By Zayd Ibn Isah
In a rather unfortunate and distressing turn of events, the nation recently bore witness to yet another tragedy as the Army and the Police clashed in Adamawa State. This recent debacle in Adamawa is just one out of a series of clashes between the two security agencies over the years. This incident in particular prompts urgent questions about whether the police and the military, both established by the constitution as federal agencies, are undergoing a troubling transformation into rival factions entangled in persistent struggles for power and supremacy.
As outlined in a press statement from the Adamawa State Police Command, the clash unfolded during a routine stop-and-search by officers from Jimeta Division. The officers encountered three soldiers on pass from Taraba State. However, tensions reached a critical point when one soldier brandished a jackknife, ordering the police to leave the road. In the struggle which ensued, a shot was fired, accidentally injuring a soldier in the leg, before he was swiftly taken away to the hospital.
Despite earnest efforts by the Adamawa State Commissioner of Police to contact both Brigade and Sector Commanders, these attempts proved futile. Shockingly, a few hours later, the soldiers mobilized and launched an attack on the Police Command, resulting in the tragic death of a police officer. Meanwhile, the Army, in their defense, claimed that the police shot and kidnapped one of their soldiers, prompting a rescue operation at the Command Headquarters.
The Armyʼs defense raises deep concerns and questions as to whether the Nigeria Police Force has deviated from its constitutionally mandated role of protecting lives and property to a ragtag terrorist organization, kidnapping people at will for ransom. Notably, the Adamawa State Police Command, in its report, emphasized numerous unsuccessful attempts to contact Brigade and Sector Commanders. As such, the evasive actions of the Army in this case suggests that there might be a predisposition to teach the police in Adamawa a lesson. Consequently, these unfolding events have underscored an urgent need for enhanced communication and collaboration between these critical security entities, if only to avert such destructive clashes.
Adding to the astonishment surrounding this incident are the reactions of some Nigerians on social media. It is especially saddening that those expressing joy at the police and the Army being at odds, rather than focusing on inherent implications, might be forgetting the timeless adage: “When two elephants fight, it is the grass that suffers.” These clashes are symptoms of a troubling malaise, especially one which threatens our strength as a nation. It is difficult to sustain peace and stability when law enforcement and military agencies show hostility towards each other. This is because at the end of it all, it is the civilians in need of protection that will bear the brunt.
Although the Governor of Adamawa, Ahmadu Fintiri, intervened and brokered peace between the military and the police, such an agreement remains shaky at best. In order to ensure that such an embarrassing incident never occurs again, concrete steps must be taken and strict measures initiated. There is an urgent necessity for comprehensive reforms as well as a commitment to fostering harmonious working relationships between vital security entities. In learning from this ordeal and similar ones before it, we must strive collectively for a future devoid of internal strife amongst our trusted guardians.
It is also noteworthy that at the core of unending clashes between security agencies in Nigeria is a troubling lack of patriotism and professionalism. The task of securing a nation should be left in the hands of those who, in critical situations, must always put the country first before their egos. It does not matter the color of the uniforms you wear, or the rank you bear: the guiding principle of one’s mentality as an officer or soldier is the prioritization of national peace, security and stability.
Going forward, the National Orientation Agency might need to come up with a deliberate and strategic policy of enlightening our men and women in uniforms, especially those at the lower ranks, as it appears that these frequent egotistic battles more often than not involve them. Therefore, they should be told in the strongest of terms that the green-white-green colors are the universal colors we all wear, regardless of the agencies we belong to. The ultimate goal is the peace and stability of our fatherland.
Ultimately, it would be in the best of our interests as a country to quickly revive and sustain the dying morale of esprit de corps, if only for the betterment of our nation. And there should also be consequences for unpatriotic actions among our security personnel, as it would serve to deter those who might contemplate such actions in the future. The ongoing fight against terror, and other threats to the peace and stability of our country cannot be won by ego but by synergy. It is high time relevant security agencies at organizational and individual levels realize this and step up to the heights of professionalism and excellence which their uniforms demand.
Isah can be reached at [email protected]
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