doesn’t fold its hands and is actively engaged in providing thoughtful solution. State governments are especially on the offensive with various initiatives designed to curb the menace. And the federal government is actively engaging stakeholders from traditional rulers to governors and security agencies.
In an announcement on his Twitter handle, the president informed the nation of these measures, which include “expediting commencement of our community policing initiative, and revamping police intelligence gathering capacity”; “boosting the numbers of security personnel”; “recruiting police officers from their Local Government Areas and stationing them there.”
We must commend the government for rising to what the occasion demands. Surely, many citizens would wonder why it took so long. They may also see many of these new initiatives as not so extraordinary because they are normal ingredients of a good security menu. The military is best known as our strong tower against external attack and assault to national security. Involving the military in road check points is using them for law enforcement. From our past national experience, we can expect very little good coming out of military involvement in law enforcement. From the mid-60s to the late-90s, when the military held court over civil matters, we remember how respectful they are of civilians.
This latest incidence of killer soldiers in Taraba state raises serious questions. If it can happen to police IRT, it can happen to “bloody civilians” for whom soldiers have the least respect and the greatest contempt. One aspect of the military narrative appeared to be confirmed by other sources. Hamisu Bala, the kidnapper, is evil. He is also clever. After he was apprehended, handcuffed, and bundled in the van, he managed to peep out of the van and raised an alarm that he was being kidnapped. His friends and beneficiaries of his largess pursued the van and at the third check point they informed the military. That was how the military got involved.