I have done several threads on the dysfunctional state of our security architecture in Nigeria. 21 Agencies & Ministries managing security matters is too many chefs in d kitchen. They compete rather than cooperate. It is Silo entrenched.

Due to the greater insecurity; many VIPs now employ Soldiers and SSS officers as personal guards because many no longer trust the competence of the police. Hence clashes between soldiers guarding these VIPs and other security agencies is now common.

Sources in the security services are saying it seems d kidnap Kingpin arrested by the police had been paying soldiers for protection. That means their commanding officer as they will not act on their own. So he was on speed dial to the barrack. This speaks of INTER-AGENCY Rivalry.

Local police sources also complained that it’s common for units to be deployed from Abuja to operate in states without coordination or notification of local commands. The IGP now has so many units doing all manner of tasks that overlap d work of state commands; many CPs complain.

This massive expansion of these IGP units became worse under IGP Idris, who ran the force like a personal army, taking over investigations from state commands at will. So there is also an INTRA-AGENCY Rivalry within d Police itself. This killing was an incident waiting to happen.

The use of the army by the Presidency to perform policing duties has further blurred the line of responsibility & accountability. With Army deployed in over 30 states to do civil police tasks; it’s a matter of time before confusion of roles lead to disaster.

If d Army were indeed called to say there was a kidnap, why did they not just call the Police as the civil enforcement agency to act? Why did the army see it as its duty to do policing duties without informing the Police itself? The law only allows the army deployed in support of the police as and when needed. This is legally supposed to be on an ad-hoc basis; rather than a permanent deployment of the army to perform police functions at will in a democracy. This killing is therefore evidence of both Inter-agency & Intra-agency cooperation breakdown.

So what can we do to fix this mess? There are many recommendations I have proposed in my books on Policing in Nigeria; but as a summary capture, the following will be necessary quick steps in the right direction:

Read more: https://thebelltimesng.com/2019/08/10/killing-of-police-officers-by-army-personnel-by-dr-charles-omole/

Nigeria remains a business. We have institutions that no longer Know their functions

21 agency for security purposes...many agency have forgot their name not to talk of what purpose they are to serve..No wonder Peace Corp trying to find her into the national honey pot.Meanwhile we have lost it a nation...