That Senate president’s statement on security

Senate President Ahmed Lawan was recently reported as saying that the federal government will secure the country in two months.

I doubt this assertion so much as the government cannot secure the country without involving others. The issue of security is the business of everybody. This underscores what was obtainable during the pre-colonial and postcolonial periods.

The Mai Anguwa (Ward Heads) were always aware of any new person or people who moved into their wards.

They get information from heads of households in their wards. The owners of houses would not accommodate people of questionable behaviour in their houses.

However much we run, we would not be able to leave the issue of community policing. In addition to ensuring security, it will provide jobs for youths.

Nigeria has border with countries in West and Central Africa. The borders are porous. This is why there is increasing proliferation of arms in the country. Our security agencies lack the modern and sophisticated equipment to carry out surveillance in the forests. This is why armed bandits and kidnappers can carry their criminal activities and move back to their sanctuary (the forests).

To provide all the equipment, employ the right people into the community police force and train them adequately as well as sensitize people on the need for us to be our brothers’ keepers require longer than the two months that Senator Ahmed Lawan mentioned.

Abbas Liman, limanabbas@gmail. com