THE ROLE AND IMPORTANCE OF SECURITY AWARENESS IN THEENHANCEMENT OF SECURITY ON UNIVERSITY CAMPUSES IN NIGERIA: ANIMPERATIVE FOR COUNTERING TERRORISM ON UNIVERSITY CAMPUSES
BY
PROF. SADIQ ISAH RADDA1 DEPARTMENT OF SOCIOLOGY,BAYERO UNIVERSITY, KANO
e-mail: [email protected]: +234-8053204515 (MOBILE)
1 Prof. Sadiq Isah Radda is an Associate Professor of Criminology, Bayero University, Kano. His areas of interest are human rights, youth delinquent behaviours, corporate scandals/crime.
1
BEING THE TEXT OF A PAPER DELIVERED AT A TRAINING WORKSHOP ONSECURITY AWARENESS AND ORIENTATION AGAINST TERRORISTTHREATS/ATTACKS FOR OFFICERS OF NIGERIAN UNIVESITIES HELD ATNIGERIA UNIVERSITIES COMMISSION AUDITORIAM, ABUJA ON 25TH- 26TH
JULY, 2012.
2
THE ROLE AND IMPORTANCE OF SECURITY AWARENESS IN THEENHANCEMENT OF SECURITY ON UNIVERSITY CAMPUSES IN NIGERIA: ANIMPERATIVE FOR COUNTERING TERRORISM ON UNIVERSITY CAMPUSES
Abstract
The focus of the paper is analyzing the role and importance of
security awareness in the enhancement of security on Nigeria’s
University campuses owing to the fact that it is imperative in
countering terrorism. Also, it is crucial because Nigeria is
passing through trying times owing to deteriorated security
situation in the nation. As loss of lives and property are
recorded, many people live in fear and trauma. In many parts
of the country human socio-economic and political activities
have stopped or on their lowest ebb. Hitherto, criminal
elements were the cause of Nigeria’s insecurity. Today,
however, Nigeria’s insecurity can be attributed to violent
conflicts and terrorist activities with nearly all parts of
the country affected by it. Tragically, Universities have
become the victims of terrorist attacks causing disruptions to
teaching and learning. The paper examined the Nigeria’s
security situation and the prevailing security situation on
University Campuses; and the latter being a liberal atmosphere
makes it a soft target for terrorist attack. Furthermore, the
issue of terrorism and its existence in Nigeria and the
strategies for security consciousness that is imperative in
countering terrorism have been discussed.
Key Words: Security, Awareness, Terrorism, University
Campuses, Counter-terrorism
3
INTRODUCTION
Nigeria is passing through trying times owing to deteriorated
security situation in the nation. On daily basis lives and
property are lost. Additionally, citizens live in fear and
trauma. Continuously, human activities in some parts of the
country are grinding to a halt owing to security concerns.
Hitherto, the deteriorated security situation was caused by
the activities of criminal elements. However, the sad security
situation in Nigeria today is orchestrated by violent
conflicts and terrorist activities. Clearly, no section,
sector or institution is immune from the spate of insecurity
confronting Nigeria. In recent times, Universities have become
the victims of what seems to be a terrorist attack if not
clandestine criminal elements.
There is now an Unholy Trinity encapsulated in the convergence
of violent crimes, corruption and terrorism that can be called
Siamese triplets that often go together (Shelley, 2005;
Bergen, 2001). Some commentators like Sarup (2005) insist that
corruption increases terrorism. Contributing at a debate about
corruption in India, a judge, Justice Santosh Hegde opined
that “terrorism is caused by a disease called greed.”
This paper examines the role and significance of security
awareness in promoting security on University Campuses which
if carefully and properly promoted will be imperative in
countering terrorism on University Campuses. The paper
contains six sections including this introduction. The first
4
section looks at the Nigeria’s security situation. The second
section examines security situation on University Campuses. As
the third section deals with terrorism and its existence in
Nigeria, the fourth section offers strategies for security
consciousness that is imperative in countering terrorism. The
fifth section concludes the paper.
NIGERIA’S DETERIORATED SECURITY SITUATION
It is not an exaggeration to argue that there is grave
insecurity in Nigeria because the deterioration it is
palpable. The worsening insecurity in the country began in the
mid-1980s during the infamous Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida era.
The insecurity to lives and property arose due to incessant
ethno-religious violence. Although there are not accurate
statistical figures regarding the number of ethno-religious
conflicts and the losses there-from below is a conservative
figure of the conflicts that have, remotely, directly or
indirectly, worsened Nigeria’s security situation.
Selected Cases of Ethno-religious Conflicts in NigeriaS/N
DATE LOCATION PRINCIPAL ACTORS/VICTIMS
1. May 01, 1980 Zaria (KadunaState)
Disturbances in Zaria during whichproperty belonging to mainlyChristians were destroyed.
