Perceived marginalization, oppression, corruption, deprive S’East youths from joining security agencies- Survey

Some stakeholders in the South-East, have identified marginalization, oppression, corruption and poor image as reasons why youths from the zone shy away from joining security forces especially the police in Nigeria.

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The stakeholders made the observations in a survey conducted in the zone on “Why South-Easterners are not interested in joining the Nigerian Police Force and other security agencies”.

They regretted that in spite of the efforts by the young people in the region with the required age limit to enlist into any security forces of their choice, at the end, were denied recruitments.

Some of them who spoke in separate interviews said that injustice meted on them made the youths to lose hope in the system.

In Enugu, Mr Aka Eze Aka, the Enugu State Commissioner for Information and Communication, said his interaction with youths from the 17 Local Government Areas of the state revealed a lot of things the young people from the state shy away from joining police and other security agencies.

Aka said that when the police recruitment advertisment came out, Gov. Peter Mbah mandated him to visit all the LGAs in the state to sensitise them on the need to join police and other forces

“The interactions revealed that there were perceived marginalization on the minds of the people, saying about 20 to 30 youths who were qualified would apply to join the force, but at the end, only two or three will be selected.

“The youth fear that their applications will be a waste of time, while some complained of age limit as well as the image the police is giving out to the public.

“Naturally, Igbos don’t feel happy that you are extorting money from them by force as seen by the police and other security personnel on the roads,” he said.

The commissioner added that the region had been under siege with security checkpoints everywhere and the people were not happy about it.

“With the campaign, we received information that number of youths applied for police recruitment from Enugu increased compared to previous years.

Proffering solution, the commissioner recommended that sustained campaign and improved police image would encourage the youths of the zone to join security forces in the country.

The National Publicity Secretary of Ohaneze Ndigbo Worldwide, Dr Alex Ogbonnia, noted that many young youths from the zone after interviews, suffered preferential treatment against them, making them to lose faith in the system.

He said, “Police work is not encouraging and Igbo people are very entrepreneurial, they create their own initiatives and tenaciously pursuing it.

“We have been encouraging them to join the police force but the onus lies on the system to show some transparency and to improve on the modalities of recruitment not only on security forces but in other sectors”.

A youth, Mikel okonkwo, said Igbos had not been treated fairly as they were being denied opportunity to get enlisted into any federal jobs in Nigeria.

Another youth, Mr Ugochukwu Emenike, added that when he was at the Air force Military School in Jos, a northerner with lower score would be selected while a south easterner with good grades would be rejected.

“Few years ago, a friend of mine made efforts to join the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), passed the examination and even paid about a million Naira but he was not selected,” he lamented.

In Anambra, stakeholders identified lack of information and mentoring, poor renumeration as factors that scared easterners from enlisting in Nigerian Police Force and other security agencies

The stakeholders called for reorientation, education, proper publicity during recruitments and improved police welfare to motivate and attract south easterners.

A former Commissioner of Police in Anambra, Mr John Abang, confirmed that only few persons from the south east applied during recruitments.

“The statistics are there on the portal of the Police Service Commission, the number of people from south eastern states are abysmally low compared to those from other geo-political zones,” he said.

A Human Rights Activist, Mr Osita Obi, said lack of information about police recruitment as well as the conduct and attitude of some police officers scared easterners away from enrolling.

Obi, who is also the Coordinator Recover Nigeria Project, said the unprofessional and corrupt conduct of some policemen on duty especially at checkpoints where they extorted civilians, discouraged easterners from enrolling.

“It is not okay that our people do not enroll during police recruitment because it deprives us of our quota and we cannot complain when decisions are taken or when people from other zones are getting positions or appointments.

“I suggest that when there is police recruitment, there should be proper information dissemination and education in churches, markets, communities and town unions.

“We need to also educate our people that if we do not enroll, we cannot have our quota filled and we will continue to have a situation where no Igbo man becomes Inspector General or Assistant Inspector General. Without enrollment, no promotion or appointments for us.

“There is also the need for reformation of the general conduct and attitude of the police to end extortion and make the force attractive to join,” Obi said.

Also speaking, Dr Ego Uzoezie, a former Commissioner for Women Affairs, Anambra state, said that the poor renumeration and welfare of the police discouraged south easterners from enrolling in the force

“A typical Igbo man would rather go and learn a trade or do other crafts and businesses, to earn a living than go to work in the police force because their pay is poor.

“Also a typical Igbo man is free willed and will not like to be ordered around or be restricted like we have in the police force or other security agencies where you must obey orders.

