Owerri Escape: Revealing the fallacy of security
Considering our plethora of armed security agencies and the billions diverted by State Governors in the name of “security vote”, one would imagine that Nigeria would be a safe and secure place to live. Far from it. Increasingly our various security agencies are only effective in harassing and oppressing the law abiding general public. Whenever faced with the lawless, the corrupt, or the rebellious they fall far short of expectation.
Nothing illustrates this more than the escape of notorious serial killer, kidnap and robbery suspect “vampire” Henry Chibueze from the Owerri High Court. Chibueze deserves to be in detention. On February 16th 2013 in a fit of rage he armed himself with an AK47 Assault Rifle and brutally killed his girlfriend Sandra, her two elder sisters and their five children. He then fled Lagos to continue robbing and kidnapping. He was shot during an operation, eventually apprehended by the Department of State Security (DSS) in Imo State, paraded in front of newsmen then arraigned and remanded in prison. In the process of his daredevil escape six people were reportedly killed and several others wounded.
Also, no fewer than 30 other suspects brought to Court with him escaped. It really comes as no surprise that Chibueze’s gang could be so confident of success in their operation. The average Nigerian citizen can expect an AK47 Assault Rifle to be pointed at them with monotonous regularity. If it’s not the Nigerian Police Force at any of their numerous “toll gate” checkpoints which have been severally declared illegal by the InspectorGeneral of Police (IGP), then it is armed Customs Officers who feel impelled to point guns at people in order to check import duty payments. Joining them to threaten innocent Nigerians with guns are Nigerian Army Soldiers, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and Department of State Security (DSS) operatives. The police themselves come in various guises as Divisional Police, Anti-Robbery, Highway Patrol, Mobile Police (MOPOL), and Anti-Terrorist Task Force. In most cases their guns are only fired in cases of “accidental discharge” where completely innocent citizens are killed.
The exception is the Special AntiRobbery Squad (SARS) who have recorded several successes in killing those who are actually guilty of an offence. The role of various security agencies in providing an “enabling environment” for the easy escape needs to be highlighted. Firstly, the Nigerian Prison Service Officials. While in prison Chibueze was reported to be living large enjoying conjugal visits by girlfriends and the use of his telephones. He enlisted the help of a prison warder to continue operating a gang which carried out several successful operations including his escape. There are rumours that the escape was not a result of incompetence, but conspiracy. It just doesn’t make sense for highprofile criminals to be removed from prison custody and taken to Court putting so many lives at risk without overwhelming security presence.
Secondly, there is the Nigerian Army. Our soldiers are legendary for frogjumping innocent civilians, assaulting them and inflicting grievous bodily harm. Their record against armed opponents is less impressive. It was reported that soldiers on duty in the Court at the time of the escape abandoned their posts and ran away at the sound of the gunfire. Added to soldiers are the Nigerian Police Force (NPF) whose primary function appears to be extorting money from the innocent. As for the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) even they are not sure exactly what their function is! The Owerri High Court is located in the same vicinity as the Government House, the State Police Headquarters and the SSS Headquarters. The area is replete with armed Mobile Police Men (MOPOL) yet those brave prison warders who tried to prevent the escape received no support from any of legion of security agents supposedly guarding the area. It seems incomprehensible that there was no back-up plan to mobilise all surrounding forces in the event that any of these establishments was under attack.
The Department of State Security (DSS) also must share party of the blame. No one knows what their exact role is, or where and when they should be seen. Instead of being a secretive organisation they are increasingly visible. Their penchant for not wearing any recognisable uniform but dressing to instil fear in people worked against security in this instance. Prison officials claimed that the non-uniform wearing, gun-toting men strolling around arrogantly were “assumed” to be DSS operatives. Quite incredulously our security forces can’t even identify each other!
The whole mess was compounded by the slow dispensation of justice in Nigeria. Vampire was arrested and paraded in July 2015 yet hadn’t been tried and convicted one and a half years later! The primary function of government isn’t building infrastructure and awarding contracts, its protecting freedoms and ensuring safety of lives and property. It will not be enough to retire those in charge or find scapegoats over this issue. It must not happen again. As an integral part of the change agenda our whole security apparatus must be overhauled and integrated.