Why Security Agencies Have Consistently Failed Us —Fawehinmi

Mohammed Fawhinmi, son of the late legal icon, Chief Gani, has explained that the Nigerian security agencies have continued to fail the people of the country in the face of continued onslaught by the dreaded Islamic group, Boko Haram.

Mohammed, who is the head of Mohammed Fawehinmi Chambers, said he had realised that a lot of Nigerians in the rural areas, who are already impoverished through lack of income and basic education, feeding and housing, are forced to go into the forces.

According to him, these people are only in the various agencies to make ends meet and are not bothered about their primary roles.

“Whilst in service in these security outfits and at the lowest ranks, they are not given any self- worth and are further impoverished by the deprivation of the welfare package they are entitled to.

“They have become easy tools and targets for disgruntled politicians and powerful government appointees who have access to them and infuse them with illicit ideas,” Fawehinmi said.

The human rights activist further explained that these low level officers are brainwashed and become enraged with rugged philosophies.

This, he said, triggers them to cause mayhem with pleasure at every slight provocation.

Concerning the recent series of explosions in Kano state which resulted in the death of scores of Nigerians, Fawehinmi recalled that the current state of insecurity began when it became clear that President Goodluck Jonathan would be victorious at the April 2011 polls.

He wondered why the nation’s security chiefs who had been in the various security agencies for at least 15 years have continued to look and sound confused despite their experience.

“It is absolutely shocking that we the citizens of this great country are made to suffer deprivation, insecurity and for the unfortunate ones, death; when qualified heads of our security outfits are present in the country and are deemed to know what transpires whenever there are security breaches,” he said.

He maintained that the job of the security chiefs in the country should be anticipatory rather than responsive.

In the current situation, he further emphasised, the competence of the Minister of Defence, Dr. Bello Haliru Mohammed, “is grossly in doubt, having failed to effectively co-ordinate the security agencies to proactively tackle this prevalent problem.

“It will be ideal for the country if the President can replace him. The death of so many thousands of people is evidence of his incompetence.”

He further appealed for an overhaul of the entire security system.

—Eromosele Ebhomele