Bulwark Intelligence

SECURITY THREATS

SECURITY THREATS

Increase in Drug Use Among Nigerian Youths

This week the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) announced that 30% Nigerian youths consume illicit drugs and according to the drug enforcement agency, youth involvement in hard drugs is higher in Northern Nigeria. The Gombe State NDLEA Commander, Mr Aliyu Adole stated that teenagers under 15 years are currently addicted to hard drugs in Northern Nigeria, noting that the teens inject the substance to the veins using syringes. Adole said the substances embolden the teenagers to carry out all sorts of vices, including unprotected sex stressing that the command had arrested many children while in the act. He confirmed that some of the children are dotted with scary and unpleasant looks due to the adverse reactions of the drugs.  “We took some of the children to Gombe State Agency for the Control of AIDS and some of them tested positive to the virus. We have tried to counsel them; we have tried to let them know the repercussions of taking illicit substance, but they do not listen to us” According to the NDLEA, the drugs consumed in Northern Nigeria are being supplied by drug cartels operating in the Southern parts of Nigeria. “the cartel, dealers and rings that supply drugs to the youths and the same cartel sells from the South down to the North. The drugs they say, are mostly transported using heavy duty vehicles and stuffed in between goods adding that dealers distribute the drugs through minors”. NDLEA Sources state that: The prevailing drugs in the North are marijuana, Indian hemp and prescription drugs In the south and west, the most prevalent drugs are prescription drugs, heroin, cocaine and methamphetamine. In the East, cocaine, heroin, Indian hemp and prescription drugs are more dominant. Prescription drugs primarily abused in Nigeria are over the counter drugs such as cough syrup, Tramadol, analgesic, Diazepam, D5, Raphynol, among others. In May 2016, the First Lady of Niger state lamented about the rise of drug use among women in IDP camps in North-East Nigeria. The agency has carried out a number of drug raids in many Northern states including Borno,  Kwara, Plateau and even the 18 hours of trekking through the forest in Taraba state that finally revealed hectares of Cannabis farmlands. Unfortunately, the NDLEA stating that the drugs are supplied from the South to the North may be a diversion of responsibility tactic. Many of the drugs consumed in Northern Nigeria are grown in the region. Increase in drug use stems from an increase in supply which stems from poor drug law enforcement and prevention strategies. There are no established rehabilitation programs for these women or teens consuming drugs in the region. So far, the only strategy employed to tackle the menace is to “plead with parents to monitor the behavior of their children”. But this strategy does not take into account those teens who are orphans or those parents who spend majority of their time away from their children at jobs, or those parents who are also addicted to drugs. Boko Haram insurgent camps cleared by Nigerian military troops revealed that the terrorists were consuming drugs which emboldened them to carry out attacks. Lagos State government statistics published 2014 showed that 50 percent of Lagos bus drivers were at the moment, found to be driving under the influence of cocaine, marijuana and other prescription drugs; Traffic accidents happen to be the main cause of violent death in Nigeria today. Increase in drug consumption in Nigeria is a national security threat. Unfortunately the government is yet to understand that!

SECURITY THREATS

Back To Back Inter-Ethnic and Ethno-Religious Crisis In Lagos Show Increasing Religious Intolerance

The Lagos state Police Command averted a religious crisis started by the Hausa Muslim community in Ketu area of the state. At about 9.05pm, the Ketu division received a distress call that a boy was about to be lynched by some youths because he wrote blasphemous words on their magazine. According to the police, “the man wrote something on a magazine which the Hausa youths said was blasphemous. When other Hausa men saw it, they became angry and seized him. Some of his friends tried to rescue him and that almost started a fight. The police were alerted and they responded quickly and doused the rising tension between the Igbo community and the Hausa -Muslim community”. Religious intolerance among mostly the Hausa Muslim youths continues to lead to clashes across the country. Nigerian religious leaders can assist in curbing this menace by communicating or preaching more inter-religious tolerance.   The Following day, a violent clash at the abattoir in the Hausa community of Oko-Oba area of Agege, Lagos State, and yesterday claimed one life and left scores injured. The Guardian gathered that the crisis was triggered after a Fulani man allegedly beat up a young Hausa girl over a yet-to-be ascertained matter. The young girl ran home to report to her parents, which incited some infuriated Hausa youths who set out to avenge the beating of their sister. The incident had first started with an exchange of words before it became bloody. They fought with machetes and other dangerous weapons, at the end of which a man was killed and several others seriously injured. It took the intervention of the Commander, Rapid Response Squad (RRS), Olatunji Disu, alongside the Area G Commander to restore peace, while arresting four suspects. – The Guardian NG Another news source reported the incident as such: At least nine people died yesterday during a clash between scrap dealers and cattle sellers at Oko-Oba Abattoir area of Lagos State. It was learnt that the scrap dealers, mostly Hausa, accused the ‘Seriki Fulani’ (the head of Fulani) of supporting the officials of the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) to demolish their shanties where they transact business, which falls within the territory of the corporation. The confrontation between the two sides started on Tuesday night but snowballed into a major conflagration on Wednesday. According to sources, “The fight was as a result of demolition of some shops and shanties by the government. The Hausa were not happy about the demolition because they felt they were mostly affected since shanties and shops belonging to Fulani were not demolished. They felt the demolition was carried out by the Fulani leaders for their trailers to have easy access to the market. – Today.ng There are differing narratives as to the original cause of the Fulani-Hausa youths clash in Lagos state. Also troubling are the attack weapons used: “Witnesses said that AK47 rifles, bows and arrows, machetes and daggers were freely used during the fight.” Either way, these attacks boil down to increasing “intolerance” among the youths of these tribes. The economic drab has also contributed to the increased level of agitation and clashes among members of the populace across the country.

