The State and Security Management in Nigeria: A Study of Anambra State, 2014-2022

The State and Security Management in Nigeria: A Study of Anambra State, 2014-2022

¹Onwunyi, Ugochukwu Mmaduabuchi, Ph.D & ²Oguma, Ndidi Patience
¹Department of Political Science, Dennis Osadebay University, Asaba, Delta State
²Department of Public Administration, Dennis Osadebay University, Asaba, Delta State

DOI: https://doi.org/10.47772/IJRISS.2023.70552

Received: 21 February 2023; Accepted: 19 April 2023; Published: 06 June 2023

ABSTRACT

Security is a major issue in the governance of any state and hence the success of any administration is usually measured in terms of her ability to adequately manage the security situations in such a state. The study examined the state and security management in Anambra State between 2014 and 2020. The study is qualitative in nature as data collection was based on the secondary sources of data, while the Social Contract Theory was judiciously utilized as the framework of analysis. Based on this, the study revealed that; poor equipment’s amongst other factors are challenges that impeded proper security management in Anambra State under Governor Willie Obiano’s administration; again, the study showed that there has been a systematic approach towards addressing security challenges in the state by government. The efforts being made by the state agencies to curb the menace of insecurity of all kinds are synchronized though not very effective. From the findings, the study recommended that; first, the government should make sure that its policies are implemented effectively. It is not enough to make good policies while implementing it is a problem. Government must realize that it has a limited time and should therefore use it effectively. Secondly, government agencies like the National Orientation Agency (NOA) should be made to be functional in carrying out their responsibilities. Here, government can partner with the civil society in enlightening citizens on government programmes. The citizens on their part are expected to play roles that will complement government efforts. The citizens need to be more security conscious. Citizens should be sensitized and mobilized from time to time, to fulfil their civic obligations. They should be law-abiding, pay their taxes and other dues correctly and promptly. Citizens should be courageous to criticize or engage the government constructively. In doing this, public facilities and projects should be properly maintained and sustained, and both government and the citizens have roles to play to achieve this.

Keywords: State, Security, Management, Poor equipment, Corruption, Anambra State

INTRODUCTION

One of the greatest challenges of security management is corruption and ill equipped apparatus of security agents in Nigeria such as the Nigerian police. The extent of security challenges which faces Nigeria today shows that security agencies are unable to restore peace and order in the Nigerian system.  Hence, security management has been on a downward slide. The persistent security problems and the inability of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) in ensuring security and safety of life and property in the country are worrisome. The sources of security challenges in the country are numerous and cannot be blamed on one part of the system alone. They vary from the government to the police down to the people in the society.

On the part of the police, there are many inadequacies and problems which stand as obstacles responsible for its abysmal performance. Most Nigerians describe police as a motley crowd of lazy, inefficient, corrupt uniformed men and women contributing to the perpetrating of crimes such as mass killing, intimidation, rape, extrajudicial killings/summary execution and other heinous crimes against citizens they are paid to protect. The escalation of violence in the north of Nigeria perpetrated by Boko Haram today is linked with the police extra-judicial killing of the leader of the group, “Mohammed Yusuf” in July 2009 in Borno State. It is also common with the police to falsely label innocent people as armed robbers, while the real criminals are working freely in the society doing what they know how to do best. They falsified post mortem result and to worsen the matter, people either criminals or none criminal disappear from there custody without good explanations and families of the innocent victims are faced with extortion.

The Nigeria police Force (2008) in their annual report noted that the police is handicapped because of combination of factors that plagued them, among which are; lack of resources, poor government support, poor condition of service, lack of appropriate and adequate training and ill equipped workforce. Coupled with these, are the issue of police extortion and corruption and other vices common among the police system which contributes to their lack of efficiency. Police corruption is a serious issue because they are expected to be moral as law-enforcement agents. If the police which were employed and catered for with the people’s money to protect and detect crimes are themselves corrupt and also a party to crimes, then the society is at the mercy and grace of the criminal. The above among many others contribute to the Police and the challenges of Security management in Anambra State under the Obiano administration.

 However, some security problems in Nigeria generally are rooted in the perceived inequality in the country’s political space, high rate of poverty in the land, increasing spate of unemployment, inequitable distribution of national resources, corruption among top governmental officials, and poor management of communal conflicts by appropriate governmental institutions, among others. The country has been under siege for some years largely due to militancy and act of terrorism perpetuated by some individuals against the state. Hence, the nation has not achieved the desired peace and perfect security needed for development. Due to this, peace, security and stability have eluded the country.

One of the fundamental problems of the study is inadequate keeping of records by the police command. This inadequacy extend to the point that when criminals are arrested and charged to court, there are often cases of lost files and statement made by the accused at the police station. This has made administration of criminal justice and security management a wishful thinking.

Another problem is the use of force by the police officers to obtain confessional statement from persons under the police custody. This problem is manifestly against human right aptly provided under the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Most people arrested by the police have stayed in the police station more than 24 hours without being charged to court and have been overtly denied access to consult a legal practitioner to guide them in resolving the problem. This is legally prejudicial to the accused. Rather than being an instrument for peace and order, the police in Anambra state have constituted themselves an instrument of disorder and civil unrest including undue intimidation of the people they are meant to protect.

Another issue associated to the above problem is the corrupt nature of police officers in the state. They are notorious for collecting bribes from criminals and innocent citizens alike. This is compounded by the fact that police officers engage in torturing their suspect in order to get confessional statement or force individuals to admit to the crime which they did not commit. This has made the police to be responsible for escalating the rate of human right abuse.

Finally, in Anambra State there are problems of poor condition of services; lack of adequate training of police recruit, and still equipped gadgets for security management, the effect of this is that security management is considerably low and not improving. Hence, insecurity is the order of the day which calls for proper study on security management in the study.

LITERATURE REVIEW

Anambra State and Security Management Operations

Prior to proper and responsive security management in Anambra State, AFP (2001) reported that a group of “Bakassi” operatives, in the month of May 2001, apprehended and summarily executed 36 suspected armed robbers in Onitsha, Anambra State without recourse to the police force. Umeagbasi (2010) reported that on the 4th of November 2000, the Anambra State Vigilante Service Operatives arrested a religious leader from part of Anambra State, decapitated him, and subsequently set him ablaze on grounds of unsubstantiated offences of aiding and abetting robberies in the State. Umeagbasi (2010) further reported that between the 25th and 30th of November 2001, Vigilante Operatives, also called The Bakassi Boys chased and apprehended a notorious alleged criminal, and upon bringing him to the center of the popular Onitsha Main Market, chopped off his head in full public glare. Though crude in style of operations, this exclusive vigilante security arrangement helped to rein the wave of crime in Anambra State within the period.

