Nigeria: What’s Wrong with our Security Architecture?
By Kolawole O. Iyiola
The last four weeks were horrific for Nigeria and the citizens as the nation’s capital witnessed 3 different terrorist attacks with one being carried out on the presidential guards leading to the death of 2 officers and 6 soldiers which was right at the doorstep of our dear President Muhammadu Buhari.
This shows that the terrorists have since established cells which made it easier to infiltrate deep into the country’s main seat of power, Abuja, the “Federal Capital Territory.”
This worrisome development has left the citizens in a state of panic, thereby ruminating whether they are safe to move around freely since the presidential guards could be attacked in such audacity. It is apparent the security situation of the country is in shamble.
Prior to that, one of the most secured prison in the country, i.e. Kuje medium custodial center was also successfully invaded by ISWAP terrorists leading to the escape of 433 inmates. Report showed that the terrorists in their large number, overwhelmed the security forces guardian the prison and free their lieutenants and commanders, including other detained Boko Haram fighters.
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Again, in another episode of security breach, some dare-devil terrorists went to a military checkpoint located at Zuma Rock and opened fire on personnel on duty. Although they were repelled, a soldier was killed in that attack while two were injured. Presently, majority of learning institutions in the Federal Capital Territory have been abruptly shut down due to the rising insecurity in the territory.
Before these attacks, there have been pockets of cases leading to the deaths and abductions of some residents in Robochi, Abaji, Kwali, and Kuje, among other neighbouring communities in the FCT.
In order to restore normalcy and reduces the level of security threat, the Force Public Relations Officer, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, stated that the Force Intelligence Bureau has been charged with gathering intelligence. Similarly, the Guards Brigade has deployed more troops across the city to prevent another security breach.
The Federal Capital Territory Authority (FCTA) has also met with the governments of neighbouring states in order to rejig security operations. The security operatives in the FCT and their counterparts in contiguous states at the meeting agreed to take the fight to the terrorists’ camps.
Risk management and security expert, Kabiru Adamu, lamented that despite the early signs, no corresponding measures to avert the attacks were put in place.
Therefore, in order to avert further security breaches within Abuja and the country at large, security agencies should synergize in areas of intelligence gatherings and sharing as well as corresponding outright response to such information.
Residents should also complement this effort by providing valuable information to security personnel aimed at exposing terrorists’ cells.
Kolawole is a student of Mass Communication, Babcock University, Ogun. He wrote from Abuja.