SECURITY THREATS

Pockets of Civil Unrest Springing Up Across Nigeria

Within a span of 24 hours, Nigeria was wrought with no fewer than six protests across various parts the country. In Fidei Polytechnic in Gboko, Benue State, a violent student protest on Thursday led to the indefinite shutdown of the school. Image of a burnt vehicle, following the Fidei Polytechnic in Gboko, Benue State protest on Thursday 26th August 2016. According to news reports, tension started mounting in the institution on Thursday after the school management denied some students who were said to have met the conditions for sitting their exams from doing so. This angered the students who started destroying some of the school property. Men of the Nigerian police who were called in to restore law and order were attacked by the irate students. Some of the students were reportedly shot and arrested.   In Maiduguri, Borno state, hundreds of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) left their camps and took to the streets to protest against hunger and thirst in their respective camps. The protesters were made up of Mostly women and children, who complained that “their foods are not being supplied, there is no water and no medication for our sick kids”. IDPs in Maiduguri, Borno state, protesting their deplorable welfare at the refugee camp on Thursday 26 August 2016.   In Abuja, the BringBackOurGirls group fighting for the release of the kidnapped Chibok girls returned to the Presidential Villa in continuation of its pressure on the government to secure the release of the girls. However, they were barred from entering the Aso Villa by the police. BBOG protesters in Abuja on Thursday 26 August 2016   In Kaduna, peaceful protests were staged in the southern area of the state, over the incessant killings by Fulani Herdsmen. Peaceful protest in Southern Kaduna held to condemn the violent activities of herdsmen in the area   While in Bayelsa state, plans have been made to protest the killing of a 17-year-old who was gunned down by the Anti-Vice/Anti-Kidnapping squad of the police. They boy was said to be running an errand for his mother, when he was killed under “mysterious circumstances” by the police. The Bayelsa Police Public Relations Officer issued a statement in respect of the late juvenile Mr. Kokorifa Innocent, as being a criminal whose death was as a result of gun fire exchange with men of the Nigerian police. However, eyewitness account of the incident varied from the statement issued by the command’s PPRO.   IMMINENT CIVIL UNREST IN ENUGU Even more protests are to be expected in Enugu state, following the Thursday morning Fulani Herdsmen attack in Ndiagu Attakwu community, in Nkanu West Local Government Area of the State. The attack led to the death of a seminarian of the Catholic Church and several others injured. According to villagers, the armed herdsmen stormed the community at about 2 a:m, and butchered every person in one of the compounds, subsequently escaping after an alarm was raised. The herdsmen entered the residence of the victims by climbing through the roof. As soon as they got it, they started butchering the occupants; the seminarian died instantly; another person had her intestines ripped off; four of the victims are battling for survival as we speak”. Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State visits Ndiagu, Attakwu, Akegbe-Ugwu in Nkanu community which was attacked by herdsmen on Thursday, 26th August 2016 In trying to ascertain the motive of the attack, villagers stated it could possibly have been as a result of an incident the previous day in which: “grazing herdsmen entered into the heart of the community Wednesday afternoon and a woman sounded a gong, after which the cows scattered; they got the cows together and left only to return in the night”. The state governor visited the Fulani settlement located at a valley in the community. However, the Governor and his entourage met a deserted camp, an indication that the herdsmen fled over night after the attack with all their properties. Reports stated that efforts were being made to stop the Enugu youths from launching a reprisal attack. Herdsmen attacks continue to heighten tensions in an already fragile region of Nigeria. More frustrating for the people is the President and security agencies’ inability or perceived refusal to apprehend perpetrators of the act. To request for more information, email us at [email protected]

SECURITY THREATS

Herdsmen- Nigerians or Foreigners, are Security Agencies Doing Enough?

