Inspector-general of Police, Mr. Usman Alkali Baba, and his colleagues and officers deployed to provide security for the Osun State gubernatorial elections must be beating their chest as proud performers for an assignment well executed.
Apart from the commendable outcome of the election, given that there were few or no no record of electoral malpractices, electoral violence nor was vote-buying on the front burner of discussions as it was in the recent Ekiti State election, the entire process received a pass mark from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
More significant was that all the election monitors, local and foreign observers, were unanimous in their assessment that the security provided was commemdable. In fact, the Nigeria Police, under the leadership of Alkali Baba, was described as being professionally excellent. Here was an election that was regarded as the deciding factor that could trigger another ‘Wild Wild West’ imbroglio, reminiscent of the 1960s election violence in the Western Region that has been a historical stain on our political history as a nation, wherein many were killed, including police.
However, history was made last weekend in Osun State, especially as it concerned Senator Ademola Adeleke, the Governor-elect, and the Governor of Osun State, Adegboyega Oyetola, who praised the preparedness of security agencies, especially the Nigeria Police, whom he said gave the people of Osun the confidence to prepare to cast their votes in a secure and conducive atmosphere.
So far, Alkali Baba has supervised three gubernatorial elections in Anambra, Ekiti and Osun states. The progression in electoral policing has further endeared the police to more Nigerians. The relationship needs to be enhanced with more trustworthy operational activities.
No doubt, the heavy deployment of 21,000 officers, plus armored vehicles and roving helicopters, including reinforcements from other sister security agencies like the Directorate of State Security (DSS) and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, further boosted the security architecture in Osun State.
The overwhelming number of police in a show of force, or what the Yoruba call “shakara”, may have sent jitters into troublemakers in the state, thus keeping them at bay. The question on the lips of many Nigerians as they applaud the new face of electoral policing enunciated by Alkali Baba is how the same policing threat method was used by former IGP Tafa Balogun, when he initiated the “Operation Fire for Fire,” in response to the barbaric attitude of armed robbers attacking policemen on duty.
That operational policy was a grand success and such is what Nigerians are clamouring for as bandits and ISWAP terrorists are gradually inching into every state of the country.
The IGP needs to also deploy 21,000 armed police officers to Niger and Kaduna states to “shakara” bandits out of the country and ensure that all the victims of kidnappers are rescued. Infact, as a clarion call, henceforth, Usman Baba should be deploying 21,000 well-armed policemen to any state invaded by bandits, IPOB or ISWAP. Since he could deploy such a large number of policemen to secure state elections successfully, then such success should be replicated in fighting terrorists.
It would further strengthen the ties between Nigerians and their police. Even the unborn would sing the praise of IGP Baba. As it was in the days of unrecognized and insignificant biblical David who brought down threatening Goliath and the Philistines, that prompted all the women of lsrael to sing his praise, so would Nigerian women and children sing the praises of their gallant police officers and their leader.
The country is at the threshold of history. A time when fear has become everyone’s neighbour. A time when no one dares sleep with their two eyes fully closed. A time when bandits are daring our gallant police and military officers in broad daylight, to carry out the kidnap of a pregnant woman in the city of Kaduna without any challenge nor did the people hear any announcement via press statement that the IGP has deployed 21,000 armed policemen to Kaduna to flush out the bandits and rescue the kidnapped woman.
Had such happened, the people of Kaduna would erupt in ecstatic joy that knows no bound. The street where the woman was kidnapped from would immediately be renamed Usman Alkali Baba Street. Even the evil forest harboring the bandits would also be renamed. These are the glorious things that go with acts of gallantry.
Gallant men are always remembered and never go unrewarded. The country has a record of some gallant men and women. They carried the cross of others and selflessly died in the cause of the country. Gallant officers are unique in their dispositions. They are usually propelled not for any selfish gains but by higher patriotic zeal that is indescribable. Such gallant officers are what Nigeria needs in this period of inflicted pain full of sorrow. In these times when families are kidnapped by demon-processed youths who ignorantly adhere to twisted and polluted religious beliefs that have become the opium propelling them into heinous criminal activities across the country. The question is, why are these bandits fighting for the destruction of Nigeria and her citizens? Are Muslims not in neighbouring countries like Cameron, Chad, Niger Republic and Benin Republic? What are the special attractions in Nigeria that have made bandits and ISWAP to consistently refuse to bow out of Nigerian territory?
These are questions security agencies ought to proffer tangible answers to and lasting solutions, for the betterment of Nigeria.
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