2. December, 18-29 1980
Yan-awaki Wardin Kano (KanoState)
Riots Maitatsine Sect. 4,177 peopledied. Extensive damage to property.
3. October, 29-30, 1982
Bullunkutu,Maiduguri,(Borno State)
Violence by Kala-kato and MaitatsineSects. 118 people died. Extensivedamage to property was recorded.
4. October, 29-30, 1982
Kano (KanoState)
Muslim demonstrators burnt downchurches as a reaction to violencefrom the South.
5
5. February 27-March 5, 1984.
Dobeli Ward Violence by Maitatsine Sect where 568people died. Wanton destruction ofproperty was recorded
6. April 26-28,1985
Pantami Ward,Gombe (BauchiState)
Violence by Maitatsine Sect and 105died. Extensive destruction ofproperty was recorded.
7. March, 1986 Ilorin (KwaraState)
Muslims and Christians clashedduring a Christian procession atEaster.
8. March, 1987 Kafanchan(Kaduna State)
Clash between Muslims andChristians at the College ofEducation, Kafanchan. Loss of somelives and the burning of somemosques by Christians and nativeKajes.
9. March, 1987,2000 and 2011
Katsina,Funtua, Zaria,Gusau andKaduna
Wave of reprisal religious riots inwhich Muslims burnt down numerouschurch buildings and damagedproperties belonging to Christiansand native Kajes.
10.
February, 1988 Kaduna, KadunaPolytechnic(Kaduna State)
Religious riots, ostensibly amongstudents, destroyed the foundationwalls of the Christian chapel.
11.
April, 1991 Katsina(Katsina State)
Religious violence spear-headed byMalam Yahaya Yakubu, leader of thefundamentalist Shiite Sect inKatsina. It was protest over ablasphemous publication by Fun Times.Several lives were lost andproperty destroyed.
12.
April,1991,1995,2001, 2011,2012
Tafawa Balewa(Bauchi State)
The violence started as a quarrelbetween a Fulani man and a Sayawameat-seller in Tafawa Balewa. Itescalated into full blown violenceand later took the coloring of areligious war in Bauchi. Severallives were lost and property valuedover hundreds of millions Nairawere destroyed. Since then the areahas been characterized by tenserelations.
13 October, 1991 Kano (Kano A peaceful procession initiated by
6
. State) the Izala Sect to halt Rev. ReinhardBonnke from having a crusade inKano later degenerated into a veryviolent and bloody religiousconfrontation. Thousands of liveswere lost and properties valued inmillions of Naira were destroyed.
14.
May, 1992,1999, 2011
Zangon Kataf,(Kaduna State)
A communal feud between the Katafsand the Hausas later took thedimension of inter-religious warbetween Muslims and Christians inother major cities of Kaduna State.Several lives were lost andproperties were destroyed.
15.
January, 1993 Funtua,(Katsina State)
The Kala-kato religious sectassaulted a village-head and burntdown a police vehicle. Lives andproperty were also lost.
16.
December, 1994 Kano, (KanoState)
Communal violence triggered by thebeheading of a Christian who hadallegedly desecrated the HolyQur’an
17.
May, 1995 Kano, (KanoState)
Communal violence triggered by aquarrel between the Hausa and Ibowhich led to the burning of houses,churches and shops and killing ofinnocent people
18.
July 22, 1999 Kano Hausa/Fulani youth took vengeanceon the killing of their kith andkin in Sagamu. Their target was theYoruba community even thougheveryone suffered loses.
19.
1987,February, 28,2000, 2002,2011
Kaduna (KadunaState)
Kaduna city exploded in violence asMuslim and Christian extremists andother hoodlums clashed over theproposal to introduce Shari’a lawin the North only.
20.
April 14, 2000 Agyragu(NassarawaState)
Communal clash that started with aprotest against the location of aLocal Government Headquarters. Themilitant youth group started theriot and later took to the streets
7
killing people and destroyingproperty.
21.
July, 2000 Tsagari (KwaraState)
Clash between Tsagari and Sharecommunities of Kwara State whichclaimed several lives.
22.
September 8,2000
Kaltungo (GombeState)
A religious violence that wassparked off by the presence of theStates Shari’a ImplementationCommittee.
23.
October 17,2000
Ilorin (Kwara) A face-off between the militantmembers of OPC and Hausa/Fulanicommunity over the supremacy of theEmirate system in the State.
24.
October 21,2000
Minna (NigerState)
Violent ethnic crisis erupted afterthe OPC assaults in Kwara and LagosStates.
25.
December 2,2000
Hadejia(Jigawa)
A sectarian disturbance that wascaused by a debate between a Muslimand a Christian in Hadejia (JigawaState). There was wantondestruction of places of worship.