A recent video obtained and posted by a Nigerian socio-political consulting firm SBM Intelligence showed well-armed men crossing the River Benue en-route to carry out the Agatu herdsmen attack back in 2016. The video was retrieved from the phone of one of the deceased attackers. SBM analysts deduced that some of the languages spoken in the video were said to be indigenous to Niger Republic. The Nigerian Senate last week debated whether or not the attackers were Nigerians or foreigners. This revelation certainly gives credence to the Senate debate. It does not however, give clarity to the question of how a large group of heavily armed men, could travel such long distances over land and water to carry out attacks in a village, killing over 200 people and still not have been identified and or intercepted by the Nigerian security agencies. The distance between the river crossing point and the nearest border crossing point in Katsina state is said to be about 802km. Are Security Agencies Doing Enough? A nation that is serious about protecting its borders and its citizens should have strategies in place that can help predict and prevent recurrent threats such as herdsmen attacks. Security agencies should be carrying out constant surveillance of border crossings. More so if advance warning have been reported to security agencies by villagers about an imminent attack. Prior to the Agatu attacks in February 2016, locals had raised the alarm that herdsmen were mobilizing weapons and men at Loco border community in Nasarawa State, but nothing was done to prevent this attack. In the case of the recent herdsmen attack in Enugu in April 2016, members of the surrounding communities had received information that a large number of herdsmen were mobilizing to attack them. The villagers reported to the Enugu state government and the states’ police command that an attack was imminent. But despite their efforts, well-armed herdsmen still struck the Enugu villages, killing over 20 people. Why are Security Agencies Unable to Tackle This? The ability of herdsmen to successfully carry out attacks across the country are a result of a combination of issues that the Nigerian government has been unable to tackle over the years including: the inability to secure its porous borders, the failure to mitigate the proliferation of illegal weapons across the country, and the lack of adequate resources for security personnel deployed to remote village outposts. But poor communication with the current administration has led to wild perceptions among affected people across the various states in Nigeria, and this could end up exacerbating the situation. Victims believe that the security agencies are nonchalant about dealing decisively with these rampaging herdsmen because the security operatives support the herdsmen. Actions of Security Agencies, Fueling Negative Perceptions Locals in the ravaged Benue communities for instance, stated that the herdsmen are usually wearing combat jackets and armed with sophisticated guns. They believe that the nomadic herdsmen are not the owners of the cattle, but that they work for wealthy employers who support the destructive activities of the nomadic herdsmen, and have backers among the security operatives. During the Agatu attacks, a significant number of survivors insist that there was a helicopter that was hovering over the area while they were under attack. Some residents even going as far as claiming the helicopter was dropping arms and food to the invaders. After the Enugu attacks, the Inspector General of Police was said to have ordered the arrest and detention of a police corporal attached to the police division in the area, following claims by members of the community that  that the corporal led the members of the gang that attacked them. Then there is the bizarre case of the whereabouts of a large group of herdsmen who were arrested in Abuja. On the 18th April, there were reports that the Nigerian Army had intercepted a group of herdsmen who were attempting to invade FCT Abuja with arms and ammunition. The group of 56 herdsmen claimed to be on their way to Nasarawa State, but were arrested at a check point along the Airport road, Abuja, with guns, cutlasses and knives, charms and hard drugs. After further probing by military personnel, the herdsmen admitted that they were on the lookout for those who stole their cows. The military spokesperson said the suspects would be handed over to the Kuje, Abuja Divisional Police command, for further investigation. Days after the incident, the FCT Abuja Police command insisted that no herdsmen were handed over to them. In essence, the whereabouts of armed herdsmen captured by the Army are unknown. These various incidences further fuel the perception among victim states that the Nigerian government and its security agencies not only lack a concrete strategy to tackle the herdsmen menace, but that if they do have the strategy and resources to prevent these attacks, they are simply unwilling to do so. The Silence is Deafening Managing these poor perceptions through effective communication strategy will be key in maintaining the peace in during these tense times. When it comes to the Buhari administration, there is need for swift and decisive communication. When the Agatu herdsmen attack which led to the death of over 200 people occurred on 23rd February 2016, the president did not offer an official statement until almost a week later on the 28th February.  When the Enugu herdsmen attack which resulted in the death of over 20 people occurred on the 25th April 2016, the president released an official statement condemning the attacks three days later on the 27th April. To be fair, under the previous presidential administration, there was barely any response given after herdsmen attacks occurred in the same area last year. Nevertheless, there is room for improvement. Managing the Situation The herdsmen attacks are considered ethno-religious clashes, in which slight provocations can lead to dangerous and violent uprisings that will threaten the stability of the country. Prolonged silence by the country’s leader after these attacks, is being interpreted by victim communities

