KILL THAT NOISE 1

I hate armed robbers in particular with a passion. These are people, who on a normal day, one on one you could probably beat to death, but they come together in large numbers, they carry weapons with which they intimidate, and take from you and me by force, what is rightfully and legally ours. They dispossess us of our belongings, which we have worked hard for. They take from you, as if it is their right. It galls me.

They rape and traumatize women who on a normal day they could not hold their own with, ladies who would have them tongue tied: they prance around with that feeling that only a gun can give, they experience the thrill of being in control, of being respected and feared.

But just see them when the tide is turned: they are the most contrite and pitiful people you ever saw. “Oga”, they say, “na devil cause am. Na hunger…” All of a sudden, they are begging you with such earnestness and grief, it dumbfounds and you find yourself trying to reconcile the larger than life, dark, tall, ferocious being who carried guns you had never seen before even in the Rambo movies to the miserable waif sitting on the ground before you crying. Until he or she (you heard me: she!) is released: the way they will so revert to the monster you witnessed will be beyond you.

I have heard a lot of people blame this upsurge in armed robberies on hunger, unemployment, displacement… and I am here to vehemently disagree. No doubt, these things are factors that play some type of role, but their effects are at best tertiary. The first real problem is that there is no respect or fear of the law enforcement agencies. More and more, there is anarchy in the air- just come to the east and see the way in which weapons are bandied about. Secondly, the Nigerian politician is a reckless, lawless and arrogant/proud sort who is ready to burn the house down if he or she does not get their way. Nobody embodied this ideal more the past president of Nigeria, Olusegun Obasanjo.
He was leader of the rabid pack who used these same boys terrorizing us, for their dirty work and got them of the hook with law enforcement. Like themselves, so many of these boys became untouchable and have established their own links with the security authorities. Explain this to me: how do three buses and two cars, full of gun-toting individuals make their way in the day time to a bank on the other side of Lagos, fire their guns in the air and rob for four hours with no fear? How does a gang of twenty young men, come out around 4pm, armed to the teeth and drive through Makurdi town and nothing happens? How can thirty gun wielding individuals hold most of Jos to ransom with no fear? It defies logic unless there is some very serious collaboration going on.

Large parts of the security apparatus have been compromised by politicians for their nefarious ends and have left the force debilitated and weak. Police Commissioners and DPOs come around politicians and co for settlement/payment for favours done. Some are even called this person’s “boy” or “person”.

How can twenty young men organize themselves in the way we are seeing? How do they get these sophisticated weapons? These things are not plucked from trees or dug from the ground. Most of them belong to the security forces.
There are big shots whom these boys are organized around. I dare say that 95% of robbers have godfathers, men who call themselves big men in society. These are the men who organize the planning, funding, weapons, logistics, and “political” backing for these hoodlums.

Any serious person will know that there is a network and that all that needs to be done is to strike the shepherds and the sheep will scatter. All this noise being made about patrols and vehicles and equipment is so, so secondary. Prevention is better than cures. If enough pressure is put on the SSS, you will see names and photographs; you will see a list of hideouts and a list of all backers. If the police force is too weak, call in military strike teams and ask them to begin to conduct surgical and precise strikes against all those identified. In two months, Nigeria will be quiet.

Have you ever come into contact with a top police officer before? I once met a Police Commissioner in Plateau State who nurtured and fed armed robbery in the city of peace and tourism: the man oozed corruption and vileness; there was something slippery and shadowy in his eyes. The very way he moved told you that this was a very, very dangerous man- a man of the underworld to look after the security of a state. The Police force is full of them, especially at the top.
Crime blossomed under the man until the Governor intervened to bring Paul Akanya-a straight shooter who didn’t give a damn, who went after anybody no matter who you where. Jos quieted down within the space of two months.

The truth is we are not yet serious. I have watched the Police Commissioner of Lagos very closely; the ethos round the man is tortured. He is trying to play a balancing act, trying not to offend “powerful people (criminals)” who could make life difficult for him politically. The passion and zeal he needs is being undermined by his perceived need to be cautious.

We need passionate and dedicated law enforcement people who are ready to go all out to kill this noise. They do not need to be noisemakers, the need not tell us all they are doing- they need not advertise their strategies or succumb to PR. Security speaks for itself. Period.