Watch Civilian JTF, Please!

By Isaac Asabor

According to an African proverb, “If the keg of palm-wine is not quickly snatched from the hands of an exuberant drunk, he may drink himself to stupor.” A similar proverb also says “If an overzealous child is not assisted by his elders when roasting yams in the farm, he may innocently set the farm and the hut ablaze”.

There is no denying the fact that the foregoing African proverbs succinctly illustrate the repercussion of the somewhat policing activities of the Civilian Joint Task Force, popularly called Civilian JTF in some northern parts of the country if not kept under watch.

If the Civilian JTF is not brought under government searchlight, it may create a hydra-headed security challenge that may make the challenges already posed by Boko Haram look like a child`s play. It is possible for some unscrupulous members of the Civilian JTF to resort to fomenting trouble instead of patriotically conforming to the normative values of the well intended vigilance group.

Apart from the need for the governments at all levels to closely watch the group, it is expedient that traditional rulers, political leaders and even opinion leaders in areas that already have the Civilian JTF as a volunteer group to ensure that the  outfit is not bastardized.

I recently watched the clip of the activities of the Civilian JTF on a private television station, and was shocked to the marrows. While watching the clip it dawned on me that it is just a matter of time before the seemingly uncoordinated group would embrace tribalism and religious bigotry that could leave disastrous consequences in its wake. The youths from that part of the country have the predilection of becoming tribal warlords and religiously sentimental whenever they are affiliated to any group. Leaders that hold sway in towns and cities that have the presence Civilian JTF should realize that no man would decide to rear snakes and expect not to have sleepless nights. The leaders should ensure that the outfit is not hijacked by unscrupulous people to achieve their selfish objectives or begin to use it as a platform for committing nefarious activities.

In that video women carrying babies were seen brandishing cutlasses and cudgels, and meandering through heavy vehicular traffic at the risk of being knocked down by reckless motorists. This does not speak well of a country that has all it takes to subdue the Boko Haram sect. The presence of Civilian JTF is an indictment on the government. It indicates that it has failed to combat the Boko Haram menace.

The idea behind the emergence of the Civilian JTF may be  highly applauded in some quarters but it would not augur well if members of the group are not kept under watch so that they do not exceed their bounds. Besides, they are highly vulnerable to the attacks of Boko Haram sect since the latter have superior fire power.

Members of the Civilian JTF should be restricted to engaging in espionage instead of taking up crude arms to confront a sophisticated, well armed terrorist group.

•Asabor wrote from Lagos. e-mail: [email protected]