SECURITY THREATS

Son of the Soil: The Case for State Police in Nigeria

Imagine a state in Nigeria where men recruited into the force are recruited based on personality types that are motivated by the desire for peace and stability within their states. These men have zero tolerance for crime and criminals within their home towns, they form part of the state police. You don’t only see these policemen when there is crime. They are well known faces within the communities. They visit schools and teach the children the importance of obeying the law and shunning crime. They frequently patrol the streets, interacting with members of the public, noting complaints, intervening in minor arguments before they escalate to violent clashes. They sponsor and attend community events such as cultural days, sporting events and even Independence Day festivities. They are interactive on social media and are adept at sensitizing the public on security awareness. This State Police Force are well equipped, well-funded, well trained and well manned. If the state has a population of 17 million, there are at least 38,000 men to police the state. Well within the recommended UN ratio of 1 policeman to 450 citizens. The state runs one of the best Police training academies in the country. Well maintained, with the best of the best forming part of the training staff.  Rarely do you see able bodied men sitting around idly doing nothing. Unemployed graduates are promptly recruited and trained to form part of the effective state police force. This State Police Force take pride in the fact that their community, their town or city, their LGA, and their state year after year is consistently on the list of lowest crime rates in all of Nigeria. The state police’s allegiance is to the peace and security of the state, not to any political group or seating government administration. The state governor as the Chief Security Officer of the state knows that running a low crime state is attractive to investors and tourists and in the best interest of his state. He also knows that these days, the people of the state have no patience and zero tolerance for non-performance. They were interconnected and have heard all about the peace and stability being experienced in the neighboring states. They will vote the governor out in the next election if he does not ensure safety, security and protection of all citizens of the state.   Why the Need for State Police The level of insecurity across Nigeria today is multi-faceted, and is currently threatening the stability of the country. There are high levels of crime in the South-west, secessionist movements in the South-East, rampant kidnapping, gang related violence and destruction of critical national infrastructure in the South-South, Terrorism in the North-East, violent herdsmen attacks across the Middle belt, extensive theft and cattle rustling in the North-West. Other criminal issues plaguing the country include: cybercrime, domestic violence, rape, ethno-religious clashes, political conflicts, illicit trafficking, cultism etc In order to effectively tackle the increasing level of insecurity within the country, the Nigerian Police Force will need to undergo some long overdue restructuring or “unbundling” which involves the Federal government relinquishing the job of securing the various states to the state government through the establishment of state police force. In today’s threat environment, crime perpetrators are usually well known within the community. Effective policing will require a police force that is in close relation within the community and the members of the public have to be comfortable sharing information with the police. Aside from the decades of mistrust there is also the issue of familiarity that is preventing effective information sharing between law enforcement and members of the public. For instance the people in Borno state are more familiar with a Cameroonian from the Extreme North region than they will be with a Nigerian from the South-South. In other words, sending an Ijaw policeman to serve in Borno is not the most effective way of policing a society. The Police Force is aware of this connection between affiliation and sacrifice, and have instituted a “back to state” policy which according to the Nigeria Research Network “stipulates that most rank and file officers should be drawn from the local communities they serve, or police joint patrols with community security groups, or police registration and official identification of vigilantes. This policy is a clear indication that even the police agree that using sons of the soil to police their states of origin is a more effective strategy. The Fear Surrounding the State Police Idea Opponents of state police believe that Nigeria is not ready for it because like the Presidential Committee on Police Reforms said “The country will break up.’’ Opponents believe that the state police will pay allegiance to the political party in power and would be used to suppress rival political parties. This school of thought is not unfounded. During the British colonial era, the major role performed by the police involved repressing groups and individuals considered as disturbances by the colonial rulers. After the Nigerian Police Force was created in 1930, it co-existed with local administration police forces who served the regional powers in the Northern and Western parts of Nigeria. These local forces were eventually abolished because they were involved in partisan politics including brutalization of opponents. After independence in 1960, Nigerian Police Force still operated much like the colonial era forces where they were being used by politicians and the ruling political class to harass opposing parties. As a result of these actions over the years, the perception the Nigerian public have towards the Nigerian Police Force has remained negative with lack of confidence in the force and distrust. Much of this fear still exists today and with the secessionist talk in the South-East and violent political rivalries in some Niger Delta states, it is easy to see why opponents of state police fear that a police force that is fully funded by the state will most likely do the bidding of the state governor and consequently the ruling party. Another argument