26.
June 28, 2001 Azara(Nassarawa)
An ethnic conflict between the Tivand the Azara indigenes. It startedwith gruesome killing of an Azaratraditional leader, and laterspread to the Tiv village, with theTiv community on the defense.
27.
September 7,2001-Date andveryintermittent
Jos (PlateauState)
A violent ethnic/religious crisisbetween the Muslim/Hausa Fulani andChristian/Indigenes. The subject ofdiscord between the JasawaDevelopment Association and PlateauYouth Council was over politicalappointment in Jos North a aChristian woman crossing a Fridayprayer Congregation.
28.
1976, 1977,1980, 1981,1990, 1991,1995, 2000,2001 and 2004
Kano (KanoState)
A peaceful anti-American protestover the bombing of Afghanistanwhich turned violent, taking ethnicand religious dimension. The seriesof conflicts have alwaysdegenerated into uncontrollable
8
violence which claimed lives anddamaged properties and places ofworship. Many a times the violencein Kano were reprisal attacks.
29.
Mid 1980s,October, 29,2001 andintermittent
Benue State An ethnic clash between Tivs andJukun/Fulani which was an extensionof the May 2001 clash and could belinked to the protracted dispute onland and supremacy between bothsides. Reports indicated that 16soldiers were killed which laterled to the gruesome revenge on theTivs by the Nigerian Army.
30.
November 2,2001
Gwantu A clash that started on a politicalground (over the relocation of LGHeadquarters) later took on ethno-religious dimension in which placesof worship were destroyed.
31.
December 30,2001
Vwag (PlateauState)
A violent communal conflict inVwang district between theindigenes and non-indigenes whichexploded in the backdrop of theSeptember 7 Jos crisis. It startedwhen an illegal group of 40 menattacked the District Head ofVwang. It also had religiouscolouration.
32.
2001 andJanuary, 18,2002
Awe (NassarawaState)
A renewed communal clash betweentwo indigenous communities in AweLocal Government Area of NassarawaState. The cause was not certainbut two people were killed andseveral others injured.
33.
May 2, 2000 Jos (PlateauState)
Another mayhem that followed PDPcongress but later took an ethno-religious colouration.
34.
May 27, 2002 Fulani-IrigweCrisis (PlateauState)
An ethnic clash between theHausa/Fulani and the Irigweindigenes in Bassa, Plateau whichwas said to be a reprisal attack.
35.
June 1, 2002 Yelwa-Shendam(Plateau State)
A religious-cum ethnic fracasbetween the native people
9
(predominantly Christians) andHausa settlers (predominantlyMuslims). This violence extended toabout four Local GovernmentCouncils in Southern Plateau.
36.
July 1, 2002 Wase (PlateauState)
The Yelwa-Shendam riots spilledover to Wase with loss of lives andproperty.
37.
July 1, 2003 Edo/Kogi State Communal clashes between bordercommunities in Edo and Kogi States,Ekepedo and Ogori, over landownership.
38.
January 1,2004
Ganye, (AdamawaState)
Clash between Fulani herdsmen andfarmers over grazing lands.
39.
January 1,2004
Yobe State Militant Islamic group operatingunder the name of Muhajirun launcheda Taliban-like attack on Police.Men of the Nigerian Army killedfive people and arrested severalothers.
40.
February 1,2004
Wase/Kanam(Plateau State)
Violent clash between Mavo andTaroh communities, which claimed 11lives. Suspected Taroh youth werealleged to have raided Mavovillages.
41.
February 2,2004
Wase/Kanam,(Plateau State)
Communal clash over land ownershipbetween Minda and Kparev groups.Several lives were lost.
42.
April 3, 2004 Makarfi, KadunaState
Religious protest in Makarfi townover the desecration of the Qur’anby a Christian teenager.
43.
April 11, 2004 Lantang South,(Plateau State)
Continued clashes that led to thesacking of Taroh villages inLantang South LGA by suspectedHausa-Fulani settlers.
44.
April 26, 2004 Bakin Chiyawa,(Plateau State)
Renewed hostilities launched bysuspected displaced Fulaniherdsmen. The conflict was believedto be a spill-over of the ethno-religious crisis that has beenbedeviling southern Plateau LocalGovernment Area of Lantang South
10
and North, Wase, Kanam and Shendam.45.
May 1, 2004 Yelwa -Shendam,(Plateau State)
A fresh ethno-religious mayhem thatclaimed over 650 lives and over 250women abducted by suspected Tarohmilitia.
46.
May 12, 2004 Kano (KanoState)
Kano mayhem following the Yelwa-Shendam ethno-religious crisis inPlateau. Non-Muslims were attackedin response to the Plateau crisis.Over 200 lives were lost and thetraditional ruler of the areadeposed.
