Stop unhealthy inter-agency clashes

On Wednesday, November 22, 2023, two of Nigeria’s defence and security agencies showcased another disgraceful incident in their inter-agency dance of shame in Yola, the Adamawa State capital, when troops of the 23 Armoured Brigade stormed the State Police Command Headquarters. In the attendant shootout, a police inspector, Jacob Daniel, was killed.

The invasion was triggered by the shooting of a soldier by policemen at the Target Junction checkpoint a day earlier.

Following the invasion, the Commissioner of Police in the state, Mr Afolabi Babatola, “warned that attacks on all security officers in the line of duty would no longer be tolerated, under whatever guise.”

On November 23, Adamawa Governor, Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri, had to address an emergency security meeting over the “regrettable clash,” announcing that the conflict “had been resolved, with a commitment to justice and collaboration for the peace of Adamawa and Nigeria.” He urged “restraint to prevent a recurrence.”

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But it always occurs. Earlier on November 13, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) announced that its Kaduna Zonal Command arrested five suspects for alleged internet-related fraud. However, six Nigerian Air Force (NAF) personnel allegedly stormed the command headquarters and attempted to forcefully release the arrested fraud suspects. The six were, however, subdued and detained by the EFCC.

However, on Friday, November 17, 2023, some NAF personnel invaded the Kaduna Command to forcefully release their detained colleagues. The standoff ended when the detained personnel were released “to the NAF Provost after they had been duly profiled.”

What is most disturbing is that these clashes have become the norm. In November 2017, the EFCC clashed with the Department of State Services (DSS) and the National Intelligence Agency (NIA) over attempts then to arrest Mr Ayodele Oke, a former DG of NIA and Mr Ita Ekpeyong, former DG of the DSS.

A day after the swearing-in of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the DSS welcomed the president by barricading the entrance to the EFCC office at No. 15 Awolowo Road, Ikoyi Lagos, with Armoured Personnel Carriers (APCs). Both agencies then started with less than savoury efforts to justify the embarrassment.

It took a reprimand and directive from President Tinubu to the DSS “to immediately vacate the office of the EFCC in Ikoyi, Lagos” before sanity prevailed.

Generally, the breakdown of law and order among the agencies has taken place between Army and Police, Police and Customs, Immigration and Navy, Air Force and National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and Police.

Indeed, the age-long slogan “esprit de corps” no longer exists. They all easily forget that the federal government created and funded them for one purpose – to jointly protect and defend Nigeria against threats – both domestic and foreign. Yet, at one time or the other, they have chosen to ‘wash their dirty linen in public.

These are causing national discomfiture as the nation’s law and peace enforcement officers have jettisoned inter-agency channels or avenues available to resolve issues. They now regale the public with their lack of restraint and peaceful means of conduct in their reckless resort to arms, as if they don’t operate within one security architecture umbrella.

We, at Daily Trust, call for a stop to their unnecessary bickering and uncalled-for display of such indiscipline. They must embrace amicable resolution of issues and jettison the knee-jerk employment of self-help at every provocation as each time they do, they create panic among the people, making citizens lose sleep. In the process, they reduce their respect and status among the people. They should remember that their professions operate on codes of conduct which requires that they embrace cooperation rather than confrontation.

We implore Tinubu, as President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, to intervene before the brawls become street wars, an obvious recipe for disaster. The presidency should also learn to follow up on the execution of its directives.

At his maiden meeting with the Chief of Defence Staff, Service Chiefs, Inspector-General of Police and other security chiefs, the president directed them to unite in order to efficiently discharge the duty of ensuring a secured nation.

That unity is still lacking, which informs the recurring inter-agency clashes. This is the time for the president to issue new directives guiding the public conduct of agencies’ personnel towards eradicating violent inter-agency rivalry. It is time for them to have mutual respect for each other.

It is time Nigeria’s defence and security agencies work to earn the trust of the people by erasing the notion of bad blood between them which shows each time they publicly display their gung-ho instincts.

We advise that each of the agencies begins a reorientation of personnel on strict adherence to rules of engagement and other standard operating procedures. This unprofessional attitude is in bad taste and must stop. They should direct their powers against non-state actors and other enemies of Nigeria who are making life unbearable for the people.