SECURITY THREATS

Rivers State Security Situation 101

Rivers state used to be known as a peace loving state, but with the current security landscape, it is hard to imagine that was once true. Crime in Rivers state has reached an alarming level, with assassinations, kidnapping, rape, extortion, armed robbery and murder being carried out on a seemingly daily basis. To make matters worse, when it is election season, the criminal activity significantly worsens. As the Rivers re-run Election Day drew closer, more and more lives were needlessly taken, the most gruesome being the 5th March murder of the APC Ward Chairman, Franklin Obi, who was decapitated alongside his wife and 18-year-old son, Bestman, at his residence on Rutachi Street, Omoku. It appeared that those being killed were overwhelmingly members of the opposition party APC. APC members argued that in order for elections to be free and fair in Rivers state, there would have to be ample security. The ruling party members PDP agreed that there needed to be adequate security, but they were extremely suspicious of the presence of security personnel especially the Nigerian Army for fear that they will help APC rig the elections in their favor. Regardless of the fears of PDP on compromised security personnel one thing almost everyone could agree on was that the level of politically related killings were alarming and therefore security within the state needed to be beefed up. The police force relocated an Assistant Inspector-General of Police and three Commissioners of Police to Port Harcourt, and deployed an additional 6,000 policemen and 14 units of Police Mobile Force personnel to Rivers state to complement the personnel of the Rivers State Command during the election. The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), also approved the deployment of an Assistant Commandant General (ACG), four Commandants and 2,000 personnel for the re-run elections in Rivers. In addition to the security personnel reinforcement, there were restrictions of non-essential vehicular movements around the state on Election Day from 6:00a.m. to 6:00 p.m.  Bans were placed on tricycles, motorcycles and engine speed boats with capacity of 200 horsepower and above, during the election weekend. The Military The Rivers state governor and PDP insisted that the military be kept away from Rivers claiming that they were going to be used as instruments in rigging the elections in favor of APC (the Federal ruling party). To reiterate this concern, the River’s state governor Wike wrote letters to 52 countries and even paid a visit to the Army Headquarters to discuss the security issues in the state. PDP went further and filed a law suit with the Rivers state High Court requesting that the military be restrained from deploying troops to conduct monitor and supervise the elections on that day. The anti-military comments constantly made by PDP encouraged attacks against military and other security personnel. Rivers State Election Day Security Despite the increase in security personnel within the state, the re-run elections were still wrought with pockets of violence and poor turnout. THE Independent National Electoral Commssion, INEC, said it was unable to carry out a conclusive election and has since announced that it would not return to Rivers until the state is more secure and conducive to conduct elections. Some policemen who had been deployed to Rivers got involved in an accident in Rivers state when a truck conveying about 100 policemen collided with another truck transporting cattle along the same road. A vehicle conveying journalists covering the National and State Assembly rerun election, was smashed by hoodlums. Two soldiers who were on patrol, were attacked and killed by gunmen suspected to be sea pirates at Abonnema in Degema Local Council of Rivers State. Another set of “unknown gunmen” also killed a DSS operative in Omaku, Ogba/Ndoni/Egbema Local Government Area of the state, during a joint operation carried out by the army, police and DSS. An immigration officer was shot dead at a registration centre at Abalama in Asari Toru Local Government Area (LGA). A skirmish had ensued, following attempt by All Progressives Congress (APC) and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) members. The Director General of NIMASA, Dakuku Peterside escaped an assassination attempt. Eight individuals wearing fake military uniforms were arrested in Khana Local government area of Rivers state along with the Governor’s Special Adviser on Special projects who was found with large wads of cash. The Police reported four deaths and the arrest of 22 people, although other sources put the casualty numbers higher than that. Why the Violence Politics in Rivers state is a do or die affair because most of the politicians are vying for power over the oil resource of the state which has one of the highest oil revenue in the country. This political wrangling encourages the use of political thugs and the use of violence to gain power. These thugs are said to be funded and armed by politicians to silence political rivals during election season, and off season, their allegiance is to their various gang or cult groups who carryout crimes against members of the community and citizens of the state. A report written by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission in 2009 stated that “Rivers State is saturated with cults and cultism. The Government itself acknowledged the existence of 100 cults; we listed additional 16 cults”. So the presence of heavily armed thugs across the state is known information, none of it is new. In fact, when getting ready to deploy policemen for the Rivers re-run election, the IGP stated that “the intelligence unit of the Nigeria police has conducted a comprehensive security analysis of Rivers state. The areas likely to present major security threat as well as individuals who are poised to make themselves available as political thugs to threaten the peaceful conduct of the electoral process have been identified. Trouble makers will not be picked for now but the individuals have been placed under watch and will be apprehended when they cross the threshold set for them. In other words, the Police Force was saying yes we know all

