By; RAYMOND TEDUNJAYE, Lagos
The Inspector General of Police (IGP), Ibrahim Idris has warned that the various security challenges besetting the country may lead to its disintegration if not properly managed.
Idris, who spoke Thursdsy in Lagos at public presentation/the launch of a book titled “Security and Justice: The Pathway For Peace and Reconciliation in Niferia”, authored by him,specifically frowned at the pace with which the challenges are being tackled.
According to him, the security challenges. coupled with inflammatory statement, unnecessary political rivalry and struggle for power will lead the country to an unending crisis and tear it apart.
His words. ” i have watched with troubled heart, the security challenges confronting this country. The challenges of book haram in the north east, the challenges of kidnapping and armed robberies, cattle rustling and militancy in virtually all parts of Nigeria, the farmer/headers clashes, the challenges of unnecessary political rilvary and struggle fornpower , the challenges of conflicts among the divergent communities which often times take violent dimensions and occur along the fault lines of ethnic religious, regional and political differences between divergent groups and communities.
These challenges if not properly managed at the pace we are going coupled with inlamamtory and inciting statements will tear this country apart and drag us into an emending crisis”.
The police boss however attributed the successes recorded so far in combating the challenges to the preventive and detective strategies put in place by him.
“As the IGP, Idris said it is his responsibility to in place sufficient security architecture to manage the various security challenges to ensure I am quite conscious that as the IGP it is my responsibility to put sufficient security architecture in place to manage challenges aforementioned and I can say with confidence that the emplaced preventive and detective strategies have been largely successful in managing the situation based on my achievements”, he explained.
Asserting that the panacea to the challenges goes beyond apprehension and prosecution, the IGP said. there has to be steady dispensation of justice
and the protection of the right and interest of the suspects and the victims of crime.
He explained that the primary motivation for writing the book therefore is to unleash his experience accumulated over a period of 34 years both within and outside Nigeria for the benefit of people interested in the security , justice and peace of Nigeria.
Idris was of the conviction that when there is security, justice, peace and reconciliation in any nation, civil strive will be avoided.
Speaking at the occasion, the Oba of Lagos HRM. Babatunde Rilwan AKINOLA blamed the security challenges on the porousness of the country’s borders and influx of foreigners.
He also pointed out that the IGP has not been provided the necessary and needed tools to perform his duties.
His words,” The problem is not totally about Fulani herdsmen. Check the borders and you will see that people come in anyhow. The overgrown forests are also problem. The truth is that the IG has not been given all that is necessary to do the job”.
In his welcome address earlier, the Commissioner of Police Lagos command Edgal Imohimi described topic of the book as apt and germaine.
Noting that the author has proffered solutions to the security challenges confronting the country in the book, Edgal urged everyone to ensure that they get a copy of the book saying it is a pathway to one, safe and peaceful Nigeria.