“But I believe that with reorientation and improvement as it concerns the welfare of the police, our youths will be motivated and attracted to join the police force,” she said.

In his views, Dr Pete Ibida, a former Anambra state Lawmaker, said that many youths were interested in enlisting in the police force but they lacked mentoring and information about the recruitment.

“It is basically lack of knowledge, enlightenment and because we do not have most of our people in the police force. The youth do not have mentorship or someone to look up to.

“So, there is need to have wide publicity and education, especially at the grassroots during police recruitment because there are a lot of unemployed youth who are interested in enlisting,” he said.

Some stakeholders in Ebonyi pointed out that increasing security threat across the country as the reason, the youths are not having interest in the Nigerian Police Force and other security jobs.

They said that they would not allow their children to join any of the security agencies because of fear of being killed by hoodlums or bandits.

Mr Chika Nwafor, a stakeholder, said he would not allow his child to even dream of joining any of the security agencies in the country, urging the three tiers of government to prioritise security of lives and property.

Nwafor, who is a Lawyer, noted that what was responsible for the low level of south eastern youths in joining the police in particular was due to the high level of insecurity and the way police personnel are being looked down upon in the society.

”Another reason is that no parents would want their children to be killed by hoodlums. Every step of security personnel is usualy at risk. The government should make the insurance covering the security personnel in the country stronger, especially when they die, while on duty,” he stated.

Mr Damian Okafor, National Youth Leader of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, said it was annoying the way the nation’s security architecture could not be sanitised and fixed.

Okafor added that some of the reasons, the youth in the south east are indifferent towards security agencies’ job was because of anger over the federal government reluctance in releasing Nnamdi Kanu.

”They should release Nnamdi Kanu for us, if they want us to be part and parcel of this country. What is his offence, simply because, he made moves against injustice on Igbos.

‘In fact, we are tired of the system. Nnamdi Kanu should be released and that’s all. The insecurity system is worrisome. Let us go back to the drawing board and fix the system working,” he advised.

Mrs Nkechi Okorie, a parent said she would not allow her child to join police or any of the security agencies because of corruption and fear of being killed by criminals.

”I do not see security work as a good job. In fact, police job itself is already a cursed job.

”So, as a mother, I will never allow my children to join the police force. Police in particular have gotten a bad image in the society,” she added.

A youth, Sunday Mbam and graduate of Political Science, said he was asked by his parents to join the police force in particular but he refused due to the security situation of the country and poor welfare.

”No, I don’t want to build a career on extortion and intimidation. The last thing that will happen to me is to join the Police or any security agencies.

‘I don’t want to be killed by hoodlums. The insecurity in the land is worrisome on daily basis,” Mbam explained.

In Imo, the Chairman, Nigeria Bar Association, (NBA) Owerri branch, Mr Ugochukwu Allinor, blamed the development on the alleged marginalisation of the zone in the scheme of things in the country.

Allinor opined that many South-Easterners have developed apathy toward the affairs of the country, including but not limited to recruitment into the security agencies.

He further cited the lack of respect for merit and principle of federal character in promotion and appointment of security heads as other cogent reasons the Igbo youths shy away from joining security agencies.

“If you look at the security architecture of the country, the headship domiciles more in one section.

“And at the end of the day, after serving your country, there are no proper rewards to motivate the younger generation to join,” he said.

However, the lawyer said it was not in the interest of the zone for the people to continue to keep away from security agencies because of the reasons adduced.

“Our people should join the Nigeria Police Force and other security agencies for the Igbo nation to have a say and make its mark in the security sector.

“It is not in our interest to just stand aloof and fold our arms to say we don’t want to be part of the security architecture,” he said.

A retired Police Officer, who pleaded anonymity, said “an average Easterner does not feel he is fairly treated in the Nigeria project because of marginalisation in virtually every sector.

“Another reason is that the Igbo in the Police Force and other security agencies are perceived to be working against the agitation for the realisation of the Republic of Biafra.

“Once you indicate interest in joining the police or you are an Igbo serving in the Police Force or other security agencies, you become a target for members of the proscribed IPOB/ESN,” the source said.

Also contributing, the Executive Coordinator, Sisters With A Goal Initiative, Mrs Marjorie Ezihe, attributed the recent organised attacks on the security personnnel as a possible reason for the lack of interest by the Igbo youth in police recruitment.

“The uniform job has lost its respect and glory as a result of corrupt practices prevalent in the system, making some people to see the job as a curse,” she said.

