Plot 1 SamuelLadoke Akintola Boulevard Africom Academy,

Garki 2, FCT, Abuja

5th December, 2014

THE SENATE PRESIDENTSENATOR DAVID MARKFEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIANATIONAL ASSEMBLY COMPLEXTHREE ARMS ZONE FEDERAL CAPITAL TERRITORYABUJA

Your Excellency Sir,

MEMO ON NATIONAL SECURITY

The above subject matter refers

I most humbly wish to write and to submit a memo on the above

subject matter for your perusal and consideration. I am

particularly motivated to take this bold step following the

events and circumstances which demand no silence from every well-

meaning citizen of Nigeria, but a coordinated vociferous

disposition, devoid of sentiments and prejudices. Gentlemen have

always approached salient issues and people that matter to them

in two approaches: in leg and in letters. I therefore choose to

approach the National Assembly and the Senate President in

particular on issues of security and national concern, through

letters so as to save myself of the bureaucratic bottlenecks that

often characterize public service and in accessing their

officials.

Please permit me to briefly introduce myself. My name is Mathew

Nwokwu, aged 35 years, hail from Ebonyi State, Ohaukwu LGA, a

student of National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN), 300 Level,

School of Arts and Social Sciences under the programme:

Criminology and Security Studies. I work with Third Intelligence

Ltd as the Operations Manager.

Your Excellency, the Nigerian security situation today under your

watch as the Senate President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,

however, demands a more proactive approach and a high sense of

professionalism, patriotism as well as collective responsibility.

May I therefore urge you to give heed to this Memo on National

Security. May I also respectfully crave your indulgence to

excuse any mistake of fact, opinion or statement contained in

this memo, of which you may consider irrelevant or as error; and

please refine it to meet my good intentions. This Memo is written

in good faith and not in any way influenced by advice, religious

or political sentiments of any person or group of persons.

According to the South African White Paper on Defense 1996,

“Security can be defined as an all-encompassing condition in which individual

citizen lives in freedom, peace and safety, participate in the process of

governance, enjoy the protection of fundamental rights, have access to the

resources and the basic necessities of life; and inhabit an environment which is

not detrimental to their health and well-being.” I therefore humbly refer

you to Chapter 1 and Chapter 2 of the 1999 Constitution of the

Federal Republic of Nigeria with Amendments 2011; whereas Section

(1 - 3) reads:

(1) This Constitution is supreme and its provisions shall have

binding force on the authorities and persons throughout the

Federal Republic of Nigeria.

(2) The Federal Republic of Nigeria shall not be governed, nor

shall any persons or group of persons take control of the

Government of Nigeria or any part thereof, except in accordance

with the provisions of this Constitution.

(3) If any other law is inconsistent with the provisions of this

Constitution, this Constitution shall prevail, and that other law

shall, to the extent of the inconsistency, be void.

2.

(1) Nigeria is one indivisible and indissoluble sovereign state

to be known by the name of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

(2) Nigeria shall be a Federation consisting of States and a

Federal Capital Territory.

3.

(1) There shall be 36 states in Nigeria, that is to say, Abia,

Adamawa, Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Bauchi, Bayelsa, Benue, Borno, Cross

River, Delta, Ebonyi, Edo, Ekiti, Enugu, Gombe, Imo, Jigawa,

Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Kogi, Kwara, Lagos,

Nasarawa, Niger, Ogun, Ondo, Osun, Oyo, Plateau, Rivers, Sokoto,

Taraba, Yobe and Zamfara.

(2) Each state of Nigeria, named in the first column of Part I of

the First Schedule to this Constitution, shall consist of the

area shown opposite thereto in the second column of that

Schedule.

(3) The headquarters of the Governor of each State shall be known

as the Capital City of that State as shown in the third column of

the said Part I of the First Schedule opposite the State named in

the first column thereof.

(4) The Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, shall be as defined in

Part II of the First Scheduled to this Constitution.

(5) The provisions of this Constitution in Part I of Chapter VIII

hereof shall in relation to the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja,

have effect in the manner set out thereunder.

(6) There shall be 768 Local Government Areas in Nigeria as shown

in the second column of Part I of the First Schedule to this

Constitution and six area councils as shown in Part II of that

Schedule.

Sir, having referred to the definition accorded to “Security”

according to the South African White Paper on Defense 1996, as

carefully quoted above, my main point of emphasis will focus on

Chapter 2 of the Constitution (FUNDAMENTAL OBJECTIVES AND

DIRECTIVE PRINCIPLES OF STATE POLICY) wherein Section 14 (1 and

2) expressly declared that:

(1) The Federal Republic of Nigeria shall be a State based on the

principles of democracy and social justice.

(2) It is hereby, accordingly, declared that:

(a) Sovereignty belongs to the people of Nigeria from whom

government through this Constitution derives all its powers and

authority;

(b) the security and welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose of

government: and

(c) the participation by the people in their government shall be

ensured in accordance with the provisions of this Constitution.

