Publi. J\\'lrenC~!> ot t c . - h I tigcrs, All citizens must be equal before the law. The culture of foisting
. the m-neral wellbeing ot t e pcop e and the security
osed bY rcrronrnl to ~- f candidates on the electorate during elections must stop. Elections must
P· ' d. hasis until it becomes part o the people. Introduc-
to the stJIC nee ~ cmp , . d bt free and fair and a system should be put in place that ensures only
. . . css curricula from pnmary to secon ary school ma)'
in~ scetml1 :iwarcn . . . . .
· h' \'e this Adverts and publications issued in the media !'1triotic and unscrupulous individuals hold positions of responsibility.
he one war to ac ie .
_ -~ related is.sues
on sc,un.; · is another way out.
SECURllY AGENCIES CAPACITY BUILDING

Community Polidng _ . .
The 21st century approach to wmbatmg cnme 1s through community
ctforr and policing. Community policing is a philos~phy that promotes
organizational strategies, which support ~e systematic us~ of pa~nership
and problem-solving techniques, to p~acm·dy address_the 1m~ed1~te con-
dirions that gi\·e rise to public safety issues such as crime, social disorder,
and fear of crime. It is the creating a bond with the community through
foot patrolling that gives room for street intelligence, which is crucial in
tackling most security related challenges. All the security agencies estab-
Ii5hed br the Government need to observe inter-community cooperation
in their ,relationship by sharing relevant intelligence amongst and consti-
rured bodies in the community of operation. Citizens have roles to play at
enhancing security, thus, security is and should be everybody's business.
Another area where government would need to focus on is capacity
building among security agencies, especially the police. Professionalism
must be improved, recruitment and training need to be overhauled and
the curricula reviewed to ensure that policemen and other security agents
a.re in tune with modern technology and devices that can measure up to
the standards of their counter-parts in more developed countries. States
should invest in smart security, especially preventative security, which could
imrolve phone tapping, CCTV, extensive use of moles, and possible use
of private armies and private military companies in areas more prone to
robberies and kidnapping. There is need for far-reaching security sector
reform within some of the security agencies, if carried out most especially
in the police, would reinforce the confidence of the citizens in the force.

lnfraslmrturt Dtt•tlopmenl CONCLUSION

Securiry• is not necessarily rocket science; no wonder even nitwits find
Yen- comfortable careers in crime and terrorism. A lot of common sense
can help to maintain security. The problem is that common sense is no
longer common these days. An iota of omission or negligence can have
se\'ere security implications and consequences. Even the Scriprurc sa~,
'watch a.nd pray'. 31 It's a matter of putting necessary infrastrucrurc 10
place.lhe level of Nigeria's infrastructure needs to improve significantl)'
above what it is at present, so also, the quality of education, health scr·
vices, housing, roads and rail transportation . It is imperative that th csc
infrastructure are nor only present but of high quality to ensure adcqu~tc
welfare, safrry and security of the general populace and to give the people
In his inaugural address on January 20, 1961 the United States Presi-
dent, Mr.]. F. Kennedy warned that "if a free society cannot help the many
who arc poor it cannot save the few who arc rich". It is only through a
coordinated system of assessments and readj ustments that a country's
human and material resources can be directed towards meaningful and
ll'.'sitivc ends and combat ineptly the challenges of robbery and kidnap-
ping. A nation with an insecure environment is doomed to distractions
and possible disintegration. It is only imperative, therefore, that Nigeria
enhances her security and intelligence organization to contain the myriad
of cha]J cnges an d threats fac111g
. her.

378 379
 ~ i-.. u p ll l I ,. I '- ,,. l r ., RT I,- I p ,\ T I O ~ r :,.; ~ i Ct R I \
:., I ~! Cl l R I\ 1 I '- ,,.~ , · I ~' .-1.' C r

.. d red whv our pol.i c~ MC e:isy prey for anned rob.

