Public Security is the necessary foundation for economic growth and social development of any society. It is the primary duty of any government and its primary goal is to ensure the protection of every citizen, organizations and institutions against threats, injury, crime, hazards, disasters, crisis, and all such activities that could endanger lives and properties. The public security status/consciousness of any government is ultimately an indicator of its public acceptance. This is because public security is one of the most prominent factors that determines good governance and guarantees the extent of socio-economic growth and development. The lack of viable public and safety mechanisms in any given society makes sustainable socio-economic development a very difficult task.
Without a doubt, these are, indeed, difficult times for our beloved nation in terms of public security. Few days after President Muhammadu Buhari visited Plateau State on peace mission, Fulani herdsmen were reportedly on another bloodletting expedition that reportedly left no fewer than 23 persons dead in Dundu village, Kwal District in Bassa Local Government Area. According to reports, the attack, which left several houses burnt and scores injured, took place in the evening while the villagers were preparing for dinners.
In another development, while Nigerians seem to be heaving a sigh of relief that the Boko Haram insurgence has been duly taken care of by the nation’s military, then came like a thunderbolt the worrying news of the abduction of 110 pupils of the Government Girls Science and Technical College in Dapchi, Yobe State, on February 19. This development is such a great set back on current onslaught against insurgency in the Northern part of the country. Besides this sad episode, skirmishes between herdsmen and farmers across the country represent yet another huge sore point in the public security situation of the country. Though, there are other sources of worry in respect of the nation’s public security standing, but the Boko Haram insurgency and herdsmen farmers’ crisis seem to be the most complex.
It needs to be stressed that it has now come to a stage where we cannot saddle our security agencies alone with the onerous task of protecting the citizenry. With the issue of insufficient manpower in the Nigeria Police Force in particular, it is quite obvious that relying on the police to sufficiently protect the country would amount to getting water out of a rock. Latest data shows that the entire Nigerian Police Force does not have up to 450,000 personnel in its fold and out of this a significant proportion is assigned to secure a few highly placed individuals. It is yet to be seen how a Force with such a limited number of personnel could effectively secure a nation of over 140 million people. This is why many were not really surprised that about 114 pupils could be abducted in one swoop in a school with such ease. This, indeed, is an indication that security apparatus in the country needs to be considerably overhauled.
It is, thus, based on this state of affairs that one is advocating for a collective approach to public security in the country. In-spite of various initiatives of all tiers of government to boost public security, it is clearly evident that more ground still needs to be covered. This is why it becomes rather crucial and expedient for the citizenry to embrace the principle of collective security. Collective security guarantees the security of everyone in a given society and operates on the philosophy of being your brother’s keeper. It is like an insurance system in which all residents are bound to protect one another. It clearly implies collective measures for dealing with threats to peace.
The underlying principle of collective security is ‘One for All and All for One’. Therefore, aggression or crime against any one is a war against, thus all are to act collectively against every form of threat to security in the state. One vital way through which this can be achieved is for everyone to be vigilant about security in their respective neighborhood. In this way, strange movements and activities across the state could easily be detected and reported to appropriate authorities. This would, no doubt, help in nipping in the bud plans and operations of criminals within the state.
It is, therefore, crucial that every segment of the society embraces collective security by supporting governments across the country and all security agencies in order to enhance the country’s economy development drive and ensure effective public security. It has been alleged, for instance, that in some communities criminals are shielded by traditional rulers and other members of the community. This is not right and must be discouraged. Criminals must not be given leeway to perpetrate evil in the society. Any society where criminals are allowed to freely mingle with the people is, no doubt, toeing the wrong path.
Universally, public security public security is the responsibility of all individuals, groups, communities, organisations and other units that constitute the state. Therefore, an effective public security cannot be obtained without the active involvement, participation and support of every section of the society. Criminals are not spirits, they dwell in our midst. It, therefore, behooves on members of the public to regularly observe and report every strange movements and activities in their neigbourhood to the appropriate authorities. It is only when we develop collective fortitude towards security that any investment in public security can be effectively harnessed for the good of all.
Meanwhile, it is important to stress, once again, that the country need to quickly come to term on the need to decentralize the present federal policing structure. If we are really serious about overcoming current security challenges in the country, we need to re-examine the issue of state police more earnestly and objectively. Given the required political will, we can successfully and efficiently operate state police in the country. Considering the various security skirmishes and needless loss of lives and properties across the country, the time has come for the subject to be accorded dispassionate, patriotic and objective scrutiny. Human lives are too sacred and invaluable to be wasted in pointless circumstances. God bless Nigeria.
Ogunbiyi is of the Ministry of Information & Strategy, Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos
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