47.
June 8, 2004 Konshisha/Gwer(Benue State)
Boundary disputes betweenneighbouring Konshisha and Gwercommunities. Thirteen lives werelost.
48.
June 8, 2004 Numan, (AdamawaState)
Ethno-religious crisis in Numanover the construction of a mosqueminaret over the Humma Bachama’spalace. Over 50 people were fearedkilled and the traditional ruler ofthe area deposed.
49.
August 3, 2004 Quanpam,(Plateau State)
Fresh outbreak of violence inLankaka village. Suspected armedmilitia from a neighbouring stateallegedly stormed the communitykilling two and razing twentyhouses.
50.
September 27,2004
Limankara,(Borno State)
A self-styled Taliban group hidingon the Goza hills and Madaramountains on the north-easternboarder with Cameroon raided apolice station killing officers andstealing ammunition.
51.
Intermittent Ijaws andItsekiris(Niger DeltaRegion)
Communal clashes over land andother resources
52.
Intermittent Ijaws andIlaris(Niger DeltaRegion)
Communal clashes over land andother resources
11
53.
Intermittent Umeleri andUguleri(Niger DeltaRegion)
Communal clashes over land andother resources
54.
2000 Ilorin (KwaraState)
Attack on Hausa and Fulani peoplefor political and ethnic reasons,by the OPC.
55.
2000 Lagos State Attack on Igbos, Hausa and Fulanipeople for political and ethnicreasons, by the OPC.
56.
From the 1990s Ife-Modakeke (Ondo State)
Communal clashes over land andother resources
57.
2000 Lagos andShagamu
Attack on Igbos, Hausa and Fulanipeople for political and ethnicreasons.
58.
Intermittent North East andNorth West
Fight between farmers and herdsmenover grazing reserves anddestruction of farm produce
59.
2011-Date Maiduguri andMajor Cities inNorth East andNorth WestRegion
Violent attacks on the police,other security operatives andmembers of the establishment byJama’atu Ahlus sunna lidda’awati wal Jihad(Boko Haram) for the extra-judicialkilling of their leaders andillegal detention of many of themin which many lives and propertywere lost.
(Source: Radda, 2012:7)
It is these and many more undocumented conflicts that
deteriorated Nigeria’s security situation. Again, extremely
poor official handling and resolution of the conflicts
reflected in unfair treatment of parties involved in the
conflicts have worsened the matter thereby compounding the
security situation of the nation. Progressively, more
violence, conflicts, hatred and disunity have come to pre-
occupy the lives of Nigerians. The failure of governance gave
rise to self-help security apparatuses based on ethnic and
12
religious divides. This ushered-in groups that can be called
political thugs, ethnic militias and religiously-inclined
sectarian movements like Boko Haram. Consequently, Nigeria
witnessed numerous kidnappings, assassinations, extra-judicial
killings, ethnic cleansings, sporadic shootings, bombings and
even suicide bombings. Below is a brief account of recent
bombings that have rocked many parts of Nigeria irrespective
of whether they were caused by Boko Haram or some dark-horses.
This is because it has been opined that:
This Boko Haram could possibly be a mix ofsome Christian and Muslim psychopaths whocan do any work for money in the samefashion as there are gangs of armed robberswith memberships cutting across religiousand ethnic lines.
(Sarki, 2012:1)
The incidences below are clear manifestations of the grave
insecurity in Nigeria:
1) A bomb planted at a Jumu’at praying ground in Fagge Kano
was defused;
2) Numerous and intermittent bomb explosions in Maiduguri,
Damaturu, Bauch, etc;
3) Bomb explosions at Madalla resulting in reprisal attacks
consequent to loss of lives and property;
4) Bomb explosions at Wusa and Sabon Gari, Zaria resulting
in reprisal attacks at Gonin Gora consequent to loss of
lives and property;
5) Numerous bomb explosions in Plateau State consequent to
loss of lives and property;
13
6) There was an arrest of a suspect that sprayed bullets on
the Gombe Deeper Life Church worshippers;
7) There was Gombe township bombing;
8) Hassan Ojudu and Samaila Yakubu were arrested in Gombe
town with a vehicle loaded with explosive devices and
ammunitions;
9) Eight COCIN church members arrested with explosive
devices at the Miya-Barkatai branch of the church in
Bauchi State;
10) Eleven security officials arrested for supplying
arms to armed robbers in Zamfara and Sokoto States;
11) Miss Lydia Joseph attempted to burn down the St.