Moreover Your Excellency, the need for the security and welfare

of the people of Nigeria including the foreigners visiting the

shores of Nigeria to be guaranteed and safeguarded is therefore

very paramount. Hence, this Memo of mine on National Security

intends to lend a voice of change at this critical time of our

nationhood. Drawing much insights from the Constitution and other

literatures on Criminology, Policing and Security Studies, Sir,

may I also humbly state without equivocation, that the current

Nigerian Security design especially some of the approaches often

adopted in tackling the problems of insurgency and terrorism in

particular, need to be modified as a matter of urgency. This is

not the duty of the police or high command alone. It requires the

contribution of every well-meaning Nigerians and friends of

Nigeria respectively.

First and foremost, let me sincerely commend both the Military

and the Nigeria Police for their relentless efforts to defend the

territorial integrity and maintain the internal security of our

dear nation- Nigeria despite all odds! The exasperating effects

of the activities of the insurgents especially the BOKO HARAM war

of terror on Nigerians as witnessed almost daily at the Northern

part of Nigeria particularly in recent time in Borno, Abuja, Kano

States and other places is not only very worrisome but also

mindboggling to the extent that many Nigerians and aliens are now

living in worry and fear. There are other numerous security

issues of national interest but this Memo shall strictly focus on

the salient or most obvious ones and strives to provide some

thorough insights, solutions and recommendations.

2. As you are already aware Mr. President, Nigeria is currently

confronted with its worst security challenges in its 100 years of

existence and 54 years of independence, that threatens not only

to undermine the developmental goals and objectives of

government, but also security of lives and properties of

Nigerians. Sir, I am glad that you are fully aware of the roles

of the Military vis-à-vis the Police especially in times of

security threats (internal and external aggression); having

diligently served the Nigerian Army and honourably retired with

one of the highest ranks obtainable in the Military as a General.

Your Excellency, as a grand civilian that I am, and a young

scholar of Criminology and Security Studies (CSS), I would rather

focus on the aspect of policing, law enforcement and the roles of

the civilian in times of security challenges.

3. Mr. President, you may wish to recall that the role of the

Police in a civilian administration cannot be overemphasized. Let

me quickly refer to one of the books written by Ag. CP. Emmanuel

Ojukwu, Force Public Relations Officer (PRO), Nigeria Police

Force (NPF), Force Headquarters, Abuja titled: DISCOVERING THE

POLICE.... an excursion into police personality, powers, performance and prudence. In

Chapter Two of the book, Mr. Ojukwu wrote and spoke extensively

on “Police and Service Delivery” and I quote: “For starters, it is necessary to ask

some basic questions. What are the key performance indicators to gauge police service

delivery? Does the public understand the full import of her mandate and assignment to

the police? Does the public get good value for her money? Does the police know and

understand its mandate? Does it underperform or go beyond the boundaries allocated

to it by public law?” He further noted that “Police service delivery is to be seen in terms

of her ability to constantly meet the expectations of her customers. This is not the

responsibility of the high command alone. All personnel should be involved in this drive,

if the organisation is to remain relevant. This drive entails consultation, preventive

tactics, and timeliness in response to distress calls, quick and efficient disposal of

allocated cases. It also embraces commitment, openness, accessibility and availability,

as well as courtesy, fairness and friendliness. In a dynamic world, and as a living

organisation, the police should regularly innovate; as an imperfect agency, the police

service delivery mode should include the realization that errors are bound to occur, and

thus set up and apply machineries of service recovery, which involve admission and

redress of wrongs.”

Your Excellency, given the foregoing statements of the (now)mouthpiece of the Nigeria Police Force, it is obvious that thereis a lot to do in order to improve the Nigeria Police formationand further strengthen internal security of the nation. The veryfirst step to take is training and retraining of the Police,especially on Criminology which have within its scope in-depthknowledge of:

Criminal Justice Sociology Psychology Economics Political Science Natural Sciences (e.g. Biology)

In the word of Lord Dening (1980) as cited in Ojukwu (2011:14),

“Society for its defence, needs a well-led, well-trained and well-disciplined force of

police whom it can trust: and enough of them to be able to prevent crime before it

happens, or if it does happen, to detect it and bring the accused to justice.”

The Police according to Mr. Ojukwu are advocates of the

constitution and the law of the land; they are vanguards for

social democracy, human and civil rights and socio-economic and

political order and justice. Law is meant to infuse (positive)

change in the attitude and conduct of the citizenry from what

they were to the intended mode of the law-maker. The law is a

teacher, with the police as the school master. Police is the

agent and catalyst needed for social change; police is a nation

builder.

