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| Abia State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Joshak Habila |
There are fears that some Boko Haram elements may have infiltrated Abia State considering the recent security report that some members of the terror group were arrested in Enugu, a neighboring state. How do you react to this?
We have to look at certain contiguous states. Definitely, any crime happening in Imo, Enugu, Ebonyi or Rivers State has the possibility to spill over to Abia State. We will not rest on our oars. We have been told loud and clear by the Inspector-General of Police to prepare. You know that there is heat in the North-East because of the Boko Haram insurgency and there are locations in Abia State that have been found to be suitable for people from the North where they transact business.
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So, the possibility of finding anybody that has been involved in insurgency in the North-East cannot be ruled out. That is why you see our Explosive Ordinance Department at work. You can also see that there are observatory points and aggressive patrol, among others. We have a good number of patrol vehicles around the ring areas where we think that some of these elements, if given the opportunity and due to the heat they have experienced in the North-East, might sneak in to hide here.
Is there any established case of Boko Haram presence in the state?
Never! And by God’s grace there won’t be any.
Assuming that they finally infiltrate the state, how prepared are your men to contain them?
I have the complement of other security agencies in the state. We have very vibrant military formation here – fully mobilized and operational. We also have the Department of State Security and others who synergise with us to ensure a 24-hour security in the state. It means we should be able to give good account of ourselves in the face of any challenge.
Radio Biafra has become a source of concern in many quarters with the belief that it operates from Aba. Why has it been difficult for your men to trace its operational base as it has continued to broadcast despite recent claims by the Nigerian Communication Commission that it had been jammed?
I think it is the duty of everyone to help trace the Radio because if those behind it exist, they don’t exist in the blues. They exist among members of the public. So, it is those who reside around here that should be able to volunteer information. Don’t forget that the Inspector-General of Police has introduced what we call “Change Direction.” This means that he has opened up our activities and challenges through a feedback mechanism called “Stop the Bribe” in all the departments of the Nigerian Police. Members of the public can now access us for suggestions, criticisms and volunteer information through our portal.
The indigenous people of Biafra are said to be the people operating the Radio Biafra. We are gathering information but you should know that they are subversive and have also spoken against constituted authorities. It is a very big issue to be decided by the IG. But the law is very clear that those who engage in subversive activities to run down a nation should be prosecuted through the justice system.
Do we now conclude that the issue of Radio Biafra has overwhelmed the security agencies?
There are those responsible for tracking down operators of unapproved radio frequencies. The police do have some roles to play but I don’t think that the police are the one to jam the frequency. There is an agency of government responsible for that. I also think members of the public have a better role to play in volunteering information to security agencies to clamp down on the radio station.
The continued clampdown on members of the unarmed Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra has been generating mixed reactions among some Nigerians. Why are the police after MASSOB despite the group’s non-violence posture?
If I see MASSOB members, I will arrest them. We are looking for those who are doing campaign of calumny to run down the nation. They are a dissident group that wants to cause disturbance of peace and security of Nigeria and put apprehension in the members of the public. If anyone does that, we will arrest him; we are looking for them. If I see them engage in activities that undermine the interest of the nation and of the state, definitely they will be brought to justice. So, it is not a lie that I am looking for them. If I see them, I won’t let them go.
But MASSOB has always said it is pursuing its agenda peacefully, arguing that security agencies have no justification to be harsh on its members when a violent group like Boko Haram has continued to terrorize the country, yet some of the insurgents are being freed. How do you reconcile this in view of the fact that some MASSOB members are still in detention for years without trial?
Are the Boko Haram members spared, if seen? Boko Haram members, if seen, are arrested immediately. If any Boko Haram member is seen even by mere suspicion, I will arrest and prosecute him. If I also see any one inciting the public, I will pick him. I am not going from house to house to look for MASSOB members, but those whose activities will undermine the security of the state and the nation will be arrested. Anybody that is destabilising even the peace of the family will not be spared. So, we are looking for those who are carrying out activities that undermine the interest of the nation.
