From Nonye Udumiri, Aba
Civil Society Organizations have said that the perfect solution to insecurity is to bridge the communication gap between the people and security operatives.
Speaking during a press briefing in Aba on Thursday, the National Coordinator, Civil Society Alliance for Civil-Military Relations (CSACMIR) Chief Sony Egbulefu said that the only panacea to the current insecurity is proper Civil-Military Relations.
Egbulefu said that CSACMIR, a network of civil society organizations, is working on strengthening the relationship between civilians, military, paramilitary and other security organisations, as that will end insecurity. According to him, CSACMIR is helping in complimenting the efforts of government in advancing citizens’ unwavering confidence on the nation’s security institutions and personnel.
He said, “We are committed to initiating a sustainable methodology in fostering the relationship between civilians, military, paramilitary and other security organizations with the view to mitigating the prevalent unfriendly atmosphere and work in harmonized synergy to fight crime and create a more peaceful and balanced society. “We need to create a healthy relationship between civilians and the military through effective participation of the civil society. We need a society guaranteed of no military and paramilitary intimidation and brutality.
“This will help us create a society that can confide in the security institutions without prejudices. The entrenchment of a mutual relationship amongst the security personnel and civilians have become expedient than ever. “This will help in the much talked about security reforms, a better salary scale and welfare packages for security personnel which will come with provision of a platform for monitoring, evaluating and reviewing of the security personnel conducts while on duty including their institution’s Act.”
The President, Center for Human Rights Advocacy and Wholesome Society (CEHRAWS), Comrade Chuka Okoye, said that a well secured society is achievable only when there is reciprocated relationship between the security personnel and the civil society.
Okoye who is also a member of CSACMIR said that only the entrenchment of a Civil-Military Realistic Reciprocated Relationship (CMR3) among both parties will bring proper communication that will provide the needed security.
“It is quite pertinent for the state and civil society actors to come together and foster CSACMIR’s concept towards a practical approach in changing the existing scenario of misinformation among the populace, poor human rights training of the military and outplay of political considerations above other civilized factors.
“Guns and all those weapons can only be effective, when information is authentic. I don’t understand how people think it’s possible to secure an area without the cooperation of those who have spent all their years there.
“Both parties need to understand we need each other to survive. Any society where police see their guns as weapon to hurt and extort the people, the people see police as one enemy that means no well, criminals will enjoy such society.
“How can we be talking about security without understanding? Those who should work together to stop criminals have given them freedom to destroy everybody.
“The communication gap between security agencies and the people is the major cause of insecurity. We must bridge this communication gap.
“Unwarranted indiscriminate arrest of innocent citizens to extort from them and all manner of intimidation must be abandoned if the people must have confidence in our security agencies again.
“Buying guns and major weapons is not bad, but the people and security personnel must reason in the same line. If they do it, watch criminals disappear.”
