Institutional Roles Of Conflict Management Between Nigerian Police And Civil Defense Corps

  • : Ms Word, Ms Word Format
  • : 70 Pages
  • : ₦5000
  • : 1-5 Chapters
  •  
  • Click to DOWNLOAD Materials

INSTITUTIONAL ROLES OF CONFLICT MANAGEMENT BETWEEN NIGERIAN POLICE AND CIVIL DEFENSE CORPS

Chapter one

Introduction

BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

Conflict is  an inevitable societal phenomenon. Management of conflicts can stem down the tide of these evils or worsen them. Conflicts are found at every stage of life. Individuals, groups, associations, clubs, societies, local, national and even world community continue to experience conflicts in one way or the other. Conflicts are features of life and they have been since the inception of mankind (Alabi, 2010). Therefore, conflicts are permanent features of life which we have come to live and cope with and resolve from time to time. Their existence cannot be terminated in life unless we want to terminate life itself( Ibid). Kesterner and Ray (2002) see conflict as a social factual situation in which at least two parties (individuals, groups, states) are involved and strive for goals which can only be reached by one party, and or want to employ incompatible means to achieve a certain goal. It thus implies struggle over values or claims to status, power and scarce resources in which the aims of the groups or individuals involved are not only to obtain the desired values but to neutralize, injure or eliminate rivals. Harks (2000) defines conflict as “quarrel, squabble, disagreement, difference of opinion, desertion, discord, friction”. Thus, according to Alabi (2010) a conflict refers to a disagreement or differences in opinion as to how certain objectives could be achieved.

Nigeria as a country has experienced its fair share of conflict in past and recent times. In 1962, there was Action Group (AG) crises in the Western part of Nigeria, this culminated in January 15, 1966 coup d’etat which led to the killings of some prominent Nigerians such as Chief S.L. Akintola, the Premier of Western region; Alhaji Abubakar Tafawa Balewa- Prime Minister, the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the Sadauna of Sokoto, and others. Consequent upon this was the counter coup of July 27, 1967 where General Aguyi Ironsi, the then Head of State, Brigadier General Adekunle Fajuyi, the military administrator of Western region, and many others were killed. This climaxed in Nigerian civil war which was fought between 1967-1970. The effects were unprecedented in the history of political crises in Nigeria. There was wanton destruction of lives and property, and since then Nigeria was never the same (Alabi, 2010).The ‘June 12’ crisis is yet another political crisis that rocked Nigeria to its foundation. This crisis was orchestrated by the annulment of June 12, 1993 presidential election believed to be won by Chief M.K.O Abiola of Social Democratic Party (SDP). This crisis also left bitter pill in the mouth of the Nigerian nation (Ibid).

Apart from political crises, Nigeria also faces socio-religious crises. Among such crises was Kafanchan crisis of 1978. This crisis was caused by a provocation from a religious leader. A preacher, according to the panel’s report, came to preach to the Christian Students at Advanced Teachers’ College, now College of Education, Kafanchan, and in the course of his preaching the Muslim students who were close by became provoked. This led to a violent clash between the two religious bodies Ibid). This encounter led to the death of many Muslim students and burning of virtually all mosques in the school. The riots extended to Kafanchan town resulting in many casualities. This crisis had a horizontal effect on neighbouring towns like Katsina, Funtua and Zaria. When the information of the incidence filtered to such towns, selective retaliatory attacks were launched on all available Kataf people, Igbo traders and the others (Albert, 2001). One will not also forget the socio-religious crisis in Jos that broke up in early hour of March 7, 2010. The crisis was between the native Birom people who are predominantly Christians, and the Hausa, Fulani who are migrants and belong majorly to the Islamic religion. As a matter of fact, religious crises are the most recurring crises in Nigeria (Alabi, 2010).

In present times the activities of Boko Haram and Fulani herdsmen is drawing the attention if relevant security agencies in Nigeria. April 2015, the Nigerian army rescued 338 abducted women and children from the Boko Haram stronghold in Sambisa forest. Many of the women and girls were reportedly pregnant (BBC News 2015).  Recently, specifically on February 19 2018, 110 schoolgirls were captured from Government Girls Science and Technical College (GGSTC), Dapchi in Yobe state in north eastern Nigeria. With prompt government effort 104 out of 110 were released, 5 could not survive the ordeal, while one girl is still being held hostage, speculation being that she  refused to denounce her Christian faith (Zeid, 2015).

Boko Haram victims consistently reported that Boko Haram systematically destroyed, appropriated and looted their  homes during attacks. These practices were widespread and part of the group’s fighting tactics to gain control over territory and to prevent escapees from returning. Many described how Boko Haram fighters had appropriated and resided in their homes and stole their possessions and food. For example, in Baga (Nigeria), thousands were left homeless and fled overnight following Boko Haram attacks (BBC News, 2015). Before the bombing of the United Nations building on August 16th, 2011 the most daring activity of the fundamentalist group was on June 17, 2011 when it bombed the police force headquarters in Abuja. This attack which was the first suicide bombing in the history of Nigeria appeared to be specifically targeted at the Inspector General of Police, Hafiz Ringim (The Nation Newspaper, 2011,p.16).. A Christian Fellowship Church in Suleja, Niger State was bombed on July 10, 2011. This culminated in the closure of the University of Maiduguri by the University authority on July 11, 2011 citing security concerns as the reason for the closure (Ibid).

