Ebira Association Wants Security Agencies Overhauled In Kogi Central

 

Dr Abdurahman Adeiza , the President General of the Ebira Peoples Association,  EPA

 

Ebira Peoples Association (EPA) has raised alarm over the security situation in Kogi Central Senatorial District, calling on both the Federal Government and the government of Alhaji Yahaya Bello in Kogi State to urgently address the situation. 

Dr. Musa Abdurahman Adeiza , the President General of the EPA said at a stakeholders meeting organised  to address security challenges in Kogi State held in Abuja on Tuesday that there is the need for the governments to redeploy the men and officials who have been working within the districts for a very long time and bring in new people as safeguarding measure to curb the activities of kidnappers and men of the underworld.

“The alarming rate of insecurity and criminality in Kogi State, especially in Kogi Central Senatorial Zone is becoming unbearably.

“Members of the Ebira Peoples Association (EPA), the umbrella body of all Ebira people at home and in the Diaspora, are seriously concerned about the rampant cases of mindless killings, kidnappings, robberies and other violent crimes that have come to define every day life in our state.

Despite the efforts of governments at all levels, criminals seem to operate freely and unhindered by the presence of a combined forces of police, soldiers and para-military agents. In the last one year, no week has passed without incidents of kidnapping, abduction and even murder in the state.

“We are under siege in Kogi Central.. The situation is so bad that nearly every one in Kogi Central in particular, now lives in absolute fear.  Sons and daughters of Kogi Central who live outside the state are now scared of coming home.  For many other Nigerians, traveling through the state has become a fearful experience as security is not always guaranteed.

“The situation has also taken a heavy toll on businesses in an area generally regarded as the economic nerve-centre of the state.

“Most abductions in Nigeria are done for ransom and the victims are usually freed upon payment of ransom or some form of extended negotiation.  The situation in Kogi State has gotten so bad that even where the kidnappers have been paid or offered ransom, the victims are either killed or kept in the custody of their abductors with no further communication with relatives thus foreclosing chances of them reuniting with their families. Let it be on record that no abducted person has ever been successfully rescued, as those that have so far gained their freedom have done so after paying ransom.

“EPA has followed with keen interest efforts made by the Kogi State Government and the Local Government Authorities of Kogi Central Senatorial Zone in combating the menace of kidnapping. But in the light of the worsening situation, there is an urgent need for a change of strategy.

“We would like to specifically make the following suggestions to governments at all levels. Our suggestions consist of Short, Medium and Long Term measures, policies and strategies which we hope would be urgently considered and approved:

“All police, soldiers and state security officers as well as para-military agents currently serving in Kogi Central should be redeployed immediately and be replaced with new ones. As a matter of fact, no security agent should spend more than six months in the area to avoid being thoroughly compromised as it is being largely suspected now. The total number of personnel in the state in general needs to be increased to effectively cope with the geographical peculiarity of the State.

“Both Federal and State Governments should make concerted efforts to reinforce and review  security measures in terms of material, personnel and modus operandi in order to safeguard lives and properties in Kogi Central.

“Security should be intelligence driven by interfacing with community leaders, Ward Heads, local vigilante groups, Hunters, farmers.

“There should be a coordinated tactical operation to smoke out criminal elements from their hideouts in homes, bushes, caves, hills, etc.

“Security surveillance should be on 24-hour duty across the land, instead of the present situation whereby most hotspots are left unmanned through most hours of the day.

“Operational strategy to security matters should be proactive in approach rather than reactive, while adopting a more effective method to unravel all already perpetrated damages.

“Governments should as a matter of urgency explore and support the possibility of integrating “CIVILIAN JTF ” into the security system of the land to complement conventional security agencies.

“Governments should provide toll free security numbers to report cases of security infractions.

“Kogi State government should mobilise hunters into vigilante groups at various community levels

“The state government should constitute a body of community based Organization heads to proffer solutions to various security threats and to enhance intelligence gathering.

“The Federal Government should urgently complete the moribund Ajaokuta Steel Company to reduce youth unemployment, which is partly responsible for the rising crimes.

“The state government should construct police posts at various dark spots in the District so that criminals will no longer hide there.

“All issues of State Civil Service screening exercise should be concluded within the shortest possible time to reduce the frustration arising thereof and the insecurity that non payment of salaries portends, ” he said.

While commending the security agencies and assuring them that EPA will continue to avail them of useful information that will assist them in wiping out criminal elements in our midst, we cannot also fail to observe that these security agents appear overwhelmed at present, largely due to logistical and manpower inadequacies. Intelligence gathering has also become ever so difficult as many residents fear to complain to the increasingly complacent security agents.  Such level of distrust has further worsened an already bad situation. There cannot be effective policing when persons to be secured don’t feel safe enough to share credible intelligence with the agencies.