A fast forward from 2006 under the emergence of Gov. Peter Obi up till the coming into power of  Gov Willie Obiano’s Administration, Anambras State police command has received loudest acknowledgement on security management in recent time. Although the police officers in Anambra State are not special force created for the state, their performance in security management seems to be better than police officers elsewhere in Nigeria. For instance, as the security situation in the country is deteriorating, it is germane to counsel the Federal Government and state governments to turn attention to Anambra to see what can be learnt from Anambra Police Command which was only five years ago one of the most security challenged states in Nigeria but has all of a sudden become the safest, the most peaceful and the most stable state in the whole country (Yes International Magazine, May 4, 2019). For instance, there has been no bank robbery in the state in the last five years, even though it has the largest number of banks in Nigeria, after Lagos and Rivers State.

True, serious crimes do occur in Anambra, as even in such safe places as Sweden. But what arrests attention is the speed at which the perpetrators are caught. Evidentially, in April 16, 2019, a four-man gang murdered the President General of the Nimo Town Development Union in Njikoka Local Government Area at about 8pm at Oye Market in the town. On hearing the news, Punch (16, April, 2019) documented that Governor Willie Obiano who was abroad worked the phone throughout the night, calling every traditional ruler, every town union president general, every market union president, every motor park leader, every community leader and, of course, every security and intelligence officer he felt could assist with information leading to the arrest of the criminals. He announced through his Commissioner for information and Public Enlightenment, Mr C. Don Adinuba, a reward of N5millon for any person who could provide the information, assuring the public that the perpetrators would be arrested soon. Every person in Anambra believed that Chief Obiano would deliver on his promise.

 On 20th April at Nkwelle Ezunaka in Oyi LGA where Professor Greg Nwakoby, vice chancellor of Chukwuemeka Odumegwu- Ojukwu University, had gone for a thanksgiving mass, Governor Obiano announced the capture of the ring leader of Igboka’s murderers. The congregation went into frenzy. Many in Anambra State who heard the news exclaimed in appreciation, “So soon?” What they do not realize is that Chigbo Anigboka, the 27-year old member of Vikings Fraternity and Igboka’s neighbor in the village, was arrested on April 20, that is, a mere four days after killing the former chairman of Njikoka LGA who was also a member of the state House of Assembly for making life tough for cultists in Nimo in his capacity as the town’s president general (Vanguard, 21, April, 2019).

According to him, the other three members of the Vikings who took part in the Nimo murder have been identified as Obinna Okafor and two others simply known as Nwasami and Chukwunonso. None of them is in Anambra State, but they will soon be caught, just like Ikechukwu Udensi, the most wanted criminal in the state who last year killed a businessman in Onitsha, Ndubuisi Nwokolo, for challenging him over his illegal revenue collection. Udensi ran to Lagos and Ogun states where he hid, but the moment he set his feet on Anambra soil towards the end of March he was caught by eagle-eyed policemen. Governor Obiano placed a one-million naira bounty on his head. The police had arrested Udensi’s second in command (Yes International Magazine, May 4, 2019). Meanwhile, Obiano announced a five million bounty on each of the three fleeing murderers of Chief Igboka.

On Monday, 10^th June, the Commissioner of Police in the state, Mustapha Dandura, addressed the press where he announced a number of breakthroughs by his men. Davidson Obinna, kidnapped in Owerri, Imo State, while driving a red Lexus car and taken to an isolated building in Oba, Idemili South LGA in Anambra State, was rescued a few hours after he was brought to Anambra. Though the kidnappers absconded through the back of the building on sighting policemen, security agents took two AK 47 rifles as well as a pistol and munitions they saw in the building, which were brought down by the state government. The fleeing abductors were later caught, as the police have stated (Amafili, 2019).

The police have also arrested the killer of Pa Iloanusi, the 85-year old mother of a Super Eagles player. Pa Iloanusi was killed in 2013 because his son was not as forthcoming with a huge ransom as his abductors expected (Yes International, May 4, 2019). The ring leader was arrested but escaped from police detention in handcuffs, only to be rearrested now. Mr Dandaura also disclosed the arrest of Ugochukwu Nweke and Chijioke Okeh in a criminal hideout in Oba two days after robbing Rev Fr Chukwunonso Anosike of his laptop and mobile phones.

 Daura announced, on the whole, the arrest of quite a number of criminal suspects. While being commended for doing so much within the short period he has spent in the state, the police commissioner noted that the credit for the new onslaught against violent criminals should rather go to Governor Obiano for inspiring security agencies in the state to achieve higher heights. Apart from providing over 200 well equipped vehicles to the police alone, Obiano gives them good allowances which are paid on time. He ensures that security funds are used strictly for the purposes for which they are made available. He also motivates security men and women through words and show of solidarity.

In summary, a couple of things account for the extraordinary performance of security men in Anambra State. They include the passion for security which the governor exhibits, provision of logistic support, provision and prompt payment of reasonable allowances to security people, recognition of the heroic accomplishment of officers, incentivisation of members of the public through monetary rewards and working in close collaboration the community which brings about trust in both the intelligence community and the government as well as prioritization of public security in the development because the principal function of every government is the safety of the people and their assets.

There is so much the Federal Government and the state governments all over Nigeria can learn from Anambra which has made it the safest state in Nigeria.

Poor Equipment’s and Security Management

Security remains a high profile challenge in Nigeria. The country more than ever before is characterized by high level of social disorder, robbery, kidnapping, terrorism, and assassination. This phenomenon is gaining momentum daily as increasing number of Nigerians continue to die from social upheavals which ordinarily could have been stopped by security operatives. This situation has attracted many concerns in and outside the country. Consequently, government at various times has tried to address this challenges through enhanced salaries, trainings of the Nigeria police officials, immigration, civil defence, military, and custom. Government is also encouraging through her policies the establishment of private security organizations to check the security challenges in the country(Agba, Eteng & Titus, 2017; Ukwayi, Okpa, Adewoyin, Angioha & Udom, 2017). The failure of the police and other security bodies to check the rising chain of crime has been impugned on inadequate working tools, which mostly branded most government establishment and some private organizations in the country. Annals also shows that the fundamental problem with security organisations in Nigeria is not the existence of, but the inadequate use of security equipment. These growths has impacted negatively on the operational efficiency and morale of officers in public and private security organizations. The want of government aggressive approach towards equipping security organisations in the country is not unrelated to inadequate empirical facts from weathered research. The gulf in opinion on the security condition in the country suggests that more evidences and brainy information are needed to kerb these upheavals and this can only be accomplished through well-structured first-hand investigation. It is therefore apparent that the available flimsy and outmoded information is waning government in strategic security planning and policy formation.

