…over centralisation of police is source of security challenges
…Says AGF is suffering from strategic thinking deficit (STD)
Ishola Williams
Former Director of Training and Doctrine of the Army,General Isola Williams has said that there is no need for the bro haha over the emergence of western region security network otherwise called Amotekun since it is about safety of the people and not security of the country as being misconstrued.
He said what is needed is strategic coordination between Amotekun and the police and other security outfit with the former focusing more on intelligence gathering to nib bandits and terrorists in the bud.
As for him,there is no need for crying wolf over the security outfit since the security apparatus is meant to guarantee safety on a local level.
He said the authorities in the country has failed to define the connections and linkage between safety and security.
“In this context we should know that police as presently constituted is a safety organisation on policing which it self is for prevention,detection of crime against person and property. if you succeed in doing that you have provided safety in the community,at local and state level.
He said that for now,the Amotekun as the closest to the people should be organised to provide intelligence gathering which should be passed on to police for crime prevention and control.
He attributed the countries problem to over centralisation of police which has evolved and changed all over the world like in Europe,United Kingdom adding that Nigeria if the country must solve its security problems,it must devolve policing to outfits like Amotekun which is closer to the people .
he argued that the present over centralised police operations is the source of security challenges the country is passing through.
He told the Newdawn in an exclusive interview that attitude of federal government to Amotekun is akin to treating new challenges with old systems adding,” all over the world police has been decentralised and hence there is need to change the system if the country must solve it’s security challenges.
He criticised those accusing the South west of creating a military force to defend itself as a joke saying,”the Amotekun is a law enforcement agency playing auxiliary role to the federal police.when the state had local issues,it is agencies like Amotekun that should play the role of the Defence Security Services,(DSS)which job is to gather intelligence and passed same to the state and the later passed it’s information to federal police.
In order to perform the role well,he called for training for organisations like Amotekun adding that “they don’t need to carry guns because there are better equipments and security gadgets that could be used to detect and fight crimes.I believe if there is a synergy between the mobile police and Amotekun with the former providing special squad on call our security problems will be drastically reduced.
“What is important for Amotekun is good intelligence system and we need a standard training to enable it give feedback to the state police which will call on the federal police if they cannot contain crimes”.he said.
As for him,the response of the Attorney General,Abubakar Malami is akin to an official suffering from Strategic thinking deficit(STD).
General Williams however call on Amotekun not to turn itself to the police mounting roadblocks and taken bribes adding,” they shouldn’t develop police culture and also understand their limits”.
He called on the south west governors to let the people knew the limits of Amotekun such that it won’t go beyond its limit.
protection of infrastructures should be left to civil defence which should play anti terrorism roles by protecting government buildings and Establishments.