Sir, the basic question I would like you to critically examine

and to present before the National Assembly especially the Senate

and to President Jonathan is: how much does the average Nigeria

Police know about, understand and can communicate the Nigerian

Constitution, the Nigerian Criminal Code and of course the

Police Act and other statutory legislations operative in Nigeria?

How many police officers have a copy of the 1999 Constitution,

Criminal Code, Police Act, etc; and how many Police officers in

Nigeria own a Personal Computer (PC) and can operate computer

very well; including knowing the intricacies surrounding

cybercrimes and cyber terrorism? This question is to be

addressed relative to the Constitutional roles of the Nigeria

Police and the concept of modern policing in general. How can you

also rate the level of relationship and cooperation that exist

between the Police and the Public, especially when we compare it

with the Nine Principles of Modern Policing, which states that

the police are the public and the public are the police, the

police being member of the public who are employed (and paid by

the public) to give fulltime attention to issues that are

incumbent on every citizen for the common good of the society....

as propagated by Sir Robert Peel, the founder of modern policing

in England around 18 century?

On April 29, 2014 I and three other young Nigerian students of

criminology was invited by the President of the International

Society for Criminology (ISC) to attend and observe the 17th

World Congress of the International Society for Criminology which

took place in Mexico. The purpose of this conference Your

Excellency is to deepen the study of Criminology, especially on

the field of gangs, trafficking and insecurity as you may wish to

note Sir. Below is the excerpt of the invitation letter:

Your Excellency, to my greatest surprise and dismay, the letter

of request dated July 7, 2014 which I wrote and personally

delivered to the highly esteemed office of Senator Paulinus Igwe

Nwagu, Chairman, Senate Committee on Police Affairs, sincerely

requesting that he should use his offices to cause the federal

government of Nigeria through its relevant Ministries, Agencies

and Departments (MDAs) to receive us; all of whom are students of

National Open University of Nigeria under the programme

Criminology and Security Studies (CSS) and to give us all the

necessary assistance including delegating candidates who would

lead us to Mexico to observe the highest events of the

International Society for Criminology in Mexico. Copies of the

said letter was also delivered in person by me to the Presidency

through the Office of the Special Adviser to the President on

Youth Student Matters, Wing B, 5th Floor, Federal Secretariat,

Abuja on July 15, 2014 respectively; of which Comrade Jude Imagwe

is currently presiding over. Copies of the original invitation

letters sent to us, letters of introduction from the Registrar of

the National Open University of Nigeria dated 9th July, 2014 and

other supporting documents were all attached with the letter for

perusal and for further verifications. But unfortunately, the two

respected offices did not only decline to give heed to our

passionate request but I was made to know by the Senator and the

office of SA to Mr. President on Youth Student Matters that

“Government is not interested in any programme that does not add value to 2015

elections and their individual ambitions.” I have with me a copy of the

Short Message Service (SMS) sent to me by the distinguish

Senator, who also warned me never to call his telephone lines in

my life; and that I should go to my local government chairman to

help me if I have any need!

Therefore, I myself and other invited delegates could not make itto represent Nigeria in such a wonderful conference, whichresearches and studies have proven that Nigeria has never takenactive part in the events of the International Society forCriminology since its inception in 1938. I refused to be weigheddown by his discouraging stance, advice if that is what the duomeant in their gestures. Thus, I am bringing it to your noticeand indeed to the knowledge of every well-meaning Nigeria and theinternational community because of the trust and confidence Irepose in you and the National Assembly.

As if that was not enough Your Excellency, the PresidentScientific Commission of ISC who is now the new President electof the International Society for Criminology (ISC), took thepains of sending an electronic mail (e-mail) to both Senator IgweNwagu and the former Force PRO, Mr. Frank Mba, pleading that theyshould receive us and provide adequate support and assistance tous but all to no avail!

In one of my essays I entitled: ‘The Criminal Patrons,’ I couldvividly recall that I did mention that: “We must not lose hope knowingfull well that we are grappling with the weightiest social problem of this nation, and ingrappling with such a complex problem there is no place for misguided emotionalism.

We must work passionately and unrelentingly for the goal of criminological revivalismand for the interest of Nigeria, Africa and mankind, but we must be sure that our handsare clean in the struggle. We must never become bitter. I know how we feel sometimes...(especially about the injustice and inexplicable corruption in our polity). There is thedanger that those of us who have been forced so long to stand amid the tragicmidnight-nightmare of oppression... (executive attack on the sheer understand that weare pushing for criminology and criminal justice renaissance); those of us who havebeen kicked about...there is danger that we will become bitter or resolve to violenceeither overtly or covertly. But if we will become bitter and indulge in hate andsentimental anti-corruption crusades, the old, the new criminology and criminal justiceforce which is emerging will be nothing but a duplication of the old order....”