The several security challenges facing Nigeria is an indication of ineffective security management in the country traceable to long neglect of essential elements in security planning and management in Nigeria. There is an observed lack of prioritizing of critical elements of security by Nigeria’s past leaders and political class which has continued to generate serious threats to its national security. The lack of adequate funding and equipping of security departments and politicization of security matters in Nigeria based on partisan, tribal and religious considerations are traceable to the security dilemma being faced in the country. Lack of security awareness of the average Nigerian citizen coupled with lack of training of security personnel, also compound security problems in the country.

This result from what Fukuyama (2004) described as the corrosion or breakdown of institutional infrastructures. The foundations of institutional framework in Nigeria are very shaky and have provoked a deterioration of state governance and democratic accountability, thus, paralyzing the existing set of constraints including the formal and legitimate rules nested in the hierarchy of social order. Evidently, as Igbuzor (2011) observed, the state of insecurity in Nigeria is greatly a function of government failure, or can be linked to government failure. This is manifested by the incapacity of government to deliver public services and to provide for basic needs of the masses. The lack of basic necessities by the people in Nigeria has created a pool of frustrated people who are ignited easily by any event to be violent. The argument here, is that, Nigeria has the resources to provide for the needs of its people, but corruption in public offices at all levels has made it impossible for office holders to focus on the provision of basic needs for the people. Hazen and Horner (2007) described the Nigerian situation as a ‘Paradox of Plenty’. A situation where the country earns a great deal of revenue through oil sales, but fails to use these earnings to meet the needs of its people and to develop infrastructure as well as the economy. When these situations exist, crime rate is bound to rise and the security of lives and properties cannot be guaranteed.

Poor equipment and motivations of security forces often negatively affect security performance and effectiveness of security forces to combat destabilizing and subversive activities in a nation. The quality and morale boosting factors often help the effectiveness of security forces and enhance their combat readiness to tackle security challenges that bring about stability in a nation like Nigeria. The low morale and inadequate motivation and welfare packages to these security personnel tend to demoralize the security operatives and negatively affect their performances. These security outfits lack basic equipment and are technically outmoded in terms of modern crime fighting technologies, especially the Nigerian Police. The Nigerian Police lack fire-power, forensic laboratories, modern communication and technical equipment for professionalized police duties as obtained in civilized countries abroad.

THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK

This paper adopted a strand of Social Contract Theory, otherwise known as Consent theory (Johari, 2005) as the most appropriate theoretical framework in analyzing the Nigerian State, and Security Management. Generally, social contract scholars are of the opinion that the modern state is a product of pure contract between the people and the government. They see state not just as an institution but a special and most organized institution which evolved through agreement, covenant or compact properly so called.

The evolution of social contract theory dates back to Thomas Hobbes, John Locke, Baruch Spinoza, Samuel Rufendorf, Jean-Jacques Rousseau etc. the theory has modern proponents such as Immanuel Kant and John Rawls. It has been noted that apart from the scholars who originated the theory of social contract, John Rawls stand out for bringing it to limelight in contemporary requirement of state and citizenship (Brooke & Bruder, 2002). Unlike other freedom theory, social contract theory emphasizes the agreement of the individuals to surrender their right to the state which shall have absolute power to protect them through the government.

Johari (2005) summarized this view when he expressed that in social contract theory, the individuals have a contract with a group of person (government) under which that body (government) receives authority in return for the protection and provision of services and thereby obligating system of legal rules and secondly because he and his followers are bound by national law to perform the terms of the contract. The above is indifferent from Locke’s explanation that the cardinal idea of government is trust and the basis of government is consent (Appadorai, 1977). It is necessary to emphasize that the entering into agreement to form a government for common protection right marked the end of Hobbesian state of nature and beginning of modern state. The inconvenience of state of nature must have led the advocate of civil society to engage into formation of government by popular consent of the people. As a result of contract, government is mandated to enforce law and order so as to ensure liberty and protection of lives and properties of the people.

The bottom line for the application of social contract theory entails both the application of law and the practical situation in Nigeria. Government everywhere in the world has common goal. That goal is the protection of life and properties of its subject. Security of life and property is the first goal of Nigerian government (State). In recognition of the above, section 14 of the 1999 Constitution was made for the purpose of social contract agreement. Nigerian citizen as has already submitted their right which Nigerian government consented to protect as a sovereign entity. Going further, the Constitution in section 6 empowered the people to seek redress in court when it appears to them that the right so guaranteed has been reached or is likely to be breached. For Nigeria to carry out the duty of this social contract, the constitution clearly defined the structures of the Nigerian security management organs.

The practical implication is that despite the social contract theory and positive structures created to enforce the role of government towards security of lives and property, Nigeria has continued to witness incessant security threats. The sphere of insecurity in Nigeria cut-across the social, political, environmental, economic, and legal dimensions of life. In some part of Nigeria, natural disaster has been of potential danger to human survival without adequate government intervention. Chief among these are flood disaster and erosion. Nigeria has variously been portrayed as a nation with minimal security management initiative. These diverse security threats have correspondently widened the scope of security management mandate to include, non-state actors, individuals, and international social justice and civil rights movements, aimed at achieving national and international peace and security (Phenson et al, 2014). Thus, security management in a state like Nigeria has gone beyond only the government and now involves individuals, non-state actors such as Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), Community Based Organizations (CBOs), International Human Rights, and Civil Liberties Movements. This notwithstanding, government remains the chief security provider.

In the case of the Nigerian State, the original mandate is on the government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria which is constitutionally empowered to establish, fund and manage both military forces, security intelligence agencies and other Para-military and law enforcement agencies in exercise of this constitutional mandate (Chuke & Okutalukwe, 2016)..

The Nigerian state uses the above military, Para-military, other enforcement agencies to enforce law and order and ensure security to Nigerian citizens at home and abroad. The failure of the constitutional mandate has led to incessant crises, unlawful killing, extra-judicial killings, and proliferation of small and light weapons, inter-tribal conflict, secession uproars and argument for restructuring.