It does appear that kidnapping is gradually re-surfacing in parts of Abia State. What is the reason for this and what efforts are being made by your men to contain it?
Your guess is as good as mine but I want to let you know that any crime that has already entered into a system requires some concerted efforts and time to ensure that it is reduced to the barest minimum. I don’t want to join words with anybody but as far as I am concerned, kidnapping in Abia State has been drastically reduced. We experience it once or twice in a month. It is not good enough but at least there is no apprehension in the state. There isn’t any situation of kidnapping that has overwhelmed us. In the last few months, we haven’t registered any incidence of kidnapping here in Umuahia, but we did in Aba. We have done crime mapping of the state and we are fully aware of the areas that are prone to kidnapping and we are strategizing to tackle it headlong. That is why you see that a lot of them have been put on check, but if anybody is kidnapped at all, we normally put pressure on the suspects and the victim is released within a shortest possible time. The only problem we have is that some of the victims’ relations are cajoled into believing that if they involve the police that the victim will be killed. Sometimes, they go on their own to negotiate with the kidnappers without carrying the police along. We have been telling them to stop giving ransom to kidnappers because it encourages the criminals.
What are your assurances to Abia residents regarding their security?
Their security is guaranteed. I believe that myself and my men have the capacity to contain kidnapping in the state.
What has the welfare of officers and men of the force in Abia been like since you came on board?
There is a limit to which I can go but there has been a noticeable improvement on the welfare of police personnel not only in Abia State but generally. The IG has stepped up the issues of welfare and has openly told us that we should make issues of welfare paramount.
How do you react to allegations that some of your men demand bribes from victims or complainants before they arrest suspects?
I don’t think any reasonable police officer will demand a bribe to carry out an arrest. But if you come to a station to lay a complaint and the body language of the officer suggests that you need to give money, please walk straight to the Divisional Crime Officer or the Divisional Police Officer and complain. Except when you come to a station and you want it done the other way and not recorded, definitely you might be asked to pay some money by some bad eggs. However, through my interactions with members of the public, I have discovered that sometimes police officers can be funny but if I get a report of any of such anomalies, I will deal ruthlessly with such a police officer. In this category also are those who demand money to close a case. It is wrong. All those sharp practices cannot be tolerated anymore. People should stop giving up easily when they see a junior officer because he may not read in between the lines. You must insist on seeing the senior officer.
What disciplinary measures are you considering for the erring officers?
We have different disciplinary measures including dismissal in some cases depending on the degree of the offense. There are people who have got their ranks removed; others have been fined from their salaries. Some have also been dismissed and charged to court.
On many occasions, some of your men were seen in drinking joints idling away when they are supposed to be at their duty posts. What are you doing to check this trend?
I may not be able to prevent police officers from visiting recreation centers while off duty. But I will be very mad with a police officer bearing our number to be seen hanging in joints while on duty.
How are you collaborating with traditional rulers, religious leaders and other stakeholders to reduce or prevent crime in the state?
Most traditional rulers nowadays are highly educated, enlightened and well exposed. They are knowledgeable in crime control. They get the best information from their subjects that are ready to discharge their civic duties, and we are seriously partnering with them. So, the best partners for the Nigerian police are the traditional rulers. In Abia State, the traditional rulers are very cooperative and they remain one of the most vital assets to ensure a secure society.
There are reports that kidnappers sneak into Abia from the neighbouring states, strike and sneak out again. What are you doing to checkmate this?
The governor of the state has a robust plan to prevent trans-border crimes in the state. Armoured personnel carriers are stationed at border areas for swift response to heinous crime scenes such as highway and bank robbery, among others. He has also patched spoilt roads to make them usable. He is also procuring more vehicles to ensure that all the black spots and places identified to be notorious for crimes are well policed. He is eager and has shown interest.
How do you react to an allegation that the police were not doing enough to prosecute suspected kidnappers in the state?
There is no kidnap suspect in Abia State that has been arrested that has not been processed through the justice system. And there will be no kidnapper that will be arrested that will be released on bail and not prosecuted. It will never ever happen under my watch.
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