18082019 -Anxiety over " Next Level" Ministers

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PAGE 34— SUNDAY VANGUARD, AUGUST 18, 2019 ARMY VS POLICE Whereas investigations may have established links between criminal intent and the killing of three policemen by army personnel, an underlying factor exists. It is so crucial to be dismissed. Not considering it in dealing with the issue makes further bloodshed between the two security agencies inevitable. The important element is the absence of inter-agency harmony, which has made the security agencies the paradox of a house divided against itself. There is virtually no security agency that hadn't violently clashed with another, especially since 1999 when Nigeria retired from military dictatorship to democracy. The situation, which is a total negation of the Third Schedule of the 1999 Constitution Section (25), is the least expected at a time Nigeria is gravely threatened by insecurity. That Section of the Constitution created the National Security Council which comprises heads of security agencies among others. One of the major casualties of the perennial clashes is esprit de corps, a principle that promotes team spirit among security operatives. Another one is internal security in the country, which only deteriorates more with the persistent rivalry among the agencies. This report presents the views of some retired top security operatives on how to promote inter-agency relationship. Proliferation of security agencies responsible for rivalry — Nwanguma, ex-NOPRIN boss • Average of two clashes yearly By Esther Onyegbula former Executive Director, Network A on Police Reforms in Nigeria, NOPRIN, Mr. Okechukwu Nwanguma, blames the Federal Government for the recurrence of conflict among security agencies, saying many were created to perform the duties of the police. Among other issues, he says that no security agency is superior to another. This is not the first time the police and soldiers are clashing. What is responsible? The main causes of rivalry and conflicts between security agencies in Nigeria are the needless proliferation of security agencies, the duplication of security and law enforcement duties, powers and functions and overlapping of functions with no clear demarcation of operating boundaries. Although all the security agencies are involved, rivalry and conflicts have been more pronounced between the militaryparticularly the Army- and the police. There is an arrogant but deluded perception by the Army of its superiority. Denials, blames and counterblames Between 2005 and 2019, there were recurrent cases of reprisal attacks by the Army and, on a few occasions, the navy attacked the police with an average of two cases recorded each year between 2005 and 2019 with the recent happening Ogun State. This is usually followed by denials, blames and counter-blames with each side pushing different narratives. In October 2005, soldiers from Abalti Barracks in Ojuelegba unleashed a reprisal attack on police officers, burning down buildings while over 50 vehicles were damaged. At least, there were three fatalities at the Area ‘C’ Police Command Headquarters, Ojuelegba. This was triggered by an alleged assault on a senior army officer by police officers protesting 1. October 2005, soldiers from Abalti Barracks in Ojuelegba, in a reprisal attack on police officers, burn down buildings while over 50 vehicles are damaged 2. In May 2011, soldiers from 242 Recce Battalion, Ibereko Barracks, Badagry launch reprisal attack on police officers attached to Badagry Police Division, killing the Divisional Police Officer, DPO, Divisional DCO, and about eight other officers in retaliation for the shooting of an Army officer by some police officers at a checkpoint. 3. In February 2016, Army officers storm Railway Police Station, Umuahia in a reprisal attack, following the arrest of an Army captain for an alleged traffic offence. •Okechukwu Nwanguma ‘interference’ earlier by two army officers who resisted their attempt to extort money from a driver of a commercial bus in which they were passengers. Shot dead in cold blood In May 2011, soldiers from 242 Recce Battalion, Ibereko Barracks, Badagry launched reprisal attacks on police officers attached to Badagry Police Division killing the Divisional Police Officer, DPO, Divisional DCO, and about eight other officers in retaliation to the shooting of an army officer by some police officers at a checkpoint. The DPO, leading the DCO and other officers, was on his way on a peace mission to the Army headquarters on the invitation of the Army Commander when they were ambushed by some Army officers 4. In October 2016, police and soldiers clash in Ebonyi State following a request by police officers on road check to Army officers from Nkwagu Military Cantonment in a bus to present their identity cards and vehicle particulars. 5. In March 2017, clash is averted as soldiers invade a Lagos police station. The soldiers are reported to have invaded Alakara Police Station in a bid to release the mother of one of their colleagues detained at the station. 6. In April 2017, there is a bloody clash between soldiers and police in Yobe State, leaving one soldier and three police dead. An army officer is said to have run into the convoy of the head of the police mobile unit in Damaturu and gets beaten up. Army and shot dead in cold blood. There was no consequence. The list is endless. In February 2016, Army officers stormed the Railway Police Station, Umuahia in a reprisal attack following the arrest of an Army Captain for an alleged traffic offence. Police and soldiers clashed in Ebonyi State in October 2016 following a request by police officers on road check to Army officers from Nkwagu Military Cantonment in a bus to present their identity cards and vehicle particulars. In March 2017, there was a report of a clash that was averted after soldiers invaded a Lagos police station. Some soldiers were reported to have invaded Alakara Police Station in a bid to release the mother of one of their colleagues detained at the station. In April 2017, there was a bloody clash between the Army and the police in Yobe