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Folake Sokoya
The Inspector General of Police (IG), Mr Ibrahim Idris, on Thursday in Lagos, said security, justice, peace and reconciliation are the only antidotes for civil strife in Nigeria.
Idris said this during the public presentation /launching of his book titled :”Security and Justice : The pathway for peace and reconciliation in Nigeria.“
The IG noted that the civil war of 1967 to 1970 stands out as the first “major and most catastrophic crisis in the records of our Nigeria experience.”
According to him, the civil war occurred based on perceived ethnic and political differences and a feeling of injustice, stressing that there had been numbers of other violent inter-communal or religious altercations.
He said that the violence witnessed in the country were based on feelings of injustice, which resulted in the wanton loss of lives and properties in Kaduna, Ife-Modakeke and other parts of Nigeria.
“My experience as a police officer over the years in Nigeria, with the United Nations Headquarters in New York, with peace keeping operations in other countries and above all as the IGP, has taught me firstly, that internal peace is a pivotal element for instituting and ingredients for democratic governance.
“Secondly, that justice is most needed as an instrument of reconciliation and conflict management and thirdly, that the role of the Judiciary and security agencies in dispensing justice is imperative in ensuring peace in any country.
“I have watched with troubled heart, the security challenges confronting this country. The challenges of Boko Haram in the Northeast, kidnappings and armed robberies, cattle rustling and militancy in virtually all parts of Nigeria.
“The farmers/herders clashes, unnecessary political rivalry and struggle for power, assassinations for various reasons, conflicts among divergent communities which often times, take violent dimensions and occur along the fault lines of ethnic, religious, regional and political differences between the groups and communities.
“These challenges if not managed at the pace we are going, coupled with inflammatory and inciting statements, will tear this country apart and drag us into unending crisis,” he said.
Idris said he was conscious as his responsibility is to put sufficient security architecture in place to manage the challenges aforementioned.
“However, I have realised that the issue is beyond that. There had to be a speedy dispensation of justice and the protection of the rights and interests of the suspects and the victims of crime,” he added.
The police boss said the President had mandated him and other security agencies to take appropriate steps to ensure the arrest and Prosecution of the offenders, he, however, noted all whhat his new book highlighted are the only way the country could secure genuine reconciliation among herders and farmers so that they can once again live in peace, harmony, love and avoid unnecessary loss of lives.
Idris,therefore, called on government to accord the traditional institutions their right place in the security architecture, peace, justice and genuine reconciliation of the people.
He dedicated the book to his officers and men for their selfless service, dedication and commitment despite all odds.
The Oba of Lagos, Rilwanu Akiolu, at the event,said he envisaged the problem of porous borders 20 years ago, stressing that the problem was not totally about Fulani herdsmen.
The book reviewer, Prof. A.B Ahmed, a former Dean Faculty of Law, Bayero University, Kano said the 18 chapter book was a robust bibliography which exhibits wide consultation.
“I salute the courage off the IG in writing this kind of book,” he said.
Gen. T.Y. Danjuma was represented by Maj.-Gen. Tank Muhammad, Chief Segundo Osoba, Prof. Pat Utomi, military, para-military among others were present.