Despite the above, security management has remained a wishful thinking in Anambra state. The failure of the Nigerian State to ensure the security of life and property has been attributed to the character of the colonial states. One distinctive character of the Nigerian state is that it is a fall out of colonial imposition (Aghedo & Osumah, 2015)). In as much as the colonial state was created to serve the interest of the British colonial masters, the security agencies which were created at the time serve the interest of the colonized. Post-colonial Nigerian state problem in providing security of life is a product of failure of political leadership. The lack of political will of leaders to encourage positive restructuring and astute implementation of law and order. Another problem that continues to escalate conflict in Nigeria is ethnicity. As a consequence of colonial imposition, the state harbors over 250 ethnic groups and about 400 linguistic groups (Mustapha, 2007).

Fundamentally, another serious impediment to the success of social contract theory in Nigeria is arbitrariness. As the offshoot of colonial imposition, security management is usually based on deployment of forces. The security forces unrestrained use of force to manage conflict situation always leads to grave human and material cost. According to Aghedo and Osumah (2015) ‘though federalism was adopted, the rate of unemployment, poverty, and infrastructural decay is very high, driving many, especially the youths into cybercrimes, violence and insurgent movement as instrument of survival. In the end, the role of the state as the arbiter in the security of life and property has been compromised by Anambra state.

CORRUPTION AND THE FIGHT AGAINST CRIME IN ANAMBRA STATE

Having said the foregoing, it is pertinent to note the security challenges which Anambra State has to grapple with if security is to be restored to State. First of all is the failure of security agencies in the country. In particular, the failure of the intelligence services to contain the recurring security breaches. These security agencies appear incapable of matching the sophisticatedness of these miscreants. They discharged their duty unprofessionally and unmotivated. One wonders how they can veritably help the state government in restoring security to the country. In fact, the current trend of violence is imprinting on the psyche of Anambraians that the government security apparatus is incapable of guaranteeing the security and safety of its people. Another security challenge comes from the judiciary arm of government of the country. In Anambra State, the judiciary has occasionally compromised cases that concern insecurity and thereby making the law not to act as a deterrent again. This challenge needs to be speedily resolved since many Anambraians have become conditioned to the acts of carnage, brigandage, looting, massacre, butchery and bestiality. Indecisiveness on issues bothering on insecurity from the part of the state government is another security challenge. This indecisiveness is not peculiar to the present state government but it has been an attitude of every federal government since the first republic. The leaders of this state need to cultivate strong political will to oversee this security problem and not appear ever clueless, negligent and predictable. Unemployment appears to be the strongest security challenge of the Nigerian government. So alarming is the rate of unemployment in this country. Many Anambraians of whom are in the youth bracket are not gainfully employed. This situation has continually fanned the embers of insecurity in Anambra State to flames. These youths are frustrated by their unemployed state into perpetrating crimes of various degrees. Another of these security challenges is the issue of lop-sided development of the state.

 As Nwadialor (2011), rightly pointed out, “the deliberate concentration of Nigeria’s capital resources to the development of a few cities in the name of federal and state capitals, culminating in the prevalence of a large population of rural and underdeveloped communities who later came to see the developing cities of Lagos, Portharcourt, Kano, Enugu, Ibadan, Kaduna and Calabar to mention but a few, as a different country has equally compounded the security of this country.” The situation created is such that the rural areas dwellers consider as enemies and subsequently, appeared to have waged a cold war against the urban areas dwellers. The rural areas dwellers out of envy for the goodies enjoyed by the urban areas dwellers, engage in organized criminal expeditions to the cities and retreat to escape security agencies, and this has continued till date. The final and not the least of these security challenges is the nefarious and virulent activity of the Islamic sect cum terror-group, Boko Haram. This terror-group has constituted itself a thorn in the flesh of the current government of Nigeria. The group has claimed responsibility for most bomb explosions and mayhem experienced within the country in recent times. The sheer lawlessness and carnage carried out by these renegade of Islam have heated up the nation and made the country less secure It is one thing to possess the intention to abate the insecurity situation and another to really abate it. What is meant here is that Nigerians are actually tired in hearing promises of restoring security from their government. It is high time the government grabbed the bull by the horns. If not, this insecurity, if it has not even started, will affect legitimate social and economic activities in the country.

INADEQUATE EQUIPMENTAND THE FIGHT AGAINST CRIME IN ANAMBRA STATE

The police lack modern equipment to effectively combat crime in Nigeria. A former Inspector General of Police, Mr. Sunday Ehindero, in 2008 observed that infrastructural facilities and the much needed equipment are in short supply in the police force. Vehicles, Communication equipment, scientific tools   for   investigation,   intelligence   gathering   control   equipment   are   grossly            inadequate. Less than 5 percent of the policemen on duty in the States and Federal Capital Territory have walkie-talkie for communication during patrols, then situation is worst in the suburbs or rural areas. Studies have also reported that less than 20 percent of the stations have functional telephones to respond to distress calls from the public during emergencies. Concerning vehicles, about 5 percent of the commands have one or no lorry and other operational vehicles (Dambazua, 2007).

According to Matthew (2017), inadequate funding can hamper police effort in Nigeria. In fact, if they do not have necessary tools to work, you will be providing room for what will aid corruption in the force. The policer officer in UK and Nigeria do the same job, they want to save the community, deal with crime, terrorism but the difference is that there is great infrastructure in the UK, every officer has a radio, have access to vehicles patrol but in Nigeria, contrary situation prevails. The argument here is that lack of resources and consequently poor infrastructure have made the police ineffective and has also opened the window for corrupt practices among the police (National Daily Newspaper, 2013). 3. Lack of Motivation for the Police: Motivation is a serious factor as far as efficiency in any endeavour is concerned. Motivation goes a long way in encouraging a worker to work to maximum capacity. There are policemen who have been on the same rank for over 15 years, it is also true that less than 25 percent of the policemen in Nigeria have barrack accommodation and even those who are lucky to have the accommodation live in very sorry and deplorable conditions. As the buildings within the barracks are in various states of dilapidation and squalor and are in dire need of renovation to make it habitable for decent conditions of living for the policemen (Dambazua, 2013).