State leaving one soldier and three policemen dead. An Army officer was said to have run into the convoy of the head of the police mobile unit in Damaturu and got beaten up. Army officers went to the station on reprisal mission and seized the Mopol Commander. In June 2018, there was yet another clash between soldiers and police in Aba, Abia State resulting in the killing of three persons. In Calabar, on May 29, 2017, several police officers were reportedly killed after a night attack by suspected officials of the Nigerian Navy. The police station was burnt. This, according to reports, followed a skirmish between a police traffic officer and a naval officer near Calabar stadium. In March 2019, there was tension as police and soldiers clashed in Rivers State following an alleged attack on Army officers by policemen accompanying Governor Nyesom Wike. In the past one week alone, we have read disturbing news of attacks on police officers by Army officers with the one that just happened in Taraba State being the latest and will certainly not be the last unless something urgent is done to address the TIMELINE OF ARMY/POLICE CONFLICT officers go to the station on a reprisal and seize the Mopol commander. 7. In June 2018, there is a clash between soldiers and police in Aba, Abia State resulting in the killing of three persons. 8. In Calabar on May 29, 2017, several police officers are reportedly killed after a night attack by suspected officials of the Nigerian Navy. The police station is burnt. This, according to reports, follows a skirmish between a police traffic officer and a naval officer near the Calabar stadium. 9. In March 2019, there is tension as police and soldiers clash in Rivers State following an alleged attack on Army officers by policemen accompanying Governor Nyesom Wike. • SOURCE: NOPRIN underlining factors feeding the rivalry and conflicts. During training, how were the officers trained on how to relate with other agencies? I believe that each agency has its training curriculum and manual which emphasise professional duties and conduct including human relations. Although training and retaining security and law enforcement agencies are key to professional conduct and effectiveness, I doubt if the problem of rivalry can be located in training. I rather think it is the confusion created by government when it created multiple agencies to perform the same functions with some crossing their operational boundaries and some feeling that they are superior. The police are the primary agency created by law to deal with internal security problems. Their training prepares them for this role. The Army is not trained to deal with internal security issues although they can be called in to assist in exceptional situations. And their intervention is usually temporary and limited. It is the failure by government to adequately fund and equip the police to effectively discharge their constitutional functions but instead choosing to deploy the military to permanently assume the functions of the police, thereby marginalizing and neglecting the police. Besides the military, government creates agencies which play the role that the police are charged with. Are you saying that duplication of agencies is also responsible? They dissipate scarce resources which could have been given to the police. There is the need to harmonise the functions and operations of all the agencies performing policing and internal security functions in Nigeria with a view to determining those that should be merged with the police, delineating functions where merger is not a feasible option and working out, from leadership to operational levels, rearrangements to coordinate activities that will ensure that resources are properly shared. There is a need for inter-agency cooperation in planning and executing safety and security functions. Is there an order of seniority among the army, police and paramilitary agencies? There is no such order of seniority. Every agency has its functions and powers clearly defined in its establishment law. They ought to work in synergy towards achieving the ultimate goal of national security, stability and development. Petty jealousy, envy responsible for rivalry — AIG Aisabor (ret.) By Evelyn Usman retired Assistant Inspector General, A AIG, of Police, Ambrose Aisabor, says so long as there is no proper sharing of information among security agencies, rivalry would remain a regular occurrence. The retired top police officer, who spoke in a chat with Sunday Vanguard, noted that there has never been inter-agency harmony among the various security agencies in the country. Particularly, he outlined petty jealousy, envy, sycophancy, and blackmail as factors fueling supremacy battle among the agencies. To address the problem, he called for joint training among the agencies, regular workshops, seminars and revival of interagency sporting competitions. His words: “There is no sharing of information among security agencies. What we have is inter-agency rivalry, petty jealousy, envy, sycophancy, blackmail and supremacy battle. ‘’There should be joint training among the junior ranks of the forces, regular workshops, seminars, and revival of sporting competitions among security agencies. “It is time to equip the police adequately as they are supposed to be the lead agency in the internal security of the country. “We fought a civil war for three years, but Boko Haram has taken more than 10 years and there is no end in sight. This fight against Boko Haram should be the concern of all security agencies now, not petty rivalry. ‘’It is not impossible that some security men are on the payroll of kidnappers. The manner the officers were ambushed showed that there is the possibility that security officers are working with kidnappers in the country. ‘’There should be a judicial commission of inquiry to unravel the riddle in the face-off. As far as the inter-agency rivalry among security forces in the country continues, there will always be a face-off among the various forces. “There has never been inter-agency relationship among the security agencies in Nigeria and there might not be any in the future.’
