THE NATION.
BY
VICTORSON AGBENSON
Recently something took place in the ancient city of Benin, the Edo State Capital which brought to the fore, the present state of insecurity in the country. It was a festival of curses on criminals initiated by the Benin monarch himself, the Omo no Oba erediawa the first. The oba’s directive saw traditional worshipers in the seven Bini-speaking local government councils come out on mass for a two day highly invocative festival of curses with a clear declaration that all criminals must leave the state or face the wrath of ancestral spirits. Those who showed up at the unusual festival included the Enigies, that is, the traditional regional heads, the Igie-ohen which are strategic heads of shrines, voodoo priests and herbalists.
The event which took place at the Urhokpota hall at the kings square culminated in the invocation of the wrath of the gods by the offering of sacrifices and pouring of libations before curses where placed on the hoodlums. Hundreds of men and women clad in red attires prosecuted the supernatural war against men of the underworld that had held the state to ransom. It is interesting that immediately after the festival of curses, it was reported that many criminals in the State besieged the Oba’s palace to plead for forgiveness. And this is a society where the majority professes to be either a Christian or Muslim. But it took a festival of curses to bring them out to confess their atrocities, an indication that they fear the traditional gods more than the almighty god whom they profess to be worshipping. There is no doubt the need for the people to truly turn to god who is the ultimate judge. What this means is that there is a confidence in the security apparatus of government. For them to resort to this in this 21st century when the world has moved on is an indication that all is not well as far as security of lives and property is concerned , not just in Benin but in all parts of the country. From Sokoto to Sapele, through Ikom and to Isukwator it’s the same story of insecurity. Innocent citizens are killed, kidnapped and their property taken by men of the underworld. A popular Nigerian clergy based n the united kingdom, pastor Mathew Ashimolowo painted a very grim picture of the situation when he said during a telecast that many households have become their own government, because they provide every thing for themselves. They have their own police by hiring security personnel; they have their own power company as they must provide themselves with generators for electricity. This situation should not be so. Many believe that the police and other security agencies have failed in the discharge of their duties. They in turn blame the situation on lack of crime prevention and other facilities.
There is therefore a need to reposition the police and other security agencies through effective community policing initiatives. This would require opening of new police stations in under policed areas, proper funding, as well as setting up crime prevention units in crime prone areas. Good enough the Federal government has put in place measures to re-equip the security forces and put them in proper stead to fight crime head on. It has been realized globally, that the police alone cannot prevent crime. So there is need for other actors to be involved. Government, and other community based organizations, must partner with the Police force. This approach should be emphasized. Vigilante groups, opinion leaders, traditional institutions, and various relevant associations should rise up to this challenge. No doubt, the federal government cannot shy away from playing the leading role with its partners in developing the framework on which local mobilization can blossom. And a lot needs to be done to empower the youths, develop schools and other services. There is also a need to create recreational centers to engage idle minds.
Source: recorded live from FRCN daily commentary
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