John Catholic church in Bauchi city;
12) Emmanuel King, the guy who disguised as a Muslim
wearing a turban and kaftan, attempted to bomb down the
Redeemed Christian Church of God in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa
capital;
13) On Tuesday 17th July, 2012 three rocket-propelled
grenades were fired at an Ismiyya School in Jos killing
five people and injuring children;
14) Also, some persons were reported to have burnt down
a worship centre of the Church of God Mission
International in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital
as reported by the LEADERSHIP newspaper of Sunday,
January 15, 2012;
15) Madam Ruth attempted to bomb the ECWA church in the
Kalarin area of Kaltungo in Gombe State;
16) COCIN church headquarters was bombed in Jos;
14
17) The Special Task Force (STF) on security in Jos on
Sunday, March 25, 2012 paraded one Mr. Alex Danladi
alongside one Mr. Dung Bulus who was caught wearing army
camouflage t-shirt, cap and boot while parading himself
as a soldier.
18) Also, on Tuesday, March 27, 2012 the 2 Brigade,
Nigeria Army, Bori Camp, Port Harcourt paraded one Abba
Ibrahim allegedly caught with military uniforms and weeds
suspected to be cannabis. He was said to be a dismissed
military personnel and hails from Billiri, in Gombe State
and that at the time of his arrest he was standing trial
for another case of impersonation (see THE NATION
newspaper of Wednesday, March 28, 2012 page 57);
19) On January 11, 2012 two Nigerians named, Sunday Eze
from Anambra State and Samuel Taiwo from Ogun State and
some three Ghanaians were arrested in Ghana with some
heavy weaponry carefully concealed in a truck, which was
to be brought to Nigeria;
20) On January, 20th 2012 multiple bomb explosions and
subsequent intermittent bomb explosion coupled with
gunshots were recorded in Kano;
21) On Sunday 29th April, 2012 unknown persons launched a
violent attack on Christian worshippers at the Old Campus
of Bayero University, Kano. The attackers used guns and
explosives to attack the worshippers at Theatres II, III,
the University Sports Complex and Faculty of Science. As
18 people were killed, 23 were injured; the University
15
lost two Professors and a staff of the payroll unit of
the Bursary;
22) On Tuesday, April 10, 2012 a 38 year-old man named
Monday Davou was arrested while planting a timed
Improvised Explosive Device (IED) or time bomb at the
Makera weekly market in Riyom Local Government Area,
Plateau State;
23) The DAILY SUN newspaper of Monday, February 20, 2012
on page 12 reported the arrest, in Akure, Ondo State, of
a gang of five armed robbers led by one Evangelist Wale
Adelu;
24) Similarly, the SATURDAY SUN newspaper of Saturday,
March 10, 2012 on page 10 reported that 11 cartons of
explosives imported from South Africa and “carefully
packaged to beat security checks” were intercepted by the
Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) at the Murtala Muhammed
International Airport, Lagos. The consignments were said
to be for “Miero Marble Granite and Stones Limited in
Kaduna State, with one Mr. Michael Awara Ernest as the
representative to collect the explosives at the cargo
terminal;”
25) The THISDAY newspaper of Friday, January 13, 2012 on
page 6 culled a news report from the BBC in which a
British-based arms dealer, Gary Hyde, was being
prosecuted in a London court for unlawfully arranging the
shipment of about 80, 000 guns and 32 million rounds of
ammunition from China to Nigeria in 2007;
16
26) On Sunday, February 19, 2012 four persons were
arrested while trying to detonate explosives at the St.
Theresa’s Catholic Parish, High-level in Makurdi the
Benue State capital; and
27) Between 2009 and 2012, more than 1,000 people have
lost their lives as a result of Boko Haram’s attacks in
Maiduguri, Potiskum, Damaturu, Jos, Kano, Gombe, Kaduna
and Abuja. In 2011 alone, Boko Haram attacked 115 times
with 550 deaths resulting.
According to el-Rufa’i (2012) ‘…at the crossroads that we have
found ourselves as a nation, where a sitting government has
shown no capacity and competence to confront [corruption and
terrorism], we must be blunt in evaluating what has gone wrong
– perhaps the moral outrage that results will be the basis for
action to change things for the better.’ This is because
terrorism and corruption are two words that now dominate our
headline news more than any others. Domestic terrorism has now
joined corruption as defining characteristics of the nation.
SECURITY SITUATION ON CAMPUSES
The general insecurity that affects the nation naturally
spreads and affects Universities due to the organic
relationship between the former and the latter. It was in
April 2012 that a violent attack with heavy weapons was
launched on Christian worshippers at Bayero University, Kano.
The attack shocked and traumatized the University community
and the University Management. As a response to the sad event
the University authority convened an emergency meeting of the17
University Management Committee (UMC) on 2nd May, 2012 during
which a committee to look into the attack was formed. The
committee assessed the security situation of Bayero
University, Kano and indeed many Universities. In general the
committee observed the following;
1. The porous nature of the Campuses threatens security.
2. There is gross inadequacy of security manpower for daily
security operations and patrols along the perimeter walls
of the Campuses.