The sole reason why I have refused to join the school of thoughtor the misguided ideology of those who proclaim that the Nigeriagovernment, especially the administration of His Excellency, Dr.Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, pays little or no attention to issues ofcriminology and security of lives and property, which accordingthe Constitution, remains the primary duty of the government,however, is that your fatherly disposition as the SenatePresident of the Federal Republic of Nigeria over the time, hasremained very patriotic and worth commending. This is alsoevidential base on the recent ranking on World Most CorruptCountries of which Nigeria is now 35 on the list instead ofnumber two as rated in the previous years. I am indeed veryoptimistic that there is a beacon of hope. Additionally, it isalso very evidential to note with candor the supports,professionalism and dogged resilience with which youradministration as the President of the Senate has demonstrated inyour official conduct of national assignments; even when theopinions and conducts of other notable members of both the upperand lower chambers have been influenced by partisan politics andprejudices, you have always refused to debase yourself or bow topressure and the demoralizing effects of money politics or simplyput “moneytocracy.”

I am greatly inspired by the words of Patrice Lumumba when he said:"I prefer to die with my head unbowed, my faith unshakable, and with profound

trust in the destiny of my country."

4. Criminologically speaking Mr. President, policing is a setof activities or processes aimed at preserving a social order orcontrol, which can be performed by a wide of groups andprocesses. They play their individual roles in ensuring thesurvival of society, ensuring order (order...the state thatexists when people obey the law) and good governance. Projectingthe Nigeria Police and the ideal concept of policing, it istherefore very imperative Sir, to note that:

(a). The officers, men and women of the Nigerian Prison Services

(NPS) are in the field of policing convicts, turning some of them

into better citizens and at the same time, keeping us all safe

from their proven destruction and harmful effects;

(b). The personnel of the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) are

policing the stream of imports and exports and help beef up funds

for the nation;

(c). The Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) are policing the

borders against illegal migration (in and out of the shores of

Nigeria), and are up in arms against cross-border vices;

(d). The National Agency for Prohibition of Trafficking in

Persons (NAPTIP) is also a federal body charged with curbing the

menace of modern-day slavery called human trafficking whether the

said slavery is intended for local or international consumption;

(e). The National Agency for Foods, Drugs Administration and

Control (NAFDAC) is expressly involved in policing the foods and

drugs production and distribution, whether industrial, large

scale or medium scale production and distribution, cross-

examination and certification of any such food or drug coming

into Nigeria; to ensure that the health and welfare of the

Nigerian populace are not threatened or compromised under any

guise by fake, inferior and expired foods and medications;

(f). The Nigerian Copyright Commission is policing the theft of

intellectual property by pirates, vandals and other anti-social

actors within the Nigerian intelligence community, people whose

actions and inactions negate the competence and professional

ethics guiding the use of information in Nigeria – print

electronic;

(g). The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) is saddled

with the sole mandate of policing the spread of narcotic and

psychotropic drugs in Nigeria.

All of these groups are however, policing one aspect of the

nation’s critical economy or the other. But it should be known to

all Mr. President, that they are not the Police! The duties of

police are all-encompassing to the extent that the law of the

land empowers any police officer to effect arrest on any person

or group of persons, found committing an offense before him or

her without any delay.

5. Moreover, Sir, the second objective of this Memo is to urge

the Federal Government of Nigeria to fashion out workable plans

on how to harmonize and to cement the existing relationship

between the police and other relevant agencies of the government

that are directly or indirectly policing the Nigerian state; and

above all, how the relationship between the Nigeria Police and

the public can be better managed for mutual benefit and for the

advancement of National peace and Security.

I hereby propose that a National Summit on Criminology, Policing

and Law Enforcement in Nigeria should be organized with

attendance, all the aforesaid agencies of government charged with

the duty of policing the nation one way or the other. The

Nigerian government should sponsor it completely. Attendance of

this event should also be extended to all the stakeholders in the

Criminology and Criminal Justice Systems in Nigeria including

Students of the relevant fields of study starting from 300

levels. The summit if considered and approved, should focus on

how to ingrain the spirit of unity, intelligence gathering and

sharing among security agencies: Military, Police, Civil Defence,

Paramilitary organisations, Civil Society Organisations and the

general public. To make the event more lively, there should be

music concerts which shall bring together all the heads of

military, police organisations and notable elder statesmen to:

sing the National Anthem, the National Pledge with their hands

joined together in agreement and afterward, dance and wine

together! Again, efforts should also be made to add life to the

National Pledge. Judges in the courts should promote and elevate

the said National Pledge to the point that it would serve as the

basis of convicting criminals and economic crimes more often

committed by politicians and their allies with impunity under the

aegis of immunity as in State Governors and Head of States. We

should say the National Pledge and mean it.