Also, Musa (2016), notes that the Nigeria Police cannot be said to be functional. Apart from the fact that they are underfunded and reduced to mere objects of degradation with meagre salaries, they also have to operate in less habitable places as offices in addition to very poor shelter (barracks), he added. He remarked that the police are demoralized and yet they are the ones assigned the tedious and dangerous jobs of patrolling our highways, chasing armed robbers, fishing out criminal elements in the society as well as restoration of peace. Yet, the public do not waste time in blaming them once they perform below expectations, unmindful of the conditions under which they work, he concluded. However, it would appear that situation has changed relatively, but not significant enough to impact the attitude of rank and file in the force to deliver expected services. In the opinion of Olusola (2014), the misgivings about the police are totally correct. The police do not have the necessary support they need to ‘operate satisfactorily.

WILLIE OBIANO’S ADMINISTRATION AND CRIME FIGHTING IN ANAMBRA STATE

Hitherto, Anambra State, like other states in Nigeria, was in disarray and in a state of anomie. It suffered nefarious activities of criminals and violence of hoodlums such as kidnapping, armed robbery, bank attacks etcetera. In those days, hoodlums and miscreants were everywhere in the state. They even wrote letters in advance to prospective victims that they were coming. Places like Bridge Head, Upper Iweka flyover axis, Awka, Nnewi, Ekwulobia and Aguata were major targets.

The gangs of criminals operated both in the day time and at night under the cover of darkness. There was also spike in ritual killings, marauding, arson, touting, extra judicial killings, labour unrest, corruption and other crimes which adversely affected socio-economic life of the State.

However, there was turn around when Governor Willie Obiano came on board. From inception, Obiano’s administration placed high premium on security of lives and property to promote good governance and entrench stability to ensure development. The great effort at tackling insecurity yielded the desired results as the State changed from being known for lawlessness to an oasis of peace and a destination for investors.

It is also important to make public our recent achievements in the area of crime-fighting. In June this year, based on a tip-off to the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), one Friday Umunna was arrested in connection with the kidnap of one Mrs. Patricia Ihedigbo at Umuaka village in Uli, Ihiala Local Government Area. Also, Chinedu Nwankwo, Chukwuka Chinedu and Patrick Ifediorah were arrested.

These suspects specialized in armed robbery and snatching of vehicles within the state and environs. We recovered one Toyota Yaris with registration number GBB315AA and a revolver. The suspects have already confessed to the crime and are assisting in the arrest of their members. About 1400 hours on July 14 this year, one Francis Okechukwu was arrested in connection with car snatching in Anambra and Delta states (Ekeh, 2017). The Command recovered one Lexus Jeep RX330 with registration number AWK 849HM, one Toyota Sienna with the number THE133CQ and a Ford bus with registration number XT247BEN. Also, a kidnap suspect, Ibeabuchukwu Anthony, was arrested at Nkwelle Awkuzu in connection with the kidnap of one Geo Chika Ilozumba, the Personal Assistant to former Commissioner for Works in Anambra. We also recorded success in the area of vandalising of communication installations belonging to Isseke Town in Idemili South Local Government Area. Items recovered included one L300 Mitsubishi bus, two shaft chisels, one big cutter and one bar, and spanners. They also specialise in vandalising other network installations. In August 2019, the command also recorded success in crime-fighting. Through the assistance of Amawbia Central Vigilante, we arrested one Ifeanyi Nwankwo of Umuokpu-Awka, Chinedu Okonkwo from Azia Town and Onyebuchi Nwana of Mbosi We recovered one foreign made Berretta pistol, three rounds of 9mm live ammunition. One of them confessed to the case of armed robbery within Awka and environs. Investigation is ongoing.

We are aware of cult activities in the universities, polytechnics and Colleges of Education and we have been taking the matter head-long. One Chichi Ezenwankwo and four others were arrested while initiating a new member into Vikings Confraternity secret cult. One battle axe and a long machete were recovered from them. The suspects have been charged to court and remanded at Aguata Prisons. We also arrested cult members at Eke Nibo during a clash between the Vikings Confraternity and the Black Axe Confraternity. In Ozubulu Town in Ihiala Local Government Area, eight suspected cult members were arrested while initiating a new member into NICO Black Movement of Africa (Black Axe). In Ihiala, Ihiala North council area, the Command arrested two persons in the bush during their initiation into the Vikings Confraternity and others escaped. The suspects have been charged to court. Similar arrests were carried out in Abagana Town in the council area, Amawbia Town in Awka South, Umunze Town in Orumba South, Obosi in Idemili North. We also made arrests in Atani, Ogbaru council area, Amansea and Azia in Ihiala Local Government Area. So you can agree with me that the Command is not sleeping at all.

Accordingly, Onwuchekwa (2018), while stressing the point made by the first vice president of Ihiala Progress Union (IPU) in Ihiala Local Government Area of Anambra State, Mr. ElokaIgwemezie, said that the security outfit has battled crime and criminality to a standstill in the town. More so Igwemezie (2018), who is also the commander of Ihiala Central Vigilance group, however, admitted that marijuana smokers and hard drug consumers still dare the vigilantes at Ihiala motor parks.” The vigilance group commander made this known while briefing journalists, at Ihiala, on the activities of the outfit. He noted that motorcycle theft which was so rampart in the town had reduced to the barest minimum due to activities of his boys who he said had smashed the syndicates responsible for the dastard act.

He recalled with pride that the Ihiala central vigilante was able to recover, recently, a whooping sum of N300,000 that was stolen from a customer of a commercial bank in the town who had gone to make a withdrawal. Igwemezie explained that his boys gave a hot chase to the hoodlums that perpetrated the dastard act and gave them a good fight until the money was recovered and restored to the owner. He also revealed that child theft had equally reduced after the group had burst twelve syndicates responsible for stealing little children in the town. He, however, noted that the new crime waves in Ihiala had to do with theft of overhead water tanks as criminals would go to people’s homes and upturned their water tanks to drain water before carting away the tanks.

Igwemezie revealed that the vigilance group was at present handling about twenty-five cases of water tanks theft in the community. He commended the President General of Ihiala Progress Union, Barr. Jude Ngobili and other stakeholders for taking care of the salaries and welfare of members of the security outfit in the town who had not been captured in the State government stipend list. He expressed optimism that the Chief Willie Obiano- led administration would soon start paying twenty of the vigilance group members in Ihiala as done in other communities in Anambra. Igwemezie noted that there is a good working relationship between the members of Ihiala central vigilante and other law enforcement agents, adding that his boys would always arrest and hand over the suspects to the police for investigation and possible prosecution.