In Nigeria, various security agencies are saddled with the responsibility of conflict management but the core of this work will focus on the Nigerian Police Force (NPF) and the Nigerian Civil Service Defense Corps (NSCDC). The various security challenges such as insurgency, kidnapping and pipeline vandalisation bedeviling Nigerian society resulted to the establishment of the Nigerian Police Force and the Nigerian Security and Civil Defense Corps in order to compliment the effort of  other security agencies in crime detection, prevention and  control. Despite the fact that, with establishment of Nigerian  security and civil defense corps there is still raising wave of  crime in the country, however, Nigerian security and civil  defense corps is putting various measures and strategies in  order to prevent and control criminal behavior in the  society. The institutional role played by both agencies in conflict management in Nigeria will form the major discussion in this paper.

1.2 STATEMENT OF PROBLEM

Peace is very necessary for the development of any society  because no society can develop in the state of conflict and  insecurity. Despite the fact that all societies are  characterized with crime, the need to prevent and control  crime in the society has become necessary which leads to the establishment of both formal and informal mechanism by the  society in order to control the menace of crime and help  society achieved social order (Alabi, 2010).The issue of safety of lives and  property of the citizens in Nigeria is becoming increasingly  dubious despite the presence of the formal law enforcement  agencies such as the Nigerian police force and NSCDC. Seemingly, conflict in Nigeria continues to persist even with the existence of several security agencies that were established by the Government to prevent and control crime in the society. The Nigerian Police Force (NPF) and The Nigerian Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC) were established to complement the role and effort of the army  and other security agencies in order to ensure safety of lives and property. Nevertheless, the emergence of these agencies did not stop the occurrence of conflict situations as seen in the recent agitation of the Indigeneous People of Biafra (IPOB) in the eastern part of Nigeria, the contiuing issue of Boko Haram insurgency, political conflicts before and during elections, pipeline vandalisation by aggrieved citizens, destruction of public property, and high rate of cult related conflict among the youths in Nigeria (Eric and Oluwagbenga, 2017). Against this background, this study set to assess the role of the NPF and NSCDC in conflict prevention and management with a view to identify its strengths and weaknesses so as to proffer possible solutions that could ensure the effectiveness of the agency in conflict management in Nigeria.

Also, there have been reported cases of violent clashes between the NSCDC and police in some parts of Nigeria. It is worthy to also note that prolonged cases of conflict in Nigeria which seem to have defied all security prescription may not be unconnected with the lack of synergy between security operatives such as police and Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC). In other words, the security operatives because of lack of synergy have not been able to form a formidable resistance to the eradication of kidnapping and other social vices within the metropolis (Nwaolise, 2005). In the same vein, frequent frictions between security agencies due to their conflicting roles have made Nigerian citizens to hardly enjoy the confidence of the security mercenary in the area. Sadly, many have expressed that the security operatives, rather than exploring avenues of collaboration in security provision, capacity building and sharing intelligence reports, have over the years been engulfed in unhealthy rivalries. Such rivalries according to many have been frequently noticed between the Nigerian police force and the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) over security duties (Elaigwu, 2015).

1.3 RESEARCH QUESTIONS

The research questions for this work include:

  1. What is the nature and causes of conflict and conflict management in Nigeria?
  2. What are the roles of the Nigerian Police force (NPF) and the Nigerian Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC) in conflict management in Nigeria?
  • Is lack of synergy between the Nigerian Police Force (NPF) and Nigerian Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC) a mitigating factor preventing effective conflict management in Nigeria?

1.4 RESEARCH OBJECTIVES

The general objective of the research is to assess nature of conflict management in Nigeria. The specific objective for this work include:

  1. To determine the nature and causes of conflict management in Nigeria
  2. To determine the roles of the Nigerian Police Force (NPF) and The Nigerian and Security Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC) in conflict management in Nigeria.
  • To determine whether or not lack of synergy between the Nigerian Police Force (NPF) and The Nigerian Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC) is a mitigating factor preventing effective conflict management in Nigeria.

1.5          SIGNIFICANCE OF THE RESEARCH

This work does not consider acts of conflict as a momentary threat that would just fade away merely by creating numerous security agencies. The reason for this view is the long term subsistence of conflict situations in the Nigerian society. The rise of conflict in Nigeria is largely as a result of political, religious and ethnic affiliations. Also, Youth restiveness, gender deprivation, poverty, pervasive nature of citizens and the lackluster attitude of the society towards acts of conflicts as seen in various cases of cult related conflict has prolonged the life span of conflict situations in Nigeria.

This study concerns itself with the role of the NPF and NSCDC in preventing and controlling conflict situations in Nigeria. The legal framework establishing these agencies shall form the source of information. It considers the desirability or otherwise of creating a synergy between these  agencies  to ensure effective conflict management in Nigeria.

Also, this work shall remain a guide for policy makers with regards to issues of conflict management in Nigeria. It will also serve to educate the citizens on the nature and causes of conflict as well as the roles of the aforementioned agencies in conflict management in Nigeria. Furthermore, it will serve as additional literature for further research in this field of study.

1.6.    SCOPE OF THE STUDY

The research shall be limited to conflict situations and management in Nigeria. However, the works of authors in other jurisdictions will also be employed for proper assessment of the research objectives.

 

 

 

Sharing is caring!

Leave a Reply