In addition, Mr. President, if we must win the war against

insurgency in Nigeria especially terrorism (Boko Haram), there

should be a paradigm shift in what seems to be brigadier approach

rather than proactive methodology, which also seems to be sine

qua non for the security operatives. We must make provisions for

both proactive and reactive security, by employing the knowledge

of intelligence and criminology in policing as well as militating

against social vices that are inimical to law and order, socio-

economic goals, national image and the totality of the nation’s

development. The government should as a matter of urgency focus

on crime prevention and poverty alleviation programmes including

ensuring that enabling environments: good road, rail and water

transport systems, electricity, security, agriculture,

entrepreneurial and industrial development and/or made in

Nigeria technologies, good and services and promoted among other

things.

6. Police service delivery should be seen from the lens of how

far it has met the aspiration of the public. Another pertinent

question of utmost importance is: Do the Police do the right

things and do they do things right? Do the police observe the

rule of law and respect the rights of the citizens? Do they

demonstrate commitment and serve diligently on issues of law and

order, peace and security. How reliable are they on matters

bordering on national security. How knowledgeable and intelligent

are the officers, and how available and approachable are they?

Can they justify public funds spent on them?

I make bold to disagree with the assertion of a clique of

uncivilized elements who have said that investment in the Nigeria

Police was like hosting a million dollar beauty pageant for swamp

pigs....bating them and dressing them with new clothes just to

make sure that they win medals during the occasion and later

allowing them to wallow and swim in the mud. Police institution

is not only sacrosanct but should be made to attract wholesome

respected as both noble and as a professional organisation! Even

the Holy Book recorded that: “Blessed are the peacemakers: for they

shall be called the children of God” (Matthew 5:9).

If the Almighty God can acknowledge the role of the police as

peacemakers or officers, then, I see no reason why men and

officers of the Nigeria Police should not be well trained, well

paid, and well admired by every Nigerian child! The picture below

better illustrate this fact.

Intelligence gathering and sharing (Proactive policing)

Every Nigerian child should be happy to say: I am a Nigerian and I love the Nigeria

Police because they are my friend! We must begin to take deliberate actions that will

utterly erase the negative impression that “Police force” to police formation. Nigerians

should be made to see police action in dealing with recalcitrant members of the society

as just, chaste, and holy and that we are in agreement with their actions to fight and

protect every tenets of the law which hold fabric of our collective conscience; of which if

violated, will amount offense against all of us. For instance, if someone steals, and he

or she is caught in the act, you will agree with me that everyone who beholds the

criminal sees him or her as an enemy, not just because he stole money as the case may

be, but simply because such a person has broken the social norm and has violated our

collective conscience. Thus, justice for one is justice to all and verse versa.

The new order....... a

The Police should employ the use of moderate force in dealing with offenders of the law so that their actions should be

justified before the law and other statutory enactments on international human rights

The old order...

We must begin to build the kind of society and police whereby both children and adult should be able to approach in both critical and celebration times.

The task of policing the Nigerian state should be made the taskforallandthepolicebeingthetask

supervisor and a suppressor especially when the task gets trickyand thicker. We all must see the task of security of lives andproperty of Nigeria as achievable one, and which requires theability and contribution of each individual person to accomplish.Reactive policing or security is a system whereby the governmentand the police show more concern to reaction of crimes when theyoccur than taking preventive measures to stop the occurrence of

Junior is indeed amazed to see probably for the first time, that the Police can be friendly to human beings!

crime. A classical example is when the government spendstrillions of naira to import arms and ammunitions instead ofinvesting in the critical sectors of the economy such aselectricity, education, rule of law, and other transformativeschemes that will drastically reduce unemployment and socialexclusion and prejudices. It is criminologically viewed as acorporate crime for government to award billions of naira worthof contract to install Closed Circuit Televisions (CCTVs) inareas where there is no light, and where sometimes, there are nofuture plans of electrifying such zones.

It is not even the task of President Goodluck Jonathan alone. Itis not also the task of the Nigerian Army or the police alone...just as kofi Anan once said: “Africans have solutions to African problems.....modification of African cultures, security, technology, industrialization andglobalization”.

The public are the police and the police are the publicas illustrated by this picture where the members of the

The public cooperation with the police in order to maintain law and order in the society demands 100% cooperation.

public are fighting indecent dressing and prostitutionand corruption of public moral...

The operations of the Nigeria Police should be swift, suitable,reliable and proficiently able to reach every nook and cranny ofthe nation.

The function of the society requires everyone to do the work of a“watchdog” and not to leave the job of watching for the dogs andthe alone...

When individuals or group of persons bear up arms against thestate, we must all see and treat them as the enemy of all, and

the society in general. This mean that religious beliefs underany guise, must not interfere with the affairs or programme ofthe nation since Constitution is supreme over all persons andfaith. We must sustain the outcry of the emerging criminologistsin Nigeria, which I am one of them; who are of the opinion thatNigeria should have ONLY one Constitution and one Criminal Law torule supreme of every person and things; and which no region,race, religion (Christianity or Islam) and or selfish politicalinterest, can lay claim of dominance or superiority.

