Worrisome Attacks on Security Agents

The frequent killing of security agents in Nigeria is becoming a grave threat to the safety and security of all Nigerians, as well as the survival of the country and should be addressed with the utmost urgency,  Kingsley Nwezeh writes

Nigerians recently woke up to hear the sad story of the killing of 17 soldiers in Okuama community in Ughelli South Local Government Area of (LGA) Delta State. 

The casualties include a Lieutenant Colonel, two Majors, one Captain and 12 soldiers. Military authorities claimed that the soldiers were on a peacekeeping mission in Okuama when they met their untimely death, which has been disputed by the indigenes of the community.

Before then, 12 policemen were killed by suspected herdsmen in Ohoro Forest in Ughelli North LGA of the state. They were said to be on a rescue mission to locate three of their colleagues who were reportedly missing in the forest.

Though Nigeria is not officially at war, the killing of security personnel who sacrifice so much for people to go about their businesses or sleep peacefully at night has become a nightmare.

Of course, the civilian population is not spared. At least 2,583 people were killed and 2,164 kidnapped in the first quarter of this year, a data from Beacon Security and Intelligence Limited, a security risk management and intelligence company based in Abuja, has shown. The data, which recorded the number of killings and abductions across the country from January to March, showed that 80 per cent of the killings and 94 per cent of the abductions occurred in the North.

Recently, two soldiers and a police inspector were brutally murdered in Mangu and Bakin Ladi LGAs of Plateau State. This was followed by the news of the killing of an Army Lieutenant and six other soldiers in an ambush by Boko Haram terrorists while moving in a military vehicle along the Biu-Buratai-Buni Yadi Road. This road that links Borno and Yobe states through the Biu-Buratai-Buni Yadi, has remained a death trap, as it has witnessed a series of deadly attacks by terrorists in recent times.

Data obtained from the Council on Foreign Relations’ Nigeria Security Tracker (NST), a website that tracks violent incidents related to political, economic, and social grievances directed at the state or other affiliated groups, revealed that non-state actors killed no fewer than 323 security officers in 2022.

In 2023, another report claimed that at least 186 security operatives, including personnel of the military, Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps and the Nigeria Police Force were killed.  

In the separate attacks on the convoy of former governor of Imo State, Ikedi Ohakim; the senator representing Anambra South, Ifeanyi Ubah, and Apostle Johnson Suleiman, a total of eight policemen were killed.

Gunmen have also so far killed over 50 police officers in attacks on towns and communities in the South-east geopolitical zone of Nigeria. The attacks were believed to have been carried out by the Eastern Security Network (ESN), an armed wing of the secessionist Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB). 

Last Sunday, the military high command confirmed that bandits ambushed and gunned down six soldiers at Roro, Karaga and Rumace communities, Bassa Ward, Shiroro Local Government Area of Niger State penultimate Friday night. A captain was also said to have been abducted during the incident.

Also last Thursday, a military commander of an army camp located at Sabon Garin Dan’Ali, in Danmusa Local Government Area of Katsina State was last week killed in an ambush. The Army Major was ambushed at Malali village in Kankara Local Government Area, where he was called to provide reinforcement to repel an attack on the village.

 In Nigeria today, laying of ambush to kill security operatives on duty is assuming an alarming rate, particularly in the South-south, North-east, North-northwest and South-east regions of the country. The incidents in the North are understandable as soldiers and other security agencies are battling insurgency and banditry in the North-east and North-west.

While the security of Nigeria’s citizens is of paramount importance, the loss of any member of the security forces is a tragic event that should not be taken lightly.

 The role of security agents is to ensure the safety and well-being of all citizens and they should be able to perform this obligation without fear of being targeted.

The disheartening and embarrassing attacks on security personnel show a worrying trend of lawlessness. From bandits to kidnappers, these non-state actors appear to wield considerable power, leaving both security personnel and civilians vulnerable. Streets have become battlegrounds for hoodlums, and respect for laws seems to have diminished. This unfolding scenario is alarming and demands urgent attention.

Nigeria is not known to be at war, and if non-state actors are allow to become increasingly daring in their operations to the extent of killing this number of security officials, then the country will  continue to become unsafe.

While many Nigerians appreciate the risks security personnel take in the course of carrying out their lawful duties, it has become increasingly important for security operatives to be more proactive carrying out their professional duties so as not to become vulnerable to attacks.

Nigerian security operatives should improve their capacity on intelligence gathering and react professionally to intelligence reports to forestall attacks from ambushes by non-state actors. 

Former Vice President Yemi Osinbajo had suggested that Nigeria’s security challenges and emerging threats have made it imperative for the country’s military and other relevant stakeholders to be several steps ahead of these enemies of the society.

Security agents deserve the respect of all and sundry as they go about their statutory responsibility of protecting the nation and its people. A country’s security architecture is its pride. When it is reduced to sitting ducks by rag-tag armies of non-state actors as it is happening now, the country loses its pride.

This is why the government must take a decisive step to halt this sacrilege now and deal decisively with sponsors and promoters of these violent groups that have held Nigeria to ransom. 

Many analysts have advised governments to address the underlying social and economic issues that are fuelling violence. This could involve investing in programmes that address poverty and unemployment, as well as increase access to education and other basic services. Also, efforts must be made to combat corruption and improve governance at all levels, as these issues are deeply intertwined with the problem of violence and insecurity.

They also advocate that governments and security agencies work closely with the communities affected by violence, to ensure that they have a voice in the process of addressing the issues. This includes working with traditional and religious leaders, as well as civil society organisations, to build trust and establish effective communication channels.

Those who spoke THISDAY on account of anonymity, also emphasised the need to increase the resources and training available to security agents. This, they added, could include providing better equipment and weapons, as well as training in the latest tactics and techniques for dealing with terrorist groups and other emerging threats. Additionally, increased intelligence and surveillance capabilities would be essential in tracking down those responsible for the killings and bringing them to justice.

Above all, the federal government urgently needs to clamp down heavily on desperate politicians, who, in their various efforts to hold on to power or continue to remain relevant, sponsor non-state actors to wreak havoc or destabilise the polity. Nigeria has been descending to anarchy since bandits were reportedly imported into the country to cause mayhem in the event that the outcome of the 2015 general election did not favour certain interests. No country or democracy survives or grows when non-state actors are allowed to wield arms and hold society to ransom at will.