The Vice Chancellor, University of Abuja, Prof. Abdul-Rasheed Na’Allah, has said that the nation’s security agencies and political class are not doing enough to curb the worsening insecurity in the country.
Prof. Na’Allah said this on Tuesday in Abuja at the formal launch of the University’s Centre for Security and Legal Studies (CSLS) and Symposium, with the theme, “Kinetic and non-kinetic application in the fight against insecurity in Nigeria”.
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He blamed the current near state of anomie in the country on inability to mobilize or gather security intelligence by the state actors.
He said the lapses on the parts of key players to avert abductions or destruction of lives and properties by criminal elements, was a total disgrace to the country and the academia.
Prof Na’Allah, however, said that the university was not left out, given its failure to explore research and collaboration with security agencies to proffer workable solutions to end insurgency, banditry, kidnappings and other crimes.
Making reference to the United States of America he said that with the level of synchronization, data gathering and sharing between all security apparatus after the twin bombing of the world trade center, it was almost impossible for such a coordinated attack to happen on U.S soil again
“We have a lot of lessons to learn, we have a lot of work to do. We must sit down in our laboratories to think through the current challenges we have in our nation how figure out how Nigerians can go about their businesses without fear. We can’t mobilize intelligence to know what is going to happen the next hour, its a total failure.
“How can we have a nation where today its bomb, tomorrow its crisis, in front of our military is bomb, innocent people going about their businesses are kidnapped, ransom paid, its a total disgrace to us as a nation, to our political leaders and the university. We have not been able to work together to communicate a solution that will assist this nation enjoy the peace that it deserves.
“The birth of this Centre is a challenge this university is throwing to all our military institutions and civilian institutions that we must come together to get through this war of the 21st century which cannot be understood like the wars of yesterday. We must begin to look at our environment, our culture, daily habits and religion because they are so important what we should do,” he said.
Also, the Kogi State Governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, said insecurity in the country shows there was need to deploy both kinetic and non-kinetic approach in achieving desired results in overcoming security challenges.
Governor Bello, who is the Chairman of the occasion, said that, technical intelligence must be deployed to help Nigeria end insurgency quickly.
“My approach to insecurity in Nigeria is different; first people must be carried along in all strategies, the leaders body language must clearly reflect a fighting spirit to assist the military succeed in their fight, identify the geography, topography and understand the people,” he said.
Represented by his Special Adviser on Security Matters, Navy Commander Jerry Omodara (Retd), the Governor urged the Federal and state governments to critically analyze the recent attacks on correctional facilities which led to the breakout of inmates, warning that more attacks were likely to happen soon of nothing was done.
He said, “The nation must watch the trend of criminal activities especially the attack and release of inmates at correctional centers. The patterns were all the same; what has our security and government learnt? Another attack will come up in another state if we do not watch our backs.”
The Director of the Centre, Dr. Arinze Abuah, said that available programs including Human Rights and Social Justice, Security Studies, Criminology and Security Studies and Legal Studies, were carefully designed to cover significant fields of legal and security concerns critical for working class professionals aspiring to further their understanding on law.
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