We must all rally support for our brothers and sisters in thetroubled region of the Northern Nigeria and elsewhere. We mustwear the attire that preach the message in word and in characterthat shows that ‘we are all from Chibok, and feel as though thatthe abducted over 200 girls by the Boko Haram sects are from ourimmediate family and blood relations.

Also, the task of building a corruption-free Nigeria must not beallowed for the EFCC or ICPC alone. We must all sow and wear theattire that will look at corruption in the face and say to it: wemust defeat you because you are no more our core-option.

7. More so, the efficacy and efficiency of the Nigeria Police could be measured practically through a number of parameters relating to community policing as captured below:

(i). The availability and accessibility of the officers and the station to the needing public;

(ii). The manner of reception at the point of entry at the policestation;

(iii). The decency/packaging of the reception/ office accommodation (is the police station full of junk and dirt .... aNo-Go Area Dustbin)?

(iv). Response/ reaction time crisis, distress calls and emergencies (clearance rate of crime and traffic problems);

(v). Problem-solving capacity, and reactiveness in respect of social problems;

(vi). The willingness of the agency to invite, accommodate and nurture public partnership;

(vii). Acceptance of errors, due apologies/remedies applied (instead of being defensive nearly all the times);

(viii). Media relations policy (does it project an individual, oreducates and informs the public on issues of policing and servicedelivery)?

(ix). Level of confidentiality on information received/passed on to her;

(x). The truthfulness of the organisation and the level of trust that can be entrusted on the agency;

(xi). The self-worth, confidence, discipline and carriage of the personnel (can the son or daughter of an Honourable member or Senator, Pastor or Imam, and average Nigerian man or woman make

bold to say “I am a Police officer” without attracting public frown and even mass desertion? First appearance is said to be the first letter of recommendation;

(xii). The versatility and robust knowledge of the personnel, andtheir grasp of current affairs including other statutory legislations and Acts of the National Assembly;

(xiii). The communication and interpersonal skills of the officer;

(xiv). The professional competence, expertise and skills exhibited by the officers in the discharge of their duties;

(xv). The intervention, negotiation, conciliatory conflict resolution as well as peace-building skills of the officers;

(xvi). The police officers’ respect for human rights and obedience to the law (how many police officers have a copy of theNigerian Constitution, how many of them can read and understand and execute the laws of the land according to its word and spirit?

(xvii). The style of policing the Nigerian state: is it democratic or autocratic? Is it oriented to the public or to a select few?

(xviii). The nature of policing priorities: are they in tune withpublic expectations?

(xix). The openness, transparency and accountability of the officers to the public: how can it be measured and rated?

(xx). The friendliness, empathy and listening tendencies of the officers (how can it be measured)?

(xxi). The nature of intra-service welfare and treatment of colleagues: Are they respected or traumatized at will – leading

to the traumatized traumatizing others via displaced and transferred aggression?

(xxii). Police involvement in environmental design to blank-out crime, traffic congestion and other numerous issues of social disorder.

(xxiii). The number of criminologists, psychologists, sociologists, forensic experts and other professionals from the relevant field of disciplines involved in the police.( Are the Police officers chosen, selected, recruited or hired from amongst the professional and motivated members of the public)?

8. Public Expectations Of The Police: Your Excellency, sincethis Memo does not intend to bore you with trivial issues ofsecurity concern, it is also noteworthy to mention that anotherfundamental ingredient of the concept of modern policing is anunderstanding that Police are servants of the public, and nottheir masters. If I may join my opinion with well-meaningNigerians who crave for the transformation of the Nigeria Police,Sir, I would suggest that the agitation of some minds for achange in the name of the Police Force to Nigeria Police Service(NPS). As the Nigeria Police Force currently battle to redeem herpublic image, improve her public acceptance and patronage, whoknows if it could be of help?

From my research, the public expects a good police organisationand her members to meet most of these criteria:

(i). Officers turn out in clean and smart outfits and function ina neat environment.

(ii). A comportment of discipline across the board.

(iii). Police stations that are open and accessible to all whoneed her services.

(iv). The absence of corruption, or zero-tolerance of suchamongst all ranks.

(v). Displays of kindness, humanness, politeness and courtesy atall points of service delivery.

(vi). A quick and effective response to any request for publicassistance....not just for the selected few – the rich.

(vii). A commitment to high official standards and behaviouranchored on integrity.

(viii). Officers to be knowledgeable, articulate and up-to-datewith available current affairs and technology.

(xix). Officers to show genuine interest in the concern andpriorities of the public.

(x). Active and retired but not tired Police officers should beuseful mentors, friendly, and resourceful in private securityorganisations and partnership with the police.

