Posted by The Guardian on
ONCE again, Anambra State, Onitsha in particular, boiled over for about four days, starting from Thursday, June 15, 2006....
ONCE again, Anambra State, Onitsha in particular, boiled over for about four days, starting from Thursday, June 15, 2006. The commercial city witnessed yet another orgy of what the Civil Liberties Organisation (CLO) has correctly described as "homicidal activities and other forms of criminality". Indeed, what happened was nothing short of anarchy.
The Onitsha tragedy demonstrates the crass inefficiency, as well as the near-absence, of security in the town. On a wider note, it connotes the failure of government, or of the state.
Governments, at both state and federal levels, prepared the grounds for the disorder, in connivance with the political class that has been perpetually enmeshed in a bitter struggle for supremacy and power in the past seven years. This is why it is possible for various armed militias to overwhelm the existing security framework. Even the Police, charged with protecting life and property, and maintaining law and order, failed woefully.
A number of panicky measures have been put in place in the aftermath of the violence. They include the drafting of soldiers to the scene, imposition of curfew, a shoot-on-sight order, and meetings with concerned and affected groups. None of these pretends to address the remote and germane causes of the crisis. It is only conceivable therefore that the next orgy of killing, destruction and breach of public order is around the corner unless government finds the political will to put a stop to the reign of anarchy in Anambra.
There is no unanimity on the immediate cause of the mayhem in review. An account attributed it to a cleansing operation embarked upon by the Police, specifically aimed at dislodging members of the Movement for the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB). By that account, MASSOB organised a counter-response and forced the Police to retreat. In the process, other militia groups and miscreants seized the opportunity to aggravate the fracas. Another account however, indicated a struggle for the control of motor parks between members of MASSOB and transport unions.
It is clear, by the account of the state governor, Peter Obi, that active participants in the orgy allegedly included MASSOB or people branding themselves as such; miscreants hiding under the National Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO), Bakassi Boys, National Union of Road Transport Workers, and the Anambra Vigilance Services.
In the end, an unspecified number of people, including policemen, were killed. Commercial activities were grounded for days. Motorists passing through the town were stranded for 48 hours. Four Police stations were razed. Residents abandoned their homes and fled for safety. The rioters seized and burnt down a N70 million Police Armoured Personnel Carrier and a Tata truck. Hundreds of people and policemen were injured. Nine of the rioters stormed a prison manned by 16 armed policemen and warders, sent the security men packing and released 204 prisoners.
Not unexpectedly, Onitsha and environs were visited by top policemen, including two Deputy Inspectors General and one Assistant Inspector General. The Federal Government heeded the governor's request for the deployment of soldiers to stop the carnage. Governor Obi imposed a dusk to dawn curfew on Onitsha, which was later extended to Oba, Obosi, Nkpor, Nsugbe, Ogbaru and Okpoko.
The incident is deplorable. Governor Obi's utter helplessness is pitiable. He called on the Police, but when they could not manage the crisis, soldiers had to be brought in. Obi's tough stance against the militia groups obviously cut no ice with them as MASSOB, for instance, warned him against outlawing the movement. This situation again calls for a review of the structure of the police, and the true import of the status and powers of Governors as Chief Security officers of their respective states. As presently constituted, the Nigeria Police are unable to meet the people's expectation with regard to the effective maintenance of law and order.
The emergence of militia groups in Anambra has gravely contributed to the violence and insecurity in Onitsha. In a way, previous administrations in Anambra are guilty of either forming them as in the case of Anambra Vigilance Service (AVS) or encouraging them as in the case of MASSOB. It is however, on record that the militia groups would not have become an issue, had the Police performed their traditional and constitutional duty of protecting lives and property. In the face of their failure, people, including the state government have had to resort to self-help. Unfortunately this improvisation, occasioned by political expediency, especially under the Mbadinuju and Ngige administrations is bearing difficult fruits.
It is alleged that a top chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is the overlord of one of the feuding militia groups; and that the group is being used strictly to gain political control in the state. It is further alleged that the police used their facilities to protect and support the group. These are grave allegations directly indicting the Federal Government. Can we then expect a thorough or unbiased investigation that will result in proper sanctions?
These allegations are not unfounded having regard first to the abduction of Governor Chris Ngige in July 2004 and the incident of November 11 to 13, 2004, when thugs practically took over Anambra State and destroyed public buildings as well as private property. At the time, and contrary to the cries of the Nigerian populace, the police never arrested the culprits, let alone prosecute them. Reports also confirmed then that the Police merely stood guard as the thugs committed their atrocities. Even the Federal Government described the incident as a "political crisis", and "a family affair".
The latest thuggery and homicidal activities in Onitsha are clearly a result of the failure to sanction the guilty in 2004. Governor Obi wants the militant groups to be outlawed and disbanded. Ironically, when the Federal Government withdrew the police orderlies of former Governor Chris Ngige, he had no choice but to rely on some of these groups for protection and security. But of course, peace is endangered when armed militant groups engage themselves in lawless conduct. Ultimately, only an efficient, impartial and responsible police will provide a permanent cure for the resurgence of militias.
The Federal Government ought to use the Onitsha episode as a catalyst for overhauling the police and the state security system. For how long can the nation continue to lament the superior firepower of hoodlums against an ill-equipped police?
Sadly, the Onitsha situation is replicated all over the country in varying degrees. It is sad that the entire country is degenerating into a lawless state, where people disregard the rule of law with impunity and end up as "heroes". The Federal Government is guilty of paying lip service to the protection of the citizens. The reality is that it has failed woefully, having gradually abandoned its responsibility over the years. The prevailing mass unemployment and joblessness is a clear illustration, as well as a tool, of this failure.
Nigerians crave for a firm and responsible government that can protect their lives and property, and enforce the rule of law. They are ready to co-operate through dialogue and consultation. But government must first demonstrate sincerity and seriousness.