Kaduna and Damaturu, where next?

There appears to be no immediate calm returning to Kaduna after Boko Haram struck three churches there. Reprisal attacks had seen a curfew imposed and later relaxed. However, this morning, a resurgence of the violence has returned.

With irate youths on either side of the communities taking up clubs or machetes and turning on each other, there is hardly anyone who can do business today in the northern city. Already the governor has reinstated the curfew while military presence is being deployed to quell the escalating tension.  A press statement from the government reads:

"RE-IMPOSITION OF 24 HOURS CURFEW IN KADUNA STATE"
In view of certain new security challenges that came up today, and based on the need for the state government to continue with its responsibility of safeguarding the lives and properties of its citizens, the state government is hereby re-imposing the 24 hours curfew in all parts of Kaduna State. This curfew covers all the 23 local governments of the state.  As unpalatable as this decision is, the state government is doing it for the good of the state. Consequently, everybody is advised to go back home now, while security agencies continue with the task of ensuring total peace in the state. 

 Reuben Buhari, Senior Special Assistant Media

Last night, the dreaded terror group picked up where they left off only this time in Damaturu, the Yobe state capital where they put the city under siege with gun shots and bomb explosions. Residents of the city say the onslaught lasted several hours. This morning, the state governor, Ibrahim Gaidam imposed a curfew to help salvage the situation.

The Senate President David Mark last night appealed to the Boko Haram to sheath their swords stressing on the need for dialogue. Only yesterday, the President Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, had a meeting with the Senate President, service chiefs as well as the Chief Justice of the Federation Justice Musdafa Dahiru. It was gathered that House of Representatives Speaker, Hon. Tambuwal could not be in attendance owing to an official assignment in Delta state. Though held behind closed doors, it is believed that the meeting was held to consider options in the event of reprisal attacks in Kaduna.

The usual line of action for the president to take on these matters is to declare a state of emergency in the affected states. However, that approach will offer nothing but forced peace. The state governors usually deposed at such declarations are left helpless and this brings us back to the issue of state policing. There are merits for a federal police and we have seen its exhaustion. We have also seen that the response of the federally controlled police to matters of immediate concern can be painfully competing with a snail at the Olympics. Policing must be retailed to meet the challenge of the neighbourhood. Sometime ago, a Plateau state governor had decried his title: Chief Security Officer of the State. "I do not command even one security person the governor had said." 

Without doubt, there is need for a review of the security approach as regards policing. The state governors are helpless whereas they are in better position to determine a policy that might work best for each situation and in what local government. There should not be any need to recruit new persons to a state controlled police effort. If the Civil Defence Corp were to be made available to the control of the states or state governors to patrol communities, restore order and arrest miscreants, then policing effort by the Nigeria Police Force can concentrate more on the bigger issues of cross state crimes, kidnappings etc. A more responsive police organization that is closer to the people is needed and where necessary call to help from the federal body. Each state can tailor its policing need to its security challenge.

Attacks were forestalled this morning when the body of a Hausa okada rider was found dead near Narayi (a Christian dominant town in Kaduna). Irate Muslim youths expectedly wanted a counter attack. Had a security patrol close to the people (civil defence for instance) been operational at the neighbourhood, perhaps there might never have been any need for a gathering of youths on a mission to revenge. Jungle justice arises because there is an absence of civil justice.

It is not only governments that should take responsibility for security failures. Citizens are expected to lead a tolerant life and have utmost regard for the sanctity of human life. Where a man offends you, there should be a resolve to pursue such grievance in a law court and not take the law into ones hands. Neighbourhood watches, community policing are all policies that should be taken by some of these communities to forestall future attacks and will even help in eliminating the threat posed by the Boko Haram.

We can only appeal to the leaders of the communities in the north. Whatever side of the divide you belong, you must first realise that humans are the same regardless of dissimilarities. The thumb cannot expect the index to convert itself into the thumb because he feels his form is superior. Even if he is superior, there is still need for the index to remain where it is and how it is on the same wrist. For God’s sake everyone sheath your swords and return to work.

It has happened in Kaduna and then Damaturu, where will be the next? What is being done to prevent it? The federal government cannot expect to declare a state of emergency and bring about forced peace when the executives at the state level have no power within their reach to do anything meaningful. There is an urgent need for a rethink of the present policing policy in place in Nigeria.