Plateau attacks: NBA demands probe of security agencies over delayed response
…Seeks state control of security, prosecution of terrorists
By Golok Nanmwa
The Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, in Plateau State, has demanded an investigation into the alleged delayed response of security agencies to attacks in parts of the state, with sanctions for personnel found culpable.
The association also called for greater control of security operations by state governments and the prosecution of perpetrators and sponsors of terrorism, saying the recurring attacks had undermined public confidence in the ability of the state to protect lives and property.
Chairman of the NBA, Jos Branch, Morgan Dung, who read the joint statement at a press conference by the NBA branches in Plateau State at the NUJ Secretariat, Jos, on Monday, said the continued violence in Mangu, Barkin Ladi, Riyom and Bokkos Local Government Areas raised serious constitutional and governance concerns.
Dung said, “One of the fundamental objectives and directive principles of State policy is the responsibility of government to guarantee the observance of fundamental rights as captured under Chapter IV of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).
“Section 33 of the Constitution states that ‘Every person has a right to life, and no one shall be deprived intentionally of his life, save in the execution of a court order in respect of a criminal offence of which he has been found guilty in Nigeria’.
“It therefore suffices to say that the protection of lives and property is the most fundamental responsibility of government, and the NBA frowns at the inability of Government to prevent the continuous loss of lives and property in Nigeria, and Plateau State in particular.
“The Nigerian Bar Association condemns in the strongest terms the gruesome and sustained attacks carried out on citizens on daily basis across Plateau State, with the most recent occurring in Mangu, Barkin Ladi, Riyom, and Bokkos Local Government Areas of the State, which has left in its trail undesirable results.
“This painfully confirms the fact that there is an insufficient commitment to constitutional responsibility.
“The unabated circle of violence unleashed on law-abiding citizens denigrates social contract and undermines public confidence in the State.
“It is equally disturbing that in the wake of recent attacks and an imposition of curfew in the areas mentioned above, terrorists disrespected the curfew and freely attacked communities obeying the order.
“While communities are encouraged to be vigilant and complement the efforts of the security agencies, some community vigilantes of Kikyau village in Mangu Local Government were killed at their duty post by terrorists during the said curfew hours.
“Similar ugly developments have been reported in Kantoma and Bin-Per villages in Mangu Local Government Area, as well as Kassa village, Wereh village, Ropp, Fan, and Marit Districts in Barkin Ladi Local Government Area.
“This is an invitation to total anarchy and complete breakdown of law and order.
“The circle of bloodletting perpetrated by these non-State actors paints a troubling picture of impunity on one part, and a seeming complicity or helplessness of the State on the other.
“When perpetrators of violence transact their stock in trade unabated and sometimes evade justice, it sends a dangerous message that human life is expendable in Nigeria and consequently, citizens are fast losing faith in the ability of the State to protect them.
The NBA also added that “it is also a notorious fact that some communities in Plateau State have been completely sacked over some decades and their lands forcefully grabbed, occupied, and even renamed by their invaders while their survivors remain displaced aborigines.”
On the Federal Government, the NBA commended President Bola Tinubu for visiting Plateau State recently to condole with the state over killings in Jos North Local Government Area and for his initiative towards the creation of state police.
“We appreciate the President and Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria for visiting Plateau State recently to condole with the State over the killings in Jos North LGA, and his proactive step in facilitating the creation of State Police,” the NBA said.
“His initiative of introducing Nigerians to security training as recently suggested by the Minister of Defence.
“Nonetheless, we call on the Federal Government under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to take his good intentions further by sponsoring an Executive Bill in the National Assembly to fully domicile security under the Concurrent Legislative List, giving State Governors adequate command of security apparatus rather than the mere assumption of titles as Chief Security Officers of their respective States without a corresponding control of operation or theatre commanders and other personnel.”
They also said that “Maintaining the status quo in the chain of command has proven to be unyielding in the light of recent ugly developments in the country.”
“That the Armed Forces and the Paramilitary should be adequately motivated, well equipped, patriotic and disciplined across all formations and cadre to neutralize the worrisome allegations against them of bias and compromise in the course of discharging their constitutional responsibilities in Plateau State.
“ We call for the strengthening of border security and surveillance across trans-national and international borders.
“Garga, a community in Kanam Local Government which shares boundary with Bauchi and Taraba States counts among other communities having their lot of woes in the hands of bandits and other criminal elements terrorizing it and other parts of Plateau State, which is accountable for the loss of lives and property of citizens.
“One of the root causes of this ugly development is allegedly attributed to an invasion of some communities in Plateau State by militia from Zamfara, Katsina, Sokoto, Bauchi, Gombe, Taraba States, and also from Republic of Niger.
“We also called on government to degazette the forest harbouring the Pai River Game Reserve which serves as a hideout for bandits and replace same with a military formation to neutralize terrorist activities around the geographical borders of Plateau, Bauchi and Taraba States,” the NBA said.
It also commended the Plateau State Government for its efforts to strengthen the state’s security architecture, including the revamping of Operation Rainbow and Neighbourhood Watch.
“We commend the Plateau State Government for its effort in the revamping of a State-owned security outfit , Operation Rainbow and Neighbourhood Watch; recent training of 2,000 personnel of the Neighbourhood Watch and Hunters; purchase and supply of security vehicles comprising of gun trucks, normal trucks, and bikes for effective patrol.
