THE government's resolve to get on top of the current security challenges in the country, especially the struggle against terror, is understandable; but there is cause to exercise restraint on some of the strategies aimed at achieving that goal.The recent graduation of 58 members of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) from the Basic Counter Terrorism Course 3/12 at the Nigerian Army Base, Kachia, Kaduna State, and their deployment 'to combat terrorists and vandalism' after a four-week training could be seen as an act of desperation, or worse still, a product of bad advice. It is a potentially dangerous decision and should be reviewed.A window page photograph in a national newspaper the other day, of civil defence corps members armed with sophisticated weapons, lined up alongside soldiers, says it all. That picture aroused curiosity in many quarters. NSCDC Commandant-General, Ade Abodunrin describes it as 'capacity building'. But will the civil defence corps be another force to work with the army in counter-insurgency' Has the counter-terrorism arm of the Nigeria Police been disbanded or is it just being made redundant'What purpose would kitting the civil defence corps for counter-terrorism serve' Either the Presidency or the military top brass owes the citizens an explanation on the civil defence corps' new role in security.Really, government should be wary of setting up new structures to counter established forces, first to avoid unnecessary duplication of roles; and then to forestall the possibility of politicians hijacking and using such a force as an instrument of oppression of the opposition or even the citizens, for selfish reasons.Nigerians rather justifiably, ought to be alarmed about another para-military outfit being armed with weapons superior to those of the police after a few months' training, supervised, interestingly, by the military at one of its bases. If the training is considered exigent, the citizens that are being considered for protection ought to be carried along.In any event, the civil defence corps is not within the reckoning of sections 217 and 218 on the setting up and engagement of the Armed Forces. Section 217 (1) states that 'there shall be an armed forces for the Federation, which shall consist of an Army, a Navy, an Air Force and such other branches of the armed forces of the Federation as may be established by an Act of the National Assembly. Subsection (2) says, 'The Federation shall, subject to an Act of the National Assembly made in that behalf, equip and maintain that armed forces as may be considered adequate and effective for the purpose of ' (a) defending Nigeria from external aggression'. Nigeria is not under any external aggression at present. Subsection (c) deals with 'suppressing insurrection and acting in aid of civil authorities to restore order when called upon to do so by the President, but subject to such conditions as may be prescribed by an Act of the National Assembly.' The stamp of the National Assembly is sine qua non to any such engagement but that is clearly lacking in the NSCDC arrangement.The rules of engagement of the NSCDC as provided in Act No 2 of 2003 and amended by Act 6 of June 2007 did not specify that personnel can carry arms. NSCDC is saddled mainly with civil defence; a para-military agency to among others 'maintain peace and order in the society'provide intelligence information on trouble spots, individuals and organisations' etc. If the corps members have been doing well in combating illegal bunkering, drug couriers, kidnappers and such other societal vices, the authorities should not misjudge their capabilities, or thereby deploy them to fight terrorism.To do so would be to disregard the constitution, and undermine public discussions on the matter. The National Assembly should immediately inquire into this matter. Automatic weapons should be for defence engagements, and only for agencies duly authorised constitutionally.It is instructive that the discredited National Guard that was set up during the Gen. Ibrahim Babangida regime started on a similar note; while the country also witnessed irrational arming of the police in the second republic ' with tools so sophisticated they were considered beyond acceptable levels of policing in a civilian dispensation.Arming the NSCDC opens up proliferation of weapons in unofficial hands, which is not in the interest of the populace. Abuse of the weapons is possible, as has happened many times among police personnel. The people deserve a break. Keeping the arms in control may be difficult in times of crisis. Too many outfits are wearing uniforms and carrying weapons.Police personnel in service would have been better placed or mentally equipped to counter terrorism. But have the police been adequately trained yet for their statutory role of protecting lives and property' There is clearly a misconception of internal security. The authorities need to harmonise the agencies and embark on better training for good results.
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