3. The security suffers from inadequate working equipments
thereby hampering their performance.
4. There is poor security awareness in the University
community.
5. There is apparent hostility exhibited by operators of
unauthorized structures around the university campuses.
6. Poor lightening of the Campuses threatens security.
Specifically, it can be observed that many Universities in
Nigeria face the following problems:
There is lack of Perimeter Wall in a substantial
portion of University land which encourages
trespass.
There is lack of perimeter wall in some Campuses and
where it exist, the perimeter wall is short and
vandalized.
There are too many pedestrian entrances.18
There is an apparent lack of Guard House for use by
the security.
There are complaints of the poor human relations of
the security outfit.
TERRORISM AND ITS EXISTENCE IN NIGERIA
The fact that terrorism is all over the world explains the
reasons for its the varied perceptions in the world today.
This is because while some people can consider a group of
individuals and their actions as terrorist, others can
consider it as fighting for freedom. For example, such armed
groups as Irish Republican Army (IRA), FARC in Colombia, Tamil
Tigers Srilanka, Hezbollah in Lebanon, Hamas in Palestine,
Lord Resistance Army in Uganda, Al-Shabab in Somalia and Al-qaida
and their actions a variously defined depending on the
ideological divide of the person. In Nigeria politicians and
political parties use violent groups as thugs to intimidate
political opponents in pursuit of political goals. For
example, Kauraye, Sara Suka, ‘Yan-daba, ‘Yan-Kalare, ECOMOG, the OPC,
the Egbesu Boys, MEND, etc have been used by politicians to
terrorize opposing views. Currently, Nigeria is confronted by
the spectre of violence unleashed by the radical and aggrieved
Islamic sect called Boko Haram. Suffice it to say that one’s
freedom fighter could be the terrorist in the eyes of another.
Terrorism can be simply perceived as the use of fear, violence
and intimidation in pursuit of political goals. It involves
paying supreme sacrifice like suicide bombing to press for
recognition, attention, concession, justice and equity. Again,
19
it can be used to send a message, to compensate for losses
suffered or to bargain from a point of strength.
Nigeria’s Terrorism Act, 2011 captioned An Act to Make Provisions
for and About Offences Relating to Conduct Carried Out or Purpose Connected
with Terrorism, 2011 Section 2 says:
Act of terrorism means an act which is deliberatelydone with malice, aforethought and which: (a)mayseriously harm or damage a country or aninternational organization; (b) is intended or canreasonably be regarded as having intended to-(i)unduly compel a government or an internationalorganization to perform or abstain from performingany act; (ii) seriously intimidate a population;(iii) seriously destabilize or destroy thefundamental political, constitutional, economic orsocial structures of a country or an internationalorganization; or (iv) otherwise influence suchgovernment or international organization byintimidation or coercion; and (c) involves or causes,as the case may be- (i) an attack upon a person’slife which may cause serious bodily harm or death;(ii)kidnapping of a person (iii) destruction to agovernment or public facility, a transport system, aninfrastructure facility, including an informationsystem, a fixed platform located on the continentalshelf, a public place or private property, likely toendanger human life or result in major economic loss;(iv) the seizure of an aircraft, ship or other meansof public or goods transport and diversion or the useof such means of transportation for any of thepurposes in paragraph (b) (iv) of this subsection;(v) the manufacture, possession, acquisition,transport, supply, or use of weapons, explosives orof nuclear, biological, chemical weapons, as well asresearch into it, and development of biological andchemical weapons without lawful authority; (vi) therelease of dangerous substance or causing of fire,explosions or flood, the effect of which is toendanger human life; (vii) interference with or
20
disruption of the supply of water, power or any otherfundamental natural resource, the effect of which isto endanger life; (d) an act or omission in oroutside Nigeria which constitutes an offence withinthe scope of a counter terrorism protocols andconventions duly ratified by Nigeria. (3) an actwhich disrupts a service but is committed inpursuance of a protest. However, demonstration orstoppage of work is not a terrorist act within themeaning of this definition provided that the act isnot intended to result in any harm referred to insub-section (2) (b) (i), (ii) or (iv) of thissection, (Terrorism Act, 2011:2-3).
As stated in the American Executive Order 13224: Blocking Property and
Prohibiting Transactions with Persons who Commit, Threaten to Commit, or
Support Terrorism, the term terrorism means an activity that: 1.
Involves violent act or an act dangerous to human life,
property or infrastructure; and 2. Appears to be intended to
intimidate or coerce a civilian population; 3)to influence the
policy of a government by intimidation and coercion; or 4) to
affect the conduct of a government by mass destruction,
assassination, kidnapping, or hostage-taking.