SUNDAY VANGUARD, AUGUST 18, 2019, PAGE 35 BY Charles Kumolu, Deputy Editor Aretired Police Commissioner, who served in Lagos State among others, Abubakar Tsav, in this interview, traces the rivalry between the Army and police to military rule, saying the powers of the police were appropriated by the military after the January 15, 1966 coup. He also offers solutions to the age-long bitterness between the two security agencies. The recent killing of three policemen by soldiers was not the first time members of the two security agencies were clashing. What is the problem between the police and the Army? These agencies are working for the success of the same government but there is rivalry among them. Each unit feels it is better than another unit. The Army thinks it is superior to the police. The police also feel they are superior to the Army. Before January 15, 1966, coup, which was the beginning of military incursion into politics, the police had more authority than soldiers. I joined the police before the first military coup and soldiers were taking instructions from the police. Whenever anything happened, they came to the police because we had more authority under the law and we had more responsibilities. Suddenly, when the military toppled the government of the federation, they divested the police of all its powers and arrogated it to themselves. It was from that moment that they started intimidating the police. No matter anybody’s rank in the police, the military men think they are superior to that person. Sometimes, female military officers do not even give compliments to a senior police officer. That was not the case when I joined the police. Having traced the origin of the crisis to the military incursion in politics, how can its recurrence be stopped? All the forces should unite and achieve common goals. If there is no law uniting all the forces, it is high time the National Assembly enacted a law so that there would no longer be rivalries. What we have is like a situation where so many wives are married to one man, with each one trying to please the man so that the man would see the other wives as bad. In some local areas, military personnel call policemen women who are not capable of Military rule brought rivalry between police and Army —Ex-Police Commissioner Tsav • ‘Soldiers not superior to police’ •Abubakar Tsav performing their duties. They even get honour and respect more than the police. If the police arrive anywhere the military mounted a roadblock, the Army personnel should give the police the right of way as soon as they identify themselves. The military is also to assist the police when they are in trouble without seeking any clearance but it is not so in Nigeria. Corruption is one of the reasons responsible. Can you explain the relationship between corruption and the rivalry between the police and the Army? When the police are doing their job and there is a need for the military to come in, the police would think the military would stop them from taking bribes. Similarly, whenever soldiers take over the job of the police, they claim to be superior to the police. The National Assembly should make a law to strengthen areas of cooperation among all our security agencies. They all should be accorded respect according to their ranks. The impression of the public is that the Army occupies the top in the pyramid of security agencies. Is there any law that says the Army is higher than any other security agency? This problem started when the Army took over in 1966, they arrogated powers to themselves and felt they were superior in every aspect. That is why sometimes they arrest people and detain them, which ordinarily is the duty of the police. No law made the military superior to the police. In areas of operation, when the police feel they cannot carry out an assignment, they write to the military asking to be assisted. When they take over the situation, the police would now be advising them about the task. Unfortunately, every agency thinks it is superior to others. What do you make of the claim that the police abdicated their responsibilities for petty pecuniary reasons and indirectly paved the way for soldiers to take over their place in the society? It is not true. Even with the military incursion into politics, the police still followed due process in carrying out their functions. The police arrest, investigate and charge cases to court but soldiers assault people as soon as they arrest them. They introduced instant justice and people thought it was the right thing to do. That kind of situation made many Nigerians to believe more in the military. During the civil war, soldiers did whatever they liked and officers could not correct them. They still have the mentality to date. It is an unfortunate situation. When the proliferation of arms was just starting, we told the police to perform