He, however, regretted that Indian Hemp smokers had not heeded several warnings to leave the motor parks as he denied any understanding between the vigilance group and the Indian Hemp smokers or dealers. “I must not fail to state that we collaborate with the special police anti-cult unit at Enugukwu, we work with the police Special Anti-Robbery Squad(SARS) and also the Awka Divisional Police Officer. We don’t detain, once we make arrests, suspects are promptly handed over to the police,” he concluded.

THE INSTALLATION CCTV SURVEILLANCE CAMERAS IN ANAMBRA STATE

In the year 2019, the governor of Anambra State, Chief Willie Obiano inaugurated super smart closed-circuit cameras (CCTVs) in three cities of the state (Alade, 2019). According to the governor, the CCTVs were to be installed in Awka, Nnewi and Onitsha, while it was to be installed in other cities of the state later. Adding credence to this the State Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Mr. C. Don Adinuba, said the state is committed to using advanced technology to protect lives and property. “The Government of Anambra state has decided to fight crime with the latest technology anywhere in the world,” (Adinuba, 2019).According to Adinuba (2019), the Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Adamu Abubakar, is expected to grace the commissioning of the Anambra State’s technology-driven security initiative, the Smart City project, known as the second phase of Operation Kpochapu (Operation Wipe Out Crime). Accordingly, Adinuba reiterated that;

 “The Smart City Security Project was inspired by the governor’s visit to Massachusetts, United States, in October, 2018, when he toured places like the Cambridge Innovation Centre, Boston University and Industrial Video and Control in Boston. He was impressed among other things, the sophisticated surveillance cameras from Industrial Video and Control, developed in conjunction with researchers at the Cambridge Innovation Centre and other research centres in Massachusetts. These products proved effective in helping the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) to identify the two brothers from originally Kyrgyzstan, Dzhokhar and Tamerlan Tsarnaev, that on April 15, 2013, bombed participants in the annual Boston Marathon, killed three persons and injured many others, including 16 who lost their legs” (2019:34).

According to him, the advanced surveillance cameras from Industrial Video and Control are not yet in some American cities and even states. “Governor Obiano felt that they should be installed in Anambra State so that it will remain Nigeria’s safest state and as a result attract considerable investments. To operate effectively for 24 hours daily, these gadgets require electricity which unfortunately is not always available in Nigeria. The governor consequently opted for the solar-powered type,” he added. Adinuba (2019),  further stated that 109 vehicles have been procured and equipped with state of the art electronic devices to work in unison with the super smart gadgets.

Figure 1: CCTV Camera installation in Anambra State

Source:www.vanguardnewsonline.com (2019)

According to Ujummadu (2019), no fewer than 25 civilians and 20 policemen were adequately trained by the Anambra State government to operate the newly acquired sophisticated Close Circuit Television, CCTV, Smart City security equipment across the state. Addressing reporters on the workings of the security device in Awka yesterday, the Special Adviser to Governor Obiano on Creative Security, AVM Ben Chuobi (rtd) explained that with the training of the experts to man the equipment, the state government had put everything in place to flush out criminals in the state.

According to Chuobi (2019), the civilians would essentially man the control rooms, which would have direct link with the field operators consisting of security operatives, adding that the training would also be extended to other security operatives to guarantee availability of adequate manpower. Chuobi said the gadgets have the capacity to capture images and footings of criminals in any part of the state simultaneously, advising those with criminal tendencies to turn a new leaf before it became too late. He further posited that: “To avoid vandalism, we decided to mount the gadgets on trailers so that we can move them about. We should expect teething challenges initially because we are not copying from anywhere and I am sure that other states will eventually come to learn from us.” He added: “When I joined the government, my mandate was made clear and that was that security is of utmost importance to the state government. What we have done is to adopt a systematic structure code-named ‘Anambra Integrated Security Surveillance’ and I am happy that it had taken off smoothly. Lending his voice, the Chief of Staff to the governor, Mr. Primus Odili said the state Security Council would meet to fine tune the new system, with the ultimate aim of extending the CCTV cameras to all hotels in the state. He said that Governor Obiano decided to prioritize security, having observed that no meaningful development could take place without adequate security of life and property.

One other lesson which Nigerian governments need to learn from Anambra State is the incentivization or motivation of security agents. There are in Anambra regular prizes for outstanding officers, whether in the police force or the DSS or the military or the National Security and Civil Defence Corps or the Anambra Vigilante Group. The prizes boost the morale of these officers. In addition, the state government provides a kind of insurance cover for security agents, which guarantees families of officers who die in active service a reasonable compensation. As is well recognized by social scientists, organizations and societies which excel are those where the people work with commitment or passion.

Another lesson which other governments should learn from Anambra is the value of lightening the environment at night. As a number of cities, towns and villages in the state are now provided with street lights which work efficiently even when there is no supply from the electricity distribution company, security of life and property is enhanced. The bright lights enable security agents to see clearly at night and perform better. Though it costs considerable resources to provide streets and big electric power generating sets as well as maintain them, the benefits are huge. If Anambra State which receives one of the lowest allocations from the federation account every month could invest so much in the security of its people, most other governments should be able to do the same thing for the benefit of their own people. All it requires is, apart from the will to do the right thing, prudent financial management.

ANAMBRA STATE POLICE CONSTABULARY TRAINING

In the bid to further forestall security in Anambra State, the governor, Chief Willie Obiano, has directed the one hundred and seventy-nine Communities in the State to choose fifty Male and female indigenes from among themselves for special police training. The Governor who gave the directive at the Professor Dora Akunyili Women’s Development Center, Awka, during a meeting with members of critical sectors in the State, said that the move is in continuation of the Community Policing initiative of the Nigeria Police Force (Ovat, 2020).

According to Tribune Online (2020), it was equally gathered that the State Executive Council members, House of Assembly members led by the Speaker, Honourable Uchenna Okafor, and the Deputy Speaker, Dr Paschal Agbodike, the Security Chiefs, Traditional Rulers, the Clergy, Anambra Traffic Management Agency, Anambra Vigilante Group, market leaders, opinion leaders, among others, attended the meeting. Governor Obiano who hinted that every crime is local, said that every community own their security, pointed out that the Traditional rulers, Presidents General, Youth Leaders, women leaders, vigilante leaders, Divisional Police Officers and other critical stakeholders are part of the selection team, adding that they should meet twice a month to discuss security as it affects their domains.