It is these parameters that the US Department of State that
used to designate Abubakar Shekau, Abubakar Adam Kambar and
Khalid al-Barnawi as terrorists. These three have been
included in the list of Specially Designated Global Terrorists
under section 11 (b) of Executive Order 13224. This
designation ‘…blocks all Abubakar Shekau’s, Abubakar Adam
Kambar’s and Khalid al-Barnawi’s property interests subject to
US jurisdictions and prohibits U.S persons from engaging in
21
transactions with or for the benefit of these individuals.’
(See Executive Order 13224: Blocking Property and Prohibiting
Transactions with Persons who Commit, Threaten to Commit, or
Support Terrorism).
As a result of the insecurity in Nigeria and spate of terror
attacks taking place Maplecroft, a British risk analysis and
mapping firm that publishes the Terrorism Risk Index (TRI)
ranked Nigeria 19th and at “extreme risk” of terrorism in 2011,
ahead of Israel (20th) but safer than Yemen, South Sudan and
India among others. With the escalation of attacks by Boko
Haram in the north, and resumption of threats and hostilities
by MEND in the Niger Delta, Nigeria is likely to jump to near
the top of the TRI soon, unless something concrete is done.
Our nation and citizens are in grave danger.Our unity in diversity is at the highestlevels of risk since independence. Thepossible break-up of Nigeria is beingdiscussed openly not only in the Villa, but invarious regional and cultural associationmeetings. Our democracy is in danger, and itsdesirable end canvassed by young people insocial media. The state no longer has monopolyof violence, and no longer in exclusivecontrol of our maritime borders. Weincreasingly resemble a failed state…(el-Rufa’i,2012:2)
TOWARDS A SECURITY CONSCIOUS UNIVERSITY COMMUNITY
The security challenges confronting Universities in view of
the crime trend in Nigeria today are enormous. These
22
challenges are in many areas: security at home; movement
within the Campuses; kidnapping or hostage-taking;
encountering armed robbers and assassins at home or in the
other areas of the Campuses; sexual assault or rape; cultism;
drug abuse; usage of ATM Machines; fire outbreak and terror
attacks (Ogwuche, 2010). Therefore, security awareness in
general and specific terms are required in promoting security
to lives and property on Campuses especially because all the
Universities share similar libertarian values and
architectural designs. For these reasons and many others,
security must be everybody’s business: University Community
Neighborhood Watch is needed.
Below are some recommendations capable of enhancing security
and countering terrorism on University Campuses.
Generally, University authorities should:
1. Provide adequate wall fencing of all the Campuses
of the University.
2. Recruit competent and qualified security personnel
that can engage in patrol and intelligence
gathering.
3. Provide adequate working equipments for the security
personnel. These include boots, uniforms, whistles,
batons, motorcycles, patrol vehicles with revolving
lamps, telecommunication gadgets, torch-lights, etc.
4. Ensure constant training and retraining of the
security personnel in the University. Also, vetting
and re-vetting exercises on security personnel
23
should be sustained with the intent of improving
quality performance by security staff.
5. Massively produce and circulate posters and
pamphlets on security awareness in the university
community carrying such messages as ‘Assist Security
Agents to Assist You’ ‘Report Suspicious Movement
and Action In Your Area to Security Personnel’ ‘Keep
Away from Unattended Bags, Dustbins, Packages. They
may be Explosives’ ‘Watch-Out For Strange Container
that Appeared Suddenly in Your Locality’ ‘Avoid
Indiscriminate Parking in Your Locality’ ‘Stop
Unauthorized Persons From Public Facilities’ ‘Do Not
Loiter’ ‘This Area is Under CCTV’ ‘You are Being
Filmed’ etc.
6. Provide adequate security lighting on the Campuses.
7. Construct perimeter walls to secure University
Campuses and where it exist the height of the
perimeter wall should be increased with proper angle
iron, barbed wire and exterior plastering; and to
cut cost it can be topped with broken bottles.
8. Reduce the number of pedestrian entrances into the
Campuses.
9. Task all security personnel to perform better and
unsatisfactory performance should be appropriately
punished. Where security has been outsourced non-
performing security firms should be replaced with
more competent ones.
24
10. Dialogue with the operators of unauthorised
structures and communities around the Campuses with
a view to generating intelligence data from them.
11. Ensure that physical security is prioritized,
access control is effectively enhanced; movement in
and out of the University is closely monitored.
People and vehicles including motor cycles should be
accredited and the possibility of restricting
movement of motor vehicles in the University
premises, within a fixed period, should be looked
into. Or in the alternative, all those operating
within the University premises should be accredited,
and kitted at their own cost.
12. Procure all the basic and necessary screening
equipment within the financial ability of the
University, and should be immediately put to use.
13. Ensure that all movement in and out of the
University is through the designated exits and entry
points; such designated points must be effectively
manned twenty four hours.