SECURITY THREATS

Agriculture is the new frontier, best beware of the armed herdsmen

I recently read a social media post where a lady who visited KFC in Nigeria, ordered fries with her chicken, but was told to substitute her fries for jollof rice because they were out of potatoes which they currently imported. Due to the plunging market prices for oil and the resulting lack of US Dollars in circulation Nigerians are becoming ever more painfully aware of just how much we import that could be produced locally. Consequently, the Nigerian government has renewed its focus on growing other industries including agriculture and mining. Already, a number of Nigerian youth have started building their agricultural empires, farming fruits, vegetables and livestock for local consumption and exportation. Companies such as Natural Nutrient has been successful in marketing Moringa, and Reel Fruits has also achieved major success in producing packaged dry fruit snacks, all sourced from locally farmed produce. But before you get too excited about joining the new generation of Nigerian “Agro-preneurs” in their farming adventures, “you must be aware of an age old practice that has now morphed into a major security threat to the agriculture industry in Nigeria … the “Armed herdsmen” or the “Nomadic Criminal”. On 23 February 2016, four farming communities within Agatu Local Government Area of Benue State known for their yams, cassava, and bean farms, were attacked by Herdsmen who burned down the villages and slaughtered a large number of people. A month prior to that on the 24th January 2016, farmers and residents of over five villages in Geire Local Government Area of Adamawa State were the victims of a herdsmen attack which claimed over 60 lives. Who are these Herdsmen? Nomadic herdsmen in Nigeria popularly known as Fulani Herdsmen have for many years operated a cattle grazing migration system. When the climate in the arid north switches to the dry season, the herdsmen and their cattle, journey to the southern part of Nigeria to graze on the green pastures. Similarly, when the rainy season starts in the south, they commence the return journey back to the north. This practice was tolerable until Nigeria’s population started to boom. A nation of 60 million people in the 50’s has burgeoned to a nation of over 170 million today. In order to feed the multitude of people, more farms have sprung up across the countryside, which also happen to be along the grazing path of the herdsmen. Without major concern for the sweat and toil of the farmers, the migrating herdsmen happily lead their cattle to graze on these farms. Farmers began retaliating against these herdsmen and the herdsmen began arming themselves to fight back and protect their cattle. In recent times, there have been frequent clashes between farmers and herdsmen across the country. In January 2016, the Oyo state police command attempted to broker a peace meeting between farmers and Fulani herdsmen. During the meeting, “the farmers accused herdsmen of grazing on their crops without restriction, raping their women, threatening farmers, and using dangerous weapons to rob innocent road commuters. The herdsmen also accused the farmers of killing their animals by poisoning the water which their cattle drink”. The Fulani herdsmen insist that those groups perpetrating violent acts are non-resident herdsmen.  So, if the Nigerian Police and the Fulani Herdsmen all insist the individuals perpetrating these crimes are not the Fulani Herdsmen who have been peacefully grazing their cattle from time in memoriam, then who are these people? Introducing the Nomadic Criminals It turns out that They are armed with all sorts of weapons ranging from bows and arrows to sophisticated rifles. “The extreme violence of these marauders cannot be underestimated”. They attacked and slaughtered a group of palmwine tapers they come across in Delta state, they recently kidnapped a prominent Yoruba statesman for ransom in Ondo state, and have gone as far as burning villages to the ground if the farmers and residents protest their actions. Nomadic criminal attacks persists because of low presence of law enforcement personnel along their paths. Residents of Agatu stated that while the attack on the various villages were going on, there were no security personnel available. This was the same case in the Adamawa attacks which started at 3am and lasted till about 10am with security personnel arriving well after the herdsmen had left. We have long concluded that the Nigerian Police Force lacks the manpower, funds and mobile resources to respond to security incidences within major cities, let alone in rural towns and villages. Nomadic criminals keep perpetrating their vicious acts because they get away with it; No one is ever caught nor persecuted. Bulwark Intelligence map of Nigeria showing states that have reported herdsmen incidences over the past year. DSS can use analytical and geospatial (mapping) tools to properly gather information about national migration patterns and faction characteristics. Google Earth What can be done? Aside from the Nigerian Police Force, there is another security agency who really should be the primary driver in ending the nomadic criminal activity and that is the DSS. The DSS was established to carry out intelligence and investigation functions to protect the domestic landscape of Nigeria from threats. They have nationwide jurisdiction and would be able to better check cross-state border criminal activities. They should have the necessary software analytical and geospatial (mapping) tools that can be used to properly gather information about national migration patterns of herdsmen and the various faction characteristics. Domestic Intelligence There is a genuine lack of understanding of who these nomadic criminals are and that is where the DSS should step up and collect domestic intelligence for proper cultural awareness. For instance, these nomadic criminals are being grouped into one category called Fulani herdsmen and this is wrong. Some of these individuals are actually from other parts of Africa. Fulanis cut across other parts of the continent and the non-Nigerian Fulanis need to be identified and categorized accordingly. Their operating characteristics and typical migration paths need to be fully known, tracked and documented. Most Nigerians who operate bank accounts