.
Han: ' \) U e, c:.r ",.m c. . . l "d J
. . ·d policenun will not on )' a.a anu abet crime h
b :, -\ puorl\" mom .ik . h • e
c~ - . . . . ·mes ,lfld .:-,msrirutc J. ::.-c.:-un ry t re.u to law-abidin
" i ll Jls.n pcrpcrnrc en . . . _ ·• - . d' . g
. _ _ -nuip tht: Poli.:-e. 1t I!\ .u:.o cxpe 1cm to moti'r.lt
·· • It ,, ncce:,..-..JC\ to c, . r
dtllC'll" - · . · •. Kidnapping !><.:ems to have be -
th em to protect ln-c- .1.nd proput) . · _ . 1.:omc
. .gh . f r the wc.ll-ro-do in the soaety, despite the hea\ .
the bi_..ggest ni rnurc o . . hi l d h ave become f".Jn,') 18
. . them And, it the h1g v-p ace
~c,--untY that prornts . . ; . . -~.,
· . . ms wh,t cJn an}·onc sa) about ordinary Nigerians
Prcv:- as 1t no,, sec ,
· · h h . • )t the menace, ha\'c no clues how they can secure
who. t ou~ .,,urc ' THE STATE OF HUMAN RIGHTS IN THE NIGERIAN
thcm!sch·c; md th eir lo\'ed ones. .
FOURTH REPUBLIC
Frr,m the fo ~ ing, rhis paper has been :tble to establish th,\t securit}'
, t an"··cnds ever.· fa..:et of human endeavour, by implication· Lere Amusa11
.1 pp.m:n cl ~ r. "'" •. . _ •.• _ _ . ,
- l ...
~t·(-unn t:m 1 r.i 1.. .. ~. the t."'tabh~hment
· •
ot proad1\e
_
and
.
detens1vc
•
measures
-
• .- • _ _ ..J all r.. ~ ons materials .md intormanon trom every form of ll\iRODUCTION
lu s.ucguaru , ... , .,. . , •
danger.~Th c. a..'5cfs of the country• indude .
physical objects such as human
.,_j piral, infrastructure and other tangible assets tha~ ~uppor~ :he economy. The issue of human rights has generated considerable academic inter-
lnungible thin~ such as national ,.ilues, th~ polit1~~l ab1hty to project rogtrion since the formath'c ycan, of Nigeria around 1914 till date, and
pnwcr and authori~·. including national cohesion of c1t~zen~, ~re treasured more so now in the rnuntry's Fourth Republic. The main question fre-
.1~crs ,rnr countr)' would desire to have:. No doubt, Nigena 1s today one quently asked by human rights students is whether Nigeria, as a stare,
of rhe m;jor kidnapping capitals of the world. This has obvious implica- ,ns formed based on :i social contract whereby people of different nations
tions for inn :stmcnrs. the country's development trajectory and even the ,:unc: together to surrender parts of their rights to a legal authority in
'-) U:ility of gon:m.1nce. exchange for peaceful co- c.xistcncc and freedom of movement. If this wa~
not the case, as vigorously argued in this chapter, then ·how ,an one talk
of human rights in a heterogeneous state of different nations with little
in common? Another question is the legitimacy of the 1999 Constiturion
~cause it was "not a product of a people's assembly, bur instc-Jd, b:iscd on
the n:i.:ommendation o f a committee" (Chima, 2013: 158). D espite the
lapses in the formation of Nigeria as a marriage of convenience. which
the late Obafemi Awolowo dcsaibed as a mere "geogr,1phk al expres-
sion", there is need to gu arantee what is generally known in the \Vestern
"'?rid as 'human rights' . This is important when one looks at the plight
01 women, children, minorities, indigenous peoples and tht.: old people
Ill relation with hurn;rn rights ;\s ;1ppl.iecl in the 21st .. t:ntury. l n Ni~c:ria,
nearly all the components of the publi i.: justice syste m (the poli..:e, defence
la,\)'crs, prosci.:utors and 1.:uurts) art.: worki ng ,1gains t the po1J r in order to
Prutei.:t the law (Haugen an d Btiu rro:- , 2010:52)

381
380