“We call for the establishment of a Command and Central Centre in Jos for effective monitoring of satellite centres; as well as setting up of a State Committee on the creation of State Police Service to complement the effort of the Federal Government,” they said.
The NBA also called on the state government to facilitate the licensing of personnel of the Operation Rainbow and Neighbourhood Watch to operate kinetic facilities under the supervision of frontline security agencies who are drafted to the Operation Rainbow command to complement operational limitations.
“We call for the amendment of the Plateau State Operation Rainbow law to accommodate the above suggestion and other innovative strategies as well as Implement the provisions of the Anti-Land Grabbing Law of Plateau State,” the NBA said.
On local government and community response to insecurity, the NBA called for closer coordination, stronger intelligence gathering and greater presence of local government authorities in their areas of jurisdiction.
“Local Government Chairmen should be resident in their respective areas of constitutional authority for effective governance and synergy with the State Government.
“Communities must coordinate intelligence gathering and exercise their right of self-defense against non-State actors and merchants of violence to complement the shortage of security personnel in uncovered spaces.
“Citizens should also restrain themselves from misuse of social media through spreading of unverified information, inciting comments, and taking the laws into their hands.
“Response mechanism to remote causes of violence at the community level should be handled discreetly by constituted authority at the Local Government level to forestall a possible breakdown of law and order.
“Beyond rhetoric, victims deserve justice, support, and re-assurance that their pain will be assuaged.
“Traditional rulers must safeguard the property of their subjects, censor the influx of unidentified persons traversing their communities and report unusual activities to the Local Government authority,” the association said.
On the security agencies, the lawyers demanded a review of operational deployment and an investigation into alleged delays in responding to attacks.
“Criminal activities such as kidnapping, banditry, land grabbing, terror attacks, and other crimes should be confronted headlong with patriotism.
“Security agencies must regain public confidence by rising to the occasion and defeating the antagonists of a peaceful, tranquil, egalitarian and convivial society.
“Special interventions by the State Government in procuring security vehicles appears to have been watered down with the near absence of the vehicles at flash points in the hinterlands and their relocation to the State headquarters.
“We demand their immediate relocation to combat insecurity in real time.
“Uniformed Security Agencies should control and monitor the production and distribution of military wears, ammunition, and accoutrements to their personnel and formations as well as arrest and publicly prosecute impersonation of its personnel by criminal elements who abuse and unleash violence on unsuspecting and vulnerable citizens, as well as a purging of its erring personnel.
“The spectre of security agencies belatedly appearing in scenes of attack after the assailants have successfully retreated should be investigated and erring security officers found culpable be punished publicly.
“Frequent redeployment of security personnel who have been stationed for a long duration in some communities should be adhered to in line with security tradition to forestall familiarity and a possible compromise with criminal elements,” the lawyers said.
The NBA also called for speedy determination of terrorism-related cases and greater transparency in the prosecution of alleged sponsors and perpetrators.
“Dispensation of criminal matters bordering on terrorism should be time bound as stipulated in electoral matters to expedite trials and conviction of terror convicts in line with our penal laws.
“Lawyers who aid delay in the dispensation of justice through unethical conduct must adhere to rules of professional conduct and be sanctioned accordingly for its violation.
“Rather than mocking the supreme sacrifice of slain security personnel in the line of duty and dampening the morale of those living, by an orchestrated re-integration of their killers, and hunters into the same society, State Governors should muscle the will power to sign death warrants of convicts of terrorism to serve as a deterrent to other merchants of violence.
“The outcome of the trial of identified sponsors and other actors of terrorism in judicial and quasi-judicial bodies should be made public to strengthen public confidence in the justice sector,” the NBA said.
The association pledged to deploy its legal expertise in support of victims, evidence preservation and accountability.
“The NBA therefore commits to leveraging the expertise, experience and professional networks of its members including practitioners in criminal law, constitutional law, human rights, public interest litigation, alternative dispute resolution, legal aid and other relevant fields, support lawful and sustainable responses to insecurity on the Plateau.
“In particular, the NBA will work with relevant Government institutions, security agencies, civil society organisations, traditional institutions and affected communities to promote access to justice, document and preserve credible evidence of atrocities, strengthen strategic and public-interest litigation, and pursue appropriate legal mechanisms for securing accountability.
“The NBA will support every lawful effort to ensure that perpetrators of atrocities, including those who finance, sponsor, facilitate or otherwise aid acts of terrorism and other violent crimes, are identified, investigated and, where sufficient evidence exists, prosecuted in accordance with the law.
“The Association will also advocate for effective protection of witnesses and victims, legal support for vulnerable and displaced persons, and institutional reforms necessary to prevent impunity and recurrence.
“In doing so, the NBA reaffirms that peace without justice is fragile, and justice without accountability is incomplete,” the organisation noted.
The lawyers said the recurring attacks threatened public confidence, national cohesion and the rule of law.
“Nigeria cannot continue on this dangerous path where the value for human life is cheapened and citizens live in constant fear of terror under a government and its officials who have sworn to protect them.
“The recurring nature of these attacks raise serious constitutional and governance concerns, particularly regarding the protection of the right to life as earlier cited in the 1999 Constitution (as amended).
“Every Nigerian, regardless of status, ethnicity, religion, or location, has an inviolable right to life and security.
“When these rights are not guaranteed, public confidence erodes, national cohesion weakens, and the rule of law is undermined,” they said.