SECURITY THREATS

On-going Security Threats in Nigeria

In early February, Department of State Service reported that it had arrested a recruiter for the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS), Mr. Abdussalam Enesi Yinusa. The said individual was arrested in Kano State, where he intended to recruit Nigerian youth. According to the report, Yunusa had already successfully recruited two other individuals and had begun making plans to travel to an ISIS training camp in Libya. Meanwhile, Boko Haram has been successfully carrying out attacks in North East Nigeria, threatening to reverse any progress the military has made in the past few months. These renewed attacks highlight the fact that regardless of the murder and destruction the group has carried out within the region, they still appear to garner support among the locals. In other words, something about the Nigerian society encourages support for terrorist networks and as part of an effective counter insurgency strategy, the country needs to implement a stronger counter-narrative as part of its national strategic communication agenda. There was an article this week which highlighted the successes Indonesia was experiencing in its fight against terrorism. In the early 2000s, Indonesia was dealing with several terrorist attacks in its homeland. But today, the world’s largest Muslim nation has been able to tackle the threat of terrorist attacks and maintain a low level of public support for terrorist organizations. Counter-Narrative One of the first things that Indonesia did was to have a strong counter-narrative which was being preached by all political, religious, social, familial leaders across the country. In essence, the risks and dire consequences of terrorism are constantly being shared with members of the public. The country sponsored television and radio programs where victims and survivors of terrorist attacks were interviewed. This strategy has proven effective as a November Pew research poll indicated that about 80 percent of Indonesians held an unfavorable view of ISIS which is a much higher figure than in Malaysia, Turkey and Pakistan. Why Attacks are Still Happening Boko Haram may still have a lot of public support within their area of operation for two reasons: first they comprise of locals and second Boko Haram provides more protection than the military. So for instance in a village, members of Boko Haram may be cousins, brothers, uncles and close relatives. It is hard to rat out a close relative to security officials who may be here today for a few hours and gone for the rest of the day. One possible remedy for this is to increase the number of troops who are able to patrol the villages as well as provide emergency response. Expanding the Police Counterterrorism Role Another thing Indonesia did to tackle the wave of terrorist attacks they were experiencing, was to create an anti-terrorism unit apart from the military which was experiencing low public support. This unit was part of a special police unit which had effective intelligence gathering capabilities and viewed more favorably among the public. The military may be stretched too thin as it is and may be unable to deploy more troops to patrol the Boko Haram region, but that is where having additional support from the police come in. But unfortunately, the country is still dealing with “maladministration”. A case in point is a recent article that came out this week alleging that Policemen on counter-insurgency operations in the north-east region had not been paid their allowances for about three months and those who had concluded their rotation had been underpaid. It will be difficult by any measure to have an effective counter-insurgency operation when individuals who are sacrificing their lives for the country are not even being compensated for it. The Inspector-General of Police, Solomon Arase, is aware of this issue and is working to resolve this. MNJTF Funding Issues There is no doubt that lack of funding is having an effect on defeating the insurgency. Just this week, there were reports that the Multi National Joint Task Force had fallen short of the funding needed to effectively deploy. Donors had pledged $250 million out of the $700 million needed to effectively combat Boko Haram as a regional force. This lack of concerted regional counter-terrorism strategy is one of the reasons Boko Haram has been able to resume attacks in North East Nigeria and the surrounding border towns. The insurgents simply flee the country putting the most pressure on them and seek refuge on the other side of the border where they are able to resupply and come back across the border to carry out renewed attacks. A couple of years back, there was a never ending increasing spike in sea piracy in the Western Indian Ocean, off the coast of Somalia. Nation after nation fell victim to these criminals who were taking advantage of what they thought was nobody’s territory. It wasn’t long before the international community said enough was enough, and begun cracking down on sea piracy through joint Naval operations. Last year 2015, there was almost no recorded sea piracy incidents recorded at sea. This success was as a result of strategic international and regional counter-piracy efforts. The importance of a regional coordinated response cannot be overstated and until this unchecked border crossing issue is actively dealt with, we may keep seeing any efforts made by the military, being reversed by the cat and mouse chase across the borders. Tackling the Migration Threat Recently, a truck load of individuals migrating from the troubled areas of Borno, Yobe and Adamawa arrived into Taraba, spurring rumors that “Boko Haram” insurgents had flooded the states. The Taraba police has since clarified this issue saying the individuals were seeking jobs and greener pastures. Also in mid January 2016, there were reports that 150 “Boko Haram” members were arrested in Ondo State, imparting fear among the residents of the state. Once again the suspects denied the allegations stating that they were farmers coming from Benin-Kebbi to seek greener pastures in the southern part of Nigeria. Security and government officials need to make sure they

SECURITY THREATS

The Zaria Attacks: Is History Repeating Itself?