The Governor explained that each community has one month to forward the names of the individuals who will be trained and appointed Special Constables with uniforms, but made it clear that the individuals must be people of impeccable character, calling on the stakeholders to join hands and combat open defecation, blockage of drainages, street trading, Lassa fever, coronavirus, tax invasion, warning that enforcement team will begin to go round the markets to monitor compliance.

More so, the Special Adviser to the governor on Chieftaincy, Town Union and Community Affairs, Barrister Vera Okonkwo, while appreciating the Governor’s efforts in fighting crimes and other criminality in the state noted that the community policing will go a long way to bringing the police and citizens together to prevent crimes and solve neighbourhood problems. According to her, residents to embrace and give their support to the innovation. On his part, the member representing Anambra West constituency in the house of Assembly, Honourable Sir Patrick Udoba hinted that with Community policing the emphasis is on stopping crime before it happens saying that community policing also gives citizens more control over the quality life in their communities. Honourable Udoba noted that everybody has an important role to play as the success of the innovation will depend on the ability of individuals to build a positive and patriotic relationship and take the initiative to solve problems.

In their separate speeches, the traditional rulers of Okpuno Igwe Sunday Okafor and his Olumbanasa a counter part, Igwe Pius Omachonu further explained that the central goal of community policing is for the police to build relationships with local agencies and members of the public in creating partnership and strategies in crime prevention. They commended Governor Willie Obiano for embracing the Noble idea assuring that the state Traditional Rulers are solidly behind him and will always give their fatherly advice when necessary.

DONATION OF PATROL VEHICLES, GADGETS TO SECURITY AGENCIES IN ANAMBRA STATE

In December, 2015, the Anambra State government has donated 25 advanced patrol vans and other tactical operation equipment for combating crime to the Police in the state. Commissioning and test-driving the vehicles, Governor Willie Obiano said the latest security development was part of his commitment to eradicating crime in the Nigeria’s southeast commercial state (Channelstvonline.com, 2015).

According to the governor, “we have entered a new phase in the pursuit of security in Anambra State. “These cars are modeled after the Rapid Response cars used by the police in the United States of America. “The mere appearance of these cars gives a strong warning of the resolve of my administration to free our people from the fear of criminals for good,”(Obiano, 2019:12).

According to the Inspector General of Police, IGP Solomon Arase, said Anambra State had set a worthy pace in security management in Nigeria. He expressed optimism that the development would enhance police visibility in every area of the state as well as counter any threat to individual or collective security and safety. The Police boss urged other State Executives especially in the South-eastern region, to emulate the Governor Obiano administration’s strategy in tackling security challenges (Channelstvonline.com, 2015).

The Anambra State Deputy Governor, Dr. Nkem Okeke, shared the security exploits of the current administration, the state Commissioner of Police, Mr Hassan Karma, gave an insight into what the advanced security cars could do in saving lives (Channelstvonline.com, 2015).

In the bid to further promote the securitization of Anambra State, the Governor Willie Obiano of in October 2019 donated vehicles, motorbikes and modern security gadgets to security agencies to tackle crime in the state (Enem, 2020). In his speech on the occasion of handing over the vehicles and gadgets, Mr Obiano, said “they were part of the second phase of the Smart City Project, known as Operation “Kpochapu” (Operation Wipe Out Crime)”. According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) (2019) report,  the items include smart closed-circuit cameras (CCTVs) now being installed in Awka, Nnewi and Onitsha; 111 IVM Patrol vehicles equipped with communication devices; three trucks, 71 smart motorbikes, 49 pickups and nine mobile surveillance vans equipped with electronic devices. Accordingly, the patrol vehicles and motorbikes were distributed to the Nigerian Police, Nigerian Army, Nigerian Navy, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC). Others are the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Nigerian Correctional Service (NCS), the Nigeria Customs Service and the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).

In Furtherance of the above, Obiano (2019), posited that in the last five years, Anambra had maintained an enviable record as Nigeria’s safest state and was determined to make it more secured than ever. To him, the key to a happy and prosperous state is tight security architecture, which is why our administration made security our number one priority. “Crime detection, arrest and punishment will be easy because these security devices are some of the most sophisticated and highly effective surveillance equipment in the world,”(Enem, 2019:12).

The governor warned criminals to leave the state as the second phase of the “Operation Kpochapu” would be deadlier than the first phase. According to him, we have declared a total war on criminals such as kidnappers, human traffickers, bandits, cultists and car snatchers in the state. Mr Obiano urged the police as the lead security agency to collaborate with other security agencies to effectively utilise the gadgets toward a more secured state. He also urged residents to report crime and suspicious movements within their environment by dialing 112, a toll free line.

On receiving the security gadgets, the Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, said the security gadgets would motivate and enhance the operational capacity of the state security agencies (Chinma, 2019). Mr Adamu thanked Mr Obiano for prioritising security in the state and urged other state governors to emulate him.“The level of security gadgets donated by the state government is a total package that when deployed, crime will be a thing of the past in Anambra (Adamu, 2019: 23).

Figure 2: Vehicles given to Security Agencies By Obiano Administration

Source: www.channelstvnewsonline.com (2019)

Source: www.channelstvnewsonline.com (2019

Source: www.channelstvnewsonline.com (2019

Source: www.channelstvnewsonline.com (2019)

Source: www.channelstvnewsonline.com (2019)

The pictorials above is an indication that the Anambra State government under Obiano have done well in the area of security to the extent that statistics showed that Anambra State in the safest state in Nigeria. With the above statistics as given by crime watch in the year 2018 and 2019, one could very well conclude that Anambra State government has done well for itself in the area of security management.

According to Aduba (2019), the governor of Anambra State has done marvelously well in the aspect of security through the provision of several security equipments needed to boost the security of lives and property in the state. Accordingly, Josh (2020), collaborated when he opined that the drastic declined in crime rate in the state could be associated with the precedents kept by the predecessor, Mr. Peter Obi who laid down the security architecture before leaving office. Be that as it may, one could right oblige to the fact that there has been an improved security situation in the state in the governor Obiano led administration.

Furthermore, Ene (2017), opined that the Anambra State police in 2016 inaugurated an innovative mobile app, police-Hawk Eye Crime Reporting System to curb kidnapping and other violent crimes. This mobile phone application, Hawk-Eye Mobile App allowed users to report crimes anonymously to the police by video, voice or text. On this device, DCP Arungwa Nwazue asserted that the police are now  partnering with leading technology firms to develop and deploy the iPoIice-Hawk Eye Crime Reporting System. “The inauguration of the mobile app is in line with the collaborative approach to security and policing that is gaining ground across the world”. Collaboratively, the developer of the app and Managing Director, Web Assets, Kayode Aladesuyi posited that the introduction of the app is a clear demonstration of the commitment of the police to collaborate with the public to improve the security situation across the country (Ujummadu, 2017). While lending credence to the app, Aladesuyi argued that the app was part of a comprehensive security solution that included equipping patrol vehicles with Mobile Device Terminals and the revamping of the police command and control centers.