(xi). And that the current Nigerian security demands and/orchallenges, should embrace the American approach of citizeninvolvement in security management and operations, in addressingthe problems of insurgency especially terrorism; given the 911terrorist attack of the World Trade Centre 2001 in USA.

(xii). That private security organisations should be encouraged,well monitored in order to provide unbiased security of livesand properties, report crimes to the appropriate authorities andshould be adequately commended and rewarded whenever theirintelligence information, reports and involvement in securityaffairs, lead to the expectant solution of crime detection,prevention and arrest of the offenders of the law.

POLICE WELFARE

According Rawl, 1971:40) Welfare Liberalism, here ‘welfare’ refers to the totality of thehappiness and well-being of all persons and particularly to the alleviation of thesufferings of the poor and disadvantaged (Rawl, 1971). Violence is possible because thepeople`s welfare is compromised. They are alienated from the good of the land. Theoligarchic structure of most African society metamorphosed into personality rule byautocrats or their surrogates. This arrangement shrinks the political space from people`sparticipation. This is the argument behind the various mass revolts sweeping acrossAfrica and the Arab world in general.

9. PRAYERS

(i). That the Nigeria Police Force or Formation should be wellsupported by all Nigerians to protect lives and properties ofevery Nigerian citizen and aliens all over the country.

(ii). That Government at all levels: Federal, State and LocalGovernments should support the police to succeed including makingsure that their welfare and morale are considered as bothpriority and obligation; and not a mere privilege that should getto them in a slim outflow.

(iii). That the National Assembly should ensure that the studyand practice of Criminology should be promoted and encouraged inall Nigerian Universities, Colleges of Education, and othertertiary institutions of learning.

(iv). That as a matter of urgency, the Federal Government ofNigeria should ensure that the Nigerian Society of Criminology(NSC) is established and also that the already inauguratedCriminology Students Society of Nigeria (CSSN) should besupported adequately.

(v). That the request of Criminology Students Society of Nigeriato delegate Criminology students , male and female, from 200 and300 levels from relevant Nigerian Universities across the nationto travel to Europe and appraise developmental projects on

Criminology, including visiting the Headquarters of theInternational Society for Criminology in Belgium should beconsidered and approved; and their proposed 2015 NationalConference on Criminology and Nigerian Security should beimplemented.

(vi). That every Nigerian citizen and friends of Nigeria shouldrise up and support the Nigerian Government to wage a-must-winwar against terror and terrorism, militancy and insurgency inevery part of Nigeria.

(vii). That the Nigerian Criminal Justice Systems should betransformed so as to ensure that no offenders of the law willescape the long rope of justice, no matter how they are placed inthe society; and that politics, governance, leadership, andindeed all human conducts in Nigeria should be guided by theConstitution and Criminal Code. Religious, cultural practices,ethnicity or any other factor, should not claim superiority instate affairs at all levels of governance.

(viii). That there should be a total overhauling of the Nigeriansecurity apparatus so as to promote public acceptance,partnership and patronage of the Police. The Stations all overthe country should be renovated, with adequate and modern housingschemes for the officers and their families including moderntraining grounds for their children.

(ix). That there should be a concerted effort by both theGovernment and the general public to build an democratic societyin which we all shall live compatibly, harmoniously, happily andprosperously. This can be achieved by using a popularcriminological assertion which said: “The easiest way to combat crimeis to prevent it.” Government should also focus more on crimeprevention strategies rather than waiting for crime to occur andthen spending trillions of Naira and dollars to address it.

(x). That this Memo on National Security should be considered,positively modified and implemented to the letter for theadvancement of National Security and advancement ofCriminological revivalism in Nigeria and Africa.

TRUTH AND RECONCILIATION

Charles Villa-Vicencio explains the work of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission:

“Our task is to explain and to understand, making every effort to enter the mind of eventhe worst perpetrators — without allowing those who violate the norms of decency toescape the censure of society. Guilt rests not only with those who pull the trigger, butalso with those who wink as it happens. It does, however, rest decidedly more with thosewho kill. The one who plots and designs death may well be more guilty than the personwho pulls the trigger. The person, too terrified or even too indifferent to restrain thekiller, is at the same time surely less guilty than the killer who may simply have followedorders. An appeal to superior orders or to due obedience is insufficient ground forclaiming immunity — and the concern of the Truth and Reconciliation Commissionfocuses clearly on those who gave the command to kill and those who did the killing —not on fearful bystanders or ‘passive collaborators’. It would at the same time be abetrayal of history to suggest that they alone supported the evils of apartheid and itscrimes. To fail to identify the extent of the evasion of moral responsibility for the failuresof the past, is to undermine the possibility of there emerging a moral fabric capable ofsustaining a society within which the atrocities of the past shall never again occur”(Biggar, 2001: 26-30) Quoted in CSS 381: Domestic Violence p.52. National Open Universityof Nigeria.

