The Department of State Services (DSS) ignited a new round of controversy after allegedly giving an anti-kidnapping manual to Very Important Personalities (VIPs) in Nigeria. Here is what some Nigerians think about the selective treatment by the DSS.
Olusegun Adesokan, 30, Farmer, Ibadan
Given the porous and terrible state of insecurity in Nigeria, where no place seems safe, DSS’s latest move in making available a manual on forestalling kidnap of VIPs is simply an insult on the sensibility of all Nigerians. DSS should simply apologise to the entire populace, especially hundreds of thousands of families who have been victims of kidnappers, whose livelihood have been truncated due to DSS woeful and shameful failure to protect all and sundry. This move by the DSS is a sad reminder to the countless suffocating lifestyle many Nigerians are grappling with. No thanks to years of clueless and dysfunctional leadership of security institutions in Nigeria, where a larger percentage of the public have all resorted to the ugly fate of self defence and self preservation. Finally, all Nigerians reserve the right to be protected and secured from the reign of terror from lawless cartels of kidnapping industry, Nigeria’s new gold mine.
Umar Shehu, 40, Ice cream vendor, Zaria
That is why they are called VIPs. From body language to speech, name it, only the VIPs are covered in Nigeria and if you are not part of their exclusive class, you cannot enjoy anything in this country. Everything in Nigeria has been hijacked by the VIPs. Look at the train station that is supposed to serve the masses in Kaduna and Abuja. It has been hijacked by the elites, the same elites or VIP have bullet-proof cars, soldiers and police men are all around them to protect them, they have their convoys and unfortunately it is due to their mistakes that the ordinary person has found himself in this situation. I believe we are all Nigerians; everyone deserves to be given the manual and there should be sincerity and no sentiment in order to move this country forward.
Tiamiyu Damilola Rihannat, 24, Corper, Ibadan
It is not reasonable to me. Who are the VIPs? Are the common men not VIPs? I think government policies should be people oriented. I can argue that in the last few years, those who were kidnapped were not VIPs. Yes, many of those who were kidnapped along Abuja/Lokoja road were kidnapped in commercial vehicles. So, I think commoners needed it more than the VIPs. I want to appeal to the Federal Government to enforce policies that would discourage kidnapping in the country, rather than give manuals to VIPs.
Aisha Salawu, 35, Housewife, Zaria
Why not the poor too? Wouldn’t it be better to solve the security challenges rather than to select a number of people to protect? The manual should be for everyone, nobody wants to go through the trauma of being kidnapped or subjected to dehumanizing condition in the hands of kidnappers. There could be sensitization programmes in schools, the media or even on the DSS website or our WhatsApp chats so that everyone can access it. Those messages could help a lot, but it is unfair to select a few elite class and leave out the majority of masses.
Enehikhare Christianah, 29, Communication & Relationship Manager, Lagos
The mission of the DSS is to protect and defend the Federal Republic of Nigeria against domestic threats, to uphold and enforce the criminal laws of Nigeria, this development would have been more appreciated provided it was in circulation to the public. I wonder if the VIPs are the only ones exposed to kidnapping or if commoners are no longer citizens of the Federal Republic of Nigeria
Oni Anita Ehiozogie, 25, Beauty Entrepreneur, Benin
In my perspective, if the rule of law is effective, then everyone regardless of your status should know whatever happens in the country regarding security. DSS should distribute the manual evenly to every citizen of the country, because even the VIPs have top notch security personnel. This makes them less susceptible to danger while the masses are the vulnerable ones here and they have been victims more often than not. So, yes, the manual should be given to each and every citizens of the country.
Algoni Ramat Mohammed, 27, businessman, Jos
How sure are we that some VIPs are not disguised advanced perpetrators? The manual, if given out, will somehow get to the hands of the kidnappers and this will make them develop a more tactical and higher approach that is more gruesome. However, in developed countries such information are given out on classified grounds, so that they will be acquainted with the nature of the problem and proffer dynamic solution. This is a matter of safety, and should be treated as such since its perpetrators are yet to be known.
Benedict Deke, 29, Disc Jockey, Akwa Ibom
Yes! Giving out the manual to VIPs will be a welcome development. In as much as the DSS are professionals, additional strategy from VIPs will make a great impact towards curbing the rising menace of kidnapping in our society. There are strategic places, which I think are more prone to kidnap problems. The relentless and collaborative effort on the path of VIPs and DSS will make a positive impact.
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