As the festive season continues, with the attendant exchange of gifts by well wishers, the advice given recently by the Inspector General of Police, Suleiman Abba, cautioning Nigerians to be careful when accepting wrapped gifts, especially from unknown persons, is a proactive security measure that must not be overlooked. The advice is timely, thoughtful, and should be taken with every sense of seriousness.
Abba’s advice was a directive to both the generality of Nigerians and his commanding officers. To Nigerians, he warned that, “all citizens to be vigilant while receiving gifts from unknown persons that may pose as friends during the season, to avoid explosive-laden hampers as gifts.” He went further to “caution against the use of fireworks such as knockout, ‘bangers’ and other explosives in the celebration as they could cause distraction that may heighten fear of insecurity.”
To his lieutenants managing the zones and commands, he directed that they “take all necessary measures in ensuring the provision of adequate security for worshippers, travellers, picnickers and all citizens across the country before, during and after the season.”
Notwithstanding the deliberate forcefulness of the wording of the advice, the IG’s directive should be regarded as an admonition drawn from experience in the past years. It would be recalled that on December 25, 2011, a series of devastating bomb explosions occurred during Christmas church service at St Theresa’s Catholic Church, Madalla, Suleja, Niger State, killing no fewer than 41persons, injuring about 60 and destroying assets worth millions of naira. Two years earlier, on another Christmas morning, Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, a 23-year-old man later identified as a Nigerian, attempted to detonate a bomb aboard a Northwest Airline Flight 253 as it neared its destination in Detroit, Michigan. Since then, the indiscriminate attack on clerics and bombing of churches and mosques during special religious ceremonies by Boko Haram insurgents, and their latest tactics of deploying female suicide bombers, have raised fears about possible attacks.
This is further heightened by the prevailing political situation and the oncoming 2015 elections. The festive period, with its holiday mood and lull in economic activities, provides convenience for mischief-makers and sundry criminals to catch Nigerians off-guard and wreak havoc in unexpected locations. A period of good tidings, of winding down the year with joyful celebration, and of reflective anticipation of a better year ahead should not be allowed to become the terrorist’s feast of malevolence and misanthropy.
This demands cooperation with the law enforcement authorities. Nigerians must, therefore, cooperate with the police during the season so that the objective intended by the IG and his team would be realised. In line with constitutional provisions, Nigerians should not abuse their right to freedom of association and the privilege of convivial celebration by breaching the peace. To this end, they should desist from uncharitable use of public spaces and thoroughfare for selfish ends, even as they should shun indiscriminate use or abuse of ceremonial fireworks. Where the use of firecrackers poses some danger, the police have the responsibility to respond appropriately and bring defaulters to book.
However, while the initiative of the IG is worthy of commendation, a word of caution should also go to men and officers who may want to turn the yuletide into a period for ‘brisk business’ at illegal checkpoints by extorting money from commuters and passers-by, and brutalising innocent people. Given the flurry of social gatherings, it is understandable that the season may possibly be conflict-prone; yet the police should not capitalise on the directive of the IG to trample on the rights of Nigerians. Since it is also a period when some Nigerians of means would want to flaunt their wealth and power, police officers should be wary of being used to harass and assault other citizens, or address personal grievances.
Since he assumed office as the nation’s police boss a few months ago, Abba’s utterances have imposed a tall order on the police. Nevertheless, the officers and men of the police force may use the opportunity of his directive to begin a rebranding process, by truly serving the people. They would have served the people better if at the end of the day proper statistics of their activities during the yuletide shows high containment of criminal activities, including terrorist acts, diligent prosecution of offenders, provision of adequate security in churches, mosques, fun spots across the country, and prompt and actionable response to distress calls.