Since the law against kidnapping was passed in 2010, the former governor of Anambra state Mr. Ptere Obi demolished dozens of property belonging to kidnappers such as two buildings at Oraifite in Ekwusigo Local Government Area where a large cache of arms was uncovered by the police after they arrested one OlisaIfedike (Okarah, 2014). This was equally followed by that of Obiano to consolidate on the achievements of Obi. Though one can quickly argue about the rationality of Anambra’s anti-kidnapping law that guarantees the destruction of the properties of suspected kidnappers without subjecting them to trial in the court of law. On this the chairman of the Civil Liberties Organization (CLO), Comrade Aloysius Attah argued that “Death sentence is out of tune with existential realities. It is anachronistic and against all known international laws, treaties, and conventions (Okarah, 2014). Similarly, human rights lawyer, Chief S.O Abuchi, submitted that the law is inconsistent with international covenant on civil and political rights which Nigeria is a signatory to (Ujummadu, 2017).

The government in an attempt to manage such menace, equally established the Joint Task Force (JTF) made up of Policemen, Soldiers and State Security Services (SSS), to combat the nefarious activity of kidnapping. It is observable that despite this security challenge – kidnapping, is still unabated. In fact, the challenge calls for diversification of strategies for possible speedy solution. Iredia (2011), agrees that there is no doubt that the insecurity situation in the country called for extra-ordinary measures to combat it. By implication, the establishment of this JTF in Anambra to a certain extent yielded positive result as it helped in clamping down of kidnaps kingpins in the state. But arguably, it can be queried, why there is still the prevalence of kidnapping and other social vices in Anambra state, notwithstanding the JTF established.

The effective sustenance of the society is hinged on an efficient law enforcement process (Obasanjo & Mabogunje, 1992). It is not so with Nigeria where crime and violence is moving on a fast lane. Given the spate of crime and violence, as well as the level of degeneration in the polity, one may be right to conclude that the Nigeria Police have exhibited glaring inadequacies, and demonstrated incapacity to effectively enforce the law and maintain order in the society. It is no longer safe to walk alone even during the day. Robberies, assassination, arson, looting of the public treasury, and child-theft amongst other vices, have become the rule rather than the exception (Iredia, 2011). Inyang and Ubong (2013), noted that police personnel lack resources to cope with criminal activities. Moreover, corruption within the law enforcement agencies sometimes thwarts serious effort in crime prevention. For instance, Blas Ople, the president of the Philippine senate, observed that 52% of kidnapping in the Philippines involve active and retired police military men. This may also be the case in Nigeria.

It was the administration of the immediate past governor of Anambra State, Mr. Peter Obi, to demolish houses built with proceeds from kidnapping and those used as kidnapper’s hideouts, the very aim which was to bring an end to kidnappings in the state (Ujumadu, 2014). According to Okarah (2014), houses belonging to suspected kidnappers were demolished at Oraifite in Ekwusigo local government area and Uli in Ihiala local government area. He equally asserted that, barely one week after assuming office, Obi’s successor, Chief Willie Obiano, literally, set up a special task force comprising the police, the army and the navy to handle the issue of ensuring security in the state. According to him, the governor ensured the demolition of three buildings in Aguleri which was built by suspected kidnappers (Vanguard news, 2014). Similarly, the demolition took place at Azia in Ihiala local government area, Ogidi in Idemili North local government area and Ojoto in Idemili South local government area, Okija in Ihiala local government area and Nnewi in Nnewi North local government area (Okarah, 2016).

According to Obarisiagbon & Omagie (2018), 50 suspected criminals have been paraded by the Special Anti-Robbery Squad, SARS, in Awkuzu in Oyi local government area, while about 11 houses have been demolished by the Obiano administration. According to them over 200 kidnapping incidents reportedly took place in Anambra in between 2011 and 2016, while over N1 billion has been paid as ransom by family members of kidnapped victims.

CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION

From the analysis of the impact of the State on the management of security in Anambra State under Obiano’s administration, we can conclude that insecurity has enormous bad effects both economically, politically and socially. Economically, insecurity has direct cost which involves the economic value of money that individuals and government lost to the criminals and indirect cost which include expenditure on security budgets. It leads to increase in defence budget. Politically, insecurity leads to elective and political violence, military incursion into politics, among others. In the social dimension, insecurity damages the image of the state in the global scene, and it affects the social life and social relation of many people who were held hostage in their homes from dusk to dawn, for fear of criminals. Psychologically, insecurity creates fear of among Anambrarians. Morally, it leads to loss of life and rape of female victims.

The study concludes that the dismal performance of the state government with regards to curbing this social phenomenon is linked to the several cumulative obstacles that range from material to human and external challenges, notably amongst which are corruption, poor public perception, uncooperative attitude and inadequate training of men and officers of the police.

From the foregoing, certain measures need to be taken to address the challenges of the state and security management;

1. First, we suggest that the government should make sure that its policies are implemented effectively. It is not enough to make good policies while implementing it is a problem. Government must realize that it has a limited time and should therefore use it effectively. Secondly, government agencies like the National Orientation Agency (NOA) should be made to be functional in carrying out their responsibilities. Here, government can partner with the civil society in enlightening citizens on government programmes.
2. The citizens on their part are expected to play roles that will complement government efforts. The citizens need to be more security conscious. Citizens should be sensitized and mobilized from time to time, to fulfil their civic obligations. They should be law-abiding, pay their taxes and other dues correctly and promptly. Citizens should be courageous to criticize or engage the government constructively. In doing this, public facilities and projects should be properly maintained and sustained, and both government and the citizens have roles to play to achieve this.
3. There is the very need community involvement in crime fighting is premised on the fact that the criminals live among the people. Most criminals and their hideouts are more often than not known to those in the neighborhoods and communities. The public should be encouraged to report suspicious activities in their neighborhoods. Raising the level of security consciousness of the citizenry are also critical if this objective is to be achieved. In other climes, security consciousness and cooperation in the citizenry are encouraged through provision of free toll telephone numbers. This should be explored in the country.

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