10. RECOMMENDATIONS AND CONCLUSION

Your Excellency, may I draw your attention to the Nine (9)Principles of Sir Robert Peel, the founder of modern policing ascited in (Nwokwu 2011:8) in a Paper titled: “The Future of Security Industry inNigeria” an excerpts from a Paper presented by Mathew Chinweoru Nwokwu duringthe 16th World Congress of the International Society for Criminology (ISC) at Kobe,Japan, August 2011:

(i). The basic mission for which the police exists is to preventcrime and disorder;

(ii). The ability of the police to perform their duties isdependent upon public approach to police actions;

(iii). Police must secure the willing co-operation of the publicin voluntary observance of the law to be able to secure andmaintain the respect of the public;

(iv). The degree of co-operation of the public that can besecured diminishes proportionally to the necessity of the use ofphysical force;

(v). Police seek and preserve public favour not by catering tothe public opinion but by constantly demonstrating absoluteimpartial service to the law...meaning that police operationsmust be devoid of sentiments, irrespective of whoever his ox isgored;

(vi). Police use physical force to the extent necessary to secureobservance of the law or to restore order only when the exerciseof persuasion, advice and warning is found to be insufficient;

(vii). Police at all times should maintain a relationship withthe public that give reality to the historic tradition that thepolice are the public and the public are the police, the policebeing only members of the public who are paid to give fulltimeattention to duties which are incumbent on every citizen in theinterest of community welfare and existence;

(viii). Police should always direct their attention strictlytowards their function and never appear to using the power of thejudiciary....meaning that the determination of who is or whoshould be labeled a criminal, the corresponding punishment to beawarded including fine (in cash or monetary value) andimprisonment is exclusively the statutory duty of the courts.

(ix). The test of police efficiency is the absence of crime anddisorder not the visible evidence of police action in dealingwith it.

Conclusion

In view of the above Mr. President, may I respectfully suggestthat this universally accepted principles of modern policing bewholly adopted as a modus operandi of the Nigeria Policeactivities all over the nation; especially in addressing thenumerous security challenges currently facing us as a people andas a nation, including applying same in order to improveintelligence gathering and sharing between the public and thepolice, and in addressing the problems of Boko Haram andterrorism in general.

While re-emphasizing on the need to adopt Criminology and thebreeding of a new crop of criminologists in Nigeria, Sir, theFederal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) widely commended by all andsundry, has remained constantly rated high as the most efficientunits of foreign police organisation especially in America andAustralia, however, does not use charms or performs magic. Thesecret of FBI is that they are people-oriented and not justbecause they make use of the highest technology. The Nigerian FBIis no other person but you and I supporting the Nigeria Police tooperate professionally.

As you may wish to further note Mr. President, the FBI has for solong performed very excellently, the reasons are two. First, menand women who are hired, trained, encouraged and absorbed intoFBI are Criminologically-inclined. Then the question is: what isCriminology? Criminology can be defined as the scientific study of crime andcriminal behaviour. It started around 18th Century when socialphilosophers began to ponder over why and how people commitcrimes? Criminology may be simply understood as the application

of scientific knowledge to solve the problems of crime andcriminality in the society.

The newly elected President of the International Society forCriminology, Professor Emilio Viano (+17035979800) has expressedhis administration’s support for Nigeria and the teeming scholarsof criminology and criminal justice to succeed. Hence, I wouldlike to appear before you and if possible, before the NationalAssembly to present to you other confidential documents,information and Proposal that would be of great value to nationalsecurity planning and management. Also, one of our illustrioussons in Europe, Professor/Pilot Anthony Nwiboko (+393510157924)has agreed to lead the Nigerian Students delegates from selectedfields: Criminology, Agriculture, Medicine, Political Science,etc as contained in my proposal yet to be delivered to you ifinvited, to various reputable Universities in Europe, as hasalready been approved by the famous University of Bari in Italy,for beneficial academic tour and life-changing and nation-transforming pilgrimage.

I conclude by suggesting that, Mr. President, should doeverything possible to use your good offices to persuade,influence and prevail on the National Assembly to convey anextraordinary emergency meeting/session to discuss therecommendations of this Memo and above all, the security of thenation; especially how Nigeria can breed a new crop ofcriminologists who would complement the appreciable currentefforts of the Nigerian Government and her Police to win the waragainst terrorism and to build a nation where peace and justiceshall reign continually.

MEMO ON NATIONAL SECURITY

Prepared and submitted to the Senate President by:

Mathew Chinweoru Nwokwu

Tel.+234 703 903 4002

e-mail: mat4twins@yahoo.com or crimeliteracy101@gmail.com

“The last thing a group of practical people want to be told as they set off to reform government is that they should stop and take a look at the underlying theory.”

Richard P. Nathan, Director of Government,

The Nelson A. Rockefeller; USA