With the Boko Haram issue going on in the North East, Nigerians woke up to news that the Army had attacked a Shiite group in Zaria, Kaduna.  Most people in southern Nigeria don’t know much about this group or what has precipitated this civil disturbance. Others who are more cognizant of the situation are wondering if we are seeing history repeat itself and make way for yet another insurgency. The Background The Shiite group is known as the Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN) and is led by Sheikh Ibrahim Zakzaky. Security authorities have known about the leader and this group which is said to seek the establishment of an Islamic state through an Iranian-styled revolution. Back in July 2014, there was a violent crackdown of the Army on the sect while they were carrying out a pro Palestinian solidarity march when they were suddenly attacked by members of the Nigerian Army. This attack led to the death of 34 people including 3 sons of the IMN leader El Zakzaky. The Army claimed it was attacked by the civilians, even though eye witness report showed that the civilians were unarmed and even the Army themselves reported no injuries, no casualties, no loss of equipment. The military was under a different leadership and had been accused of human rights violations then. However, there have since been leadership changes and the current leaders have zero tolerance for human rights abuses and have taken steps to ensure the military do not torture or kill innocent civilians. This however has not impressed the group who probably still view the military in insolent regard. Recently, the members of the IMN embarked on their annual Ashura march which commemorates the death of Hussein the grandson of Prophet Mohammed. The march was from Kano to Zaria in Kaduna state. During this march, a Boko Haram suicide bomber attacked the crowd while in a southern city of Kano. This attack did not stop the march. Instead, it led to an increase in the number of individuals who joined the procession.  The attack probably fueled some renewed sentiments against the military who they see as quick to attack unarmed citizens, but unable to defeat the armed Boko Haram insurgency. The procession finally made its way to Zaria and many motorists complained about having to park for almost 5 hours while waiting for the procession to move past the highway and free up the roads. Why the Army Attacked In Nigeria, when “VIPs” are maneuvering through traffic that is caused by a simple traffic light, they are absolutely impatient and insist on having their way, talk less of a high valued individual such as the Chief of Army Staff (COAS). The COAS was in Zaria on Saturday to pay homage on the Emir of Zazzau, and also attend a review parade by 73 Regular Recruit Intake at the Nigerian Army Depot in Zaria when his convoy ran into the Shiite procession or a group of unruly youth (depending on the different narratives) The COAS armed convoy attempted to disburse the crowd but were unsuccessful. The Army alleges that the members of the group put up barricades and specifically targeted the convoy of the COAS. This is understandable considering the history of this group with the Nigerian Army. However, the group insists they were simply carrying on with their procession and were gathered for a ceremony at their Husainiyyah base, to change the flag on the dome of their building. Either way, the crowd refused to give way and this put the Army Chief in a compromised position. His troops had to engage and this led to loss of lives. The military decided to keep vigil in Zaria overnight, but then more IMN followers from other parts of the North made their way into the city to protect their leader Sheikh Zakzaky. This led to a shoot out over night and the deaths of many more IMN members. El Zakzaky and his wife were arrested by the military and are in protective custody, while his house and the IMN center were completely decimated. The Crime The army says the IMN is guilty of attempted assassination, but in reading the reports on the matter, it appears the crime really is “the violation of people’s rights of way on public highways” including that of the COAS. The Acting Director, Army Public Relations, Col. Sani Usman stated that “The Nigerian constitution guarantees the rights of any group of persons. It gives the Sheikh El-Zakzaky’s followers the right to hold a peaceful march or procession unhindered, while it also guarantees other people’s right, including the Army’s right of passage on public highways. It is important to note that over the years, this group has subjected ordinary citizens using public roads to untold hardship, delays, threats and disruption, simply because they insist on using the public space irrespective of inconvenience and hardship on other law-abiding citizens and motorists. This cannot be tolerated and must stop! ”. Did the Military Handle the Situation Well? When the procession blocked access to the roads for ordinary citizens, they had to wait for over 5 hours till it had cleared. But when it blocked access to the roads for the COAS, loss of life ensued. The Army claims a group of armed thugs specifically targeted the COAS convoy, throwing sticks and stones, thus the military responded with guns. This has led many to ask questions as to whether the military has handled the situation well. In giving security awareness training to members of the public, security professionals always recommend that prior to traveling, individuals should get information about the security situation of the routes they intend on using, and the areas they intend on visiting. The military being the professionals that they are would have gotten information about the procession disrupting the flow of traffic. If this is the case, could they have chosen to go by air to the military base as opposed to road travel? The COAS convoy probably

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