President Buhari has condoled with all who lost family members due to what he described as the ”madness” going on in parts of Nigeria, below is my honest reaction to his statement, as we look for answers to the lingering security crisis.
This topic is so sad to discuss…but let us try to be rational and understand why we are here today.
As an average Nigerian, non of us trust the police force….many of us in our youthful age only have BAD memories of the police force in our country.
From illegal detentions to extra judicial killing, then a police that never performs their duties.
How many of us here can state that they have been assisted by the NPF during a life threatening situation.
From no fuel, to no response, the police left Nigerians feeling insecure.
After neglecting their duty, they went on to terrorise the people of the Nigerian state…
What the police doesn’t understand is that, they are not invisible and they need public trust to operate.
Then came the #endsars campaign, which was the breaking point for many….we were just coming from a point of depression (the global pandemic), and the mental health of many were fucked up.
We took to the streets to protest PEACEFULLY…but a police force and political class that are insensitive, decided to terrorise us more.
I was personally chased on the streets of Ado-Ekiti by security agents meant to protect me.
Irrationally terror was unleashed on innocent civilians, across the federation.
NIGERIANS WERE TORMENTED BY THE PEOPLE THEY PAY
MADNESS
This led to chaos, which was quelled with more force, people lost their lives, some security formations were torched.
Mistakes too many.
The result…wide spread increase in criminal activities across the country.
Now, criminals can understand that a larger percentage of the public are not with the security agents, many see them as an enemy also.
How many civilians do you think would take the side of the security agents?
MADNESS
Just a few would give the security the necessary info they need to be proactive.
Intelligence?
The people were meant to be the biggest source of info and intelligence for the security agents, we were meant to be FRIENDS…
But
They decided to become the enemy, they forgot the importance of the people….GUNS ARE NEVER ENOUGH.
I am taking on the police force, cause they are closer to the local communities….even the Nigerian army is a sham now….soldiers have lost dignity and now collect N50-N100 bribe on highways.
Wasn’t that unthinkable 15years back? But this is the Nigeria we find ourselves…if we speak, they might ask….ARE YOU PDP? Like guns identify party cards.
Today, criminal elements are going around, attacking both civilians and security agents.
The people are only bothered about civilian death, cause they feel that is the only thing that matters.
Are they wrong?
The general feeling is, the police and army are as bad as the criminals. A bikeman (okada rider), told me that he doesn’t see policemen as any different from kidnappers…many Nigerians share the same sentiments.
But let’s not get distracted…the Unknown gunmen and other criminals are no friends of ours.
They are criminals simple.
Now
The solution is simple also.
The security agents need to do their JOB, win back the trust of people, gain their support and their hearts.
During the Civil war, the Federal Forces also used same tactics of gaining support of local communities.
You can’t go around beating people, extortion them of cash, sleeping with their partners for favours, and expect them to love you.
Written by Tolulope Ayeni…Kindly share 👍