14. Deploy the services of Close Circuit Television
(CCTV) and observation points should be established
in strategic places on the Campuses.
15. Introduce mobile cleaning teams which should gather
intelligence data while performing their ‘duties.’
16. Functional and effective communication system
should be set up among the security operatives and
key principal officers on twenty four hour basis.
25
17. Designated parking lots should be introduced. Under
no circumstances should anybody be allowed to ride
his or her motor cycle or vehicle beyond the
designated parking lots.
18. Organize, from time to time, lectures on security
awareness. This is particularly necessary because
security is every man’s business; therefore, we
should all put our hands on the table to secure our
beloved institutions.
19. Liaise with the government to develop a blue-print
with which to work with community leaders in Borno,
Yobe, Plateau, Kano and Kaduna States to identify
credible personalities for sincere discussions with
Boko Haram so that terror attacks can seize
especially because there is nowhere in the world
where insurgencies like Boko Haram have been defeated
purely through military force.
20. Also, the misrepresentation that Muslims are
terrorists needs to be corrected and erased in the
minds of sceptics due to its toxicity. Currently,
this is what is being done in America and elsewhere.
This is important because as posited by Albright
(2006) quoting Defence Department Advisory Board
thus: ‘Muslims do not ‘hate our freedom,’ but rather
they hate our policies. American actions and the
flow of events have elevated the authority of the
jihadi insurgents and tend to ratify their legitimacy
26
among Muslims. What was a marginal network [Al-
Qaeda] is now a community-wide movement.’
On their parts students are required to among other things to:
1. Avoid travelling or moving about alone at night and they
should avoid dark, deserted and obscure areas of the
campuses;
2. Not to expose their personal belongings and such things
as keys, laptops, phones, cameras, room lockers and other
valuables to the temptation of other people;
3. Not to leave their rooms open and insecure irrespective
of the shortness of the time they are likely to spend
outside the rooms;
4. Be very conscious and sensitive to anything suspicious
[human or object] around them. Hence, they should raise
an alarm regarding suspicious people or items they have
noticed. For example, if a student finds his room door
tampered with, he should not enter the room until after a
security search is conducted;
5. Not to keep their whereabouts secret as proper
information about their movements enhances their and
other peoples’ security.
6. Not to be careless with electric kettles, boiling rings,
pressing irons, stoves, electric cookers, gas cylinders,
etc. They should ensure that wires and cords are in good
condition and are not hidden under rugs; and
7. Be very much aware of where fire-extinguishers and fire
emergency exits are located
27
CONCLUSION
The paper examined the role and importance of security
awareness in the enhancement of security on university
campuses in Nigeria. It has been argued in the paper that
giving security awareness a prime of place is imperative in
countering terrorism on Nigeria’s University campuses. It has
been pointed out that the security situation in the nation has
deteriorated to a worrisome level as lives and property are
lost on daily basis coupled with fear and trauma with negative
consequence to human socio-economic and political activities.
In the effort to analyze the role and significance of security
awareness in promoting security on University Campuses thereby
countering terrorism on University Campuses the paper examined
the security situation of the country and the prevailing
security situation on University Campuses; and there is a very
serious cause for concern. Furthermore, the issue of terrorism
and its existence in Nigeria and the strategies for security
consciousness that is imperative in countering terrorism have
been examined from which more safely is expected on University
Campuses in Nigeria..
REFERENCES
Albright, M and Woodward, B (2006) The Mighty and the
Almighty: Reflections on
America, God and World Affairs (HarperLargePrint,
HarperCollins, Publishers, New
York).
28
Bergen, P (2001) Holy War, Inc: Inside the Secret World of
Osama bin Laden ( Free Press,
USA)
e-lRufa’i, N (2012) ‘Between Terrorism & Corruption –
Implications For Nigeria’ Posted
online on May 4, 2012.
Radda, S.I (2012) The Need For Peace And Conflict ResolutionMechanisms For Sustainable Unity In Nigeria(An Unpublished Paper Delivered at a 5-Day Conference Organized by College of Administration and Management Studies heldat Hassan Usman Katsina Polytechnic, Katsina, 4th-8th June 2012, at Multi PurposeHall, HUK Polytechnic).
Sarki, A, (2012) ‘Is Boko Haram Real or the Metaphor of an
Agenda Against a Section of the
Country?’ Posted online on June 19, 2012 21:07:31
GMT+01:00.
See: Executive Order 13224: Blocking Property and Prohibiting
Transactions with Persons
who Commit, Threaten to Commit, or Support Terrorism).
See: Terrorism Act, 2011 & Money Laundering Act, 2011, p2-3
Ogwuche, A.S (2010) Campus Security Manual (Ahmadu Bello
University Press Limited,
Zaria).
29