Security Agencies Blame Negligence, Unemployment, Smuggling, Porous Borders For Insecurity
Daud Olatunji
Security agencies in Ogun State have identified citizens’ negligence, unemployment, smuggling, illegal migration, human trafficking, porous borders and the patronage of illicit goods as factors fuelling insecurity in Nigeria.
They also warned that the security of the country could not be left solely in the hands of security agencies, stressing that citizens, families, religious organisations and communities had critical roles to play in preventing crime.
The agencies made the submissions at a security awareness seminar organised by the Abeokuta Chapter of the Dawah Front of Nigeria, held at the Dawah Front Model College, Abeokuta, Ogun State.
The programme, themed “Collaboration Among Security Agencies: The Role of Citizens,” brought together representatives of the Nigeria Immigration Service, Nigeria Customs Service, Nigeria Correctional Service, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps and other security institutions.
The agencies called for stronger intelligence-sharing and closer cooperation between security personnel and members of the public, warning that failure by citizens to report suspicious activities could give criminals the opportunity to operate undetected.
Speaking at the programme, Lieutenant Colonel Adeleke Lawal, Imam of the Nigerian Defence Academy, Kaduna, said intelligence remained one of the most important tools in combating insecurity.
Lawal said the strength of any security system depended largely on the quality of information available to security agencies.
He urged Nigerians to provide genuine and timely information about suspicious persons, movements and activities in their communities.
According to him, security agencies could only effectively protect citizens when members of the public cooperated with them through credible intelligence.
The Nigeria Immigration Service representative, Mrs Khadujat Towolawi, warned that some Nigerians were contributing to insecurity by facilitating illegal immigration and smuggling.
She said the country’s borders remained porous and could be exploited by criminal elements unless citizens cooperated with immigration and other security agencies.
Towolawi, stressed that the ECOWAS protocol did not remove the requirement for proper documentation and security checks for foreigners entering Nigeria.
She also cautioned Nigerians against entering into relationships or marriages with foreigners without properly establishing their identities and backgrounds.
The immigration official identified greed and negligence as additional factors undermining national security.
She said Nigerians who aided smugglers and traffickers could inadvertently facilitate the movement of arms and ammunition as well as human trafficking.
She urged citizens to verify information and documentation before travelling abroad, assisting foreigners or facilitating cross-border movements.
The Nigeria Customs Service representative, Deputy Superintendent Gbadamosi Adewunmi, also called for greater community participation in the fight against smuggling.
Adewunmi who is the Publuc Relatikbs Officer Ogun Area II command, urged residents to report what they saw or heard to the appropriate security commands instead of ignoring suspicious activities.
He said timely information from communities could help security agencies prevent criminal activities before they escalated.
