The gory hideously belated discovery in the scrawling metropolis of Ibadan tells its own story. This is that the surveillance system of the security forces in Nigeria is not fit for purpose. This is the most fundamental starting point of a modern policing system. A pattern has emerged over time in which the security forces are always one step behind. This means that in the age of counter – terrorism we are in a real mess.
Everyone must accept culpability. The very concept of society is now been called into question. Not surprisingly. Life is now very brutish with the media awash with stories of ‘baby factories’,ritualists amongst other examples of the loss of societal coherence and of the absence of social solidarity. This means that the faith- based organisations have their work cut out. Everyone must now play a role to reverse the dismal trend.
Nevertheless the buck stops with the security agencies. The forensic capacity of the policing system must now be built up from scratch. Ditto for surveillance. A holistic revamp must include a re – examination of the method of recruitment, selection, training and deployment. Special departments must be set up linking the use of the new technologies with forensic evidence. The budget allocation under strict transparency must be provided. Which means that the issue of community policing has to be prioritised at the on-going National Conference. This is preferable to the perennial shedding of self – serving crocodile tears.