their duties but This problem started when the Army took over in 1966, they arrogated powers to themselves and felt they were superior in every aspect nothing was done. Today, there are many arms in wrong hands. At the time, we knew certain politicians who were arming youths and we gave instructions but nobody listened. The Commissioners of Police were loyal to governors. So they could not do anything. It is the failure of the police to stop the proliferation of arms that made most places unsafe. When I was an Inspector of Police in Lagos, one Emmanuel Olawale was the Commissioner of Police. The man was not educated but he was a good officer. At the time, he could mark out an area and ask the police to search the houses and we did that and were able to reduce crime in Lagos. Now, people are more interested in money for the acquisition of properties which they would die and leave behind. COL LABO (RET.): Deploying soldiers for Internal Security duties in 32 states is recipe for tragedy By Chris Onuoha Retired Colonel Stan Labo speaks on the Army, police exchange over the killing of three policemen in Taraba State, saying the deployment of soldiers for internal security duties that ordinarily are the exclusive preserve of the police can sometimes be problematic. The Taraba Army - police exchange was, to me, a clear failure in Operational Coordination and Cooperation without compromising Operation Security (OPSEC). Fine, it was a covert operation but that does not negate the need for some level of info sharing. This becomes highly necessary because both services share same operational space. In sharing info, the police insist they notified the soldiers at the road blocks. This is rather a wrong procedure. The police could have spoken to the Military Command and not some foot soldiers at road blocks. If the Command had been duly informed, that Capt who is been alleged to be protecting his kidnaperfriend wouldn’t have exercised the latitude of initiative and discretion he displayed in ordering the third check point to stop the vehicle. As worrisome as it may sound, the reality on ground today is that the military is fully involved in Internal Security duties which is outright a preserve of the police. Due to obvious reasons of manpower deficit in the police, the FG is left with no option than pulling out the military for police duties. This abnormal operational engagement sometimes comes with dire consequences as seen in the Taraba situation. The training concept of the Army differs from that of the police. While the soldiers’ training concept is ‘Shoot To Kill’, that of the police is ‘Shoot To Maim f o r Prosecution’. So when you now deploy a soldier in police role operations theatre, he becomes a misfit because his training is to engage all external aggression and eliminate them. He has no business with prosecution. He is a good shooter or soldier only when the perceived enemy or threat is satisfactorily eliminated. Not when the threat is barely demobilized. That probably accounts for why the three police men who were assumed to •Stan-Labo be kidnappers lost their lives. Obviously the soldier’s operational orientation would require some re-caliberated if he must be deployed on Internal Security operations. However, on-going investigations would unravel the true position of things. Let me quickly add that the Terms of Reference for this investigation should be robust enough to give us answers to the many questions on the table. The handling of the matter by both services could have been better managed. The serial release of bulletins upon bulletins to counter or refute allegations that we saw was rather uncalled for. I seriously feel that some background discussions leading to decisions by the top echelon of both services could have been the proper thing to do. Consequently, a joint press statement would then be issued on the way forward to the media/public. IS duties Moving forward, I will advise that the FG takes deliberate steps in beefing up the strength of the police with a view to committing less of the military in Internal Security (IS) duties. The military is currently engaged in about 32 States on IS duties. This is against the backdrop of severe strength deficit in the North-East. Presently on ground, our Force Generation effort in meeting this huge manpower deficit does not reflect the required urgency. Out of the box thinking in addressing the issue is required. What for instance stops us from recalling the able bodied ones on our reserve list? With mouth watering incentives we could mopup a reasonable strength, avail them 6 weeks training and get them commit to a brief 3-5 years contract. This is a short term approach to the problem. In the long run, we could expand on our facilities on ground to accommodate large number of recruits.
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