Ezihe, who is also the Convener ONURUBE GBV Coalition, South-East, also cited the lack of transformation in the sector and poor condition of service as part of the reasons youths from the zone shun security job.

She expressed concern that police officers no longer enjoyed certain incentives, such as official quarters and vehicles, adding that they even sew their uniforms, as against the practice in the past.

“The regular transfer of officers, which does not consider their families and dependants, often turn these officers to absentee fathers,” Ezihe said.

She also alleged that police suffer a lot of stigma in the zone, citing the allegations of sexual pervasion, abuse, degradation and poor upbringing among the children and families of policemen.

“They do a lot for the country but little is done in return for them and their families.

“Seeing all these, the Igbo youths do not want to join the Police Force, Army, Navy, Civil Defence and other security agencies,” Ezihe said.

She alleged that promotion in the security agencies was no longer by merit but favouritism and what part of the country one comes from.

Also in Abia, a cross-section of the people cited marginalisation of the zone, their vulnerability and alleged oppression and poor remuneration, among others as reasons for the apathy.

A legal practitioner, Mr Okey Kanu, said that the South-East did not see recruitment into the police and other security agencies as corrective to the alleged marginalisation of the zone.

Kanu, a member of the Abia State Advisory Committee on Disability Matters, insisted that “because of marginalisation, the prospect of reaching the highest height in the police or other agencies is almost zero”.

According to him, no Igboman has been appointed as service chief in the country in recent time even when they were qualified.

He said: “The Police Force is not a profession of pride in Igboland and an average Igboman is a proud person.

“Our people are mainly merchants and they believe that those that joined the Police and other security agencies did so for the lack of a better option.”

A university lecturer, Prof. Uwaoma Uche, alleged that the South-East has actually been at the receiving end in the country “due to insecurity that has lingered for quite a long time.”

Uche, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic), Gregory University, Uturu, Abia and a Professor of Mass Communication, said that security agencies have not favoured officers of South-East origin.

He said: “I think the despondency is just as a result of depression and moral trauma they have gone through and they don’t see the essence of being in the Police.

“Again, if you check out the military apparatus, paramilitary and security agencies in Nigeria right from Buhari’s administration, when our people cannot rise to heads of the service why do you think the youths would have such ambition.

“So, they feel that they are not recognised and that there is no point working in a system where progression to the top echelon is actually not guaranteed for people of their tribe.

A Security Expert, Mr Johnson Okoye, said that youths from the zone shun recruitment into the force for fear of being sent to die in terrorist occupied parts of the country.

“If a youth feels that he will be sent to a volatile area where he will be killed, he would not want to be part of that force.

“But if you put him in a place where he could serve his community, definitely he will be willing to join.

“I’m advocating for state police, where police officers from the South-East are deployed to serve in their own region,” Okoye said.

The Special Adviser to the Governor of Abia on Security, Navy Capt. Macdonald Uba (rtd.), said that inconveniences in getting the required documentation from one’s local government of origin could be a reason for shying away from enlisting in the police by youths from the zone.

According to Uba, most South-Easterners live outside their states of origin and in most cases in the North.

He said that stereotypes experienced over the years could be another reason that contributed to the apathy of the youths from the zone toward enlisting in security agencies.

He expressed worry that the development could likely cause existential threat to the zone.

“If people don’t join then it means you won’t rise to those positions.

“For instance, in the Nigerian Defence Academy, each state gets the same number of people.

“It is not as if there are some states that are not represented. It is in the rank and file that you have those issues,” Uba said.

He said that the government had made deliberate efforts to encourage the people of Abia to enlist in the Nigerian Police Force and other security agencies.

“Gov. Alex Otti went a step further in sending a delegation to Nigeria Police College in Kano to get the exact number of Abia indigenes that enlisted for cadet and inspectorate course.

“We have carried out advocacy at all levels trying to get the people to join.

“It is a measured and deliberate effort that we are taking, and in the coming years, the anomaly will be corrected,” he said.

Also, a Security Expert, Mr Nnaemeka Paul, said that apathy shown by South-Easterners stemmed from complaints of favouritism based on people’s ethnic, religious and political backgrounds displayed during past recruitments.

Paul said that there was fear that people from the zone were mostly deployed to the battlefields, where many were either killed or maimed for life.

He said that it was unfortunate that those issues had not been addressed by the Federal Government, adding that they contributed to making the youths of the zone lose faith in the system.

He, however, urged young people in the region not to allow any challenge to discourage them from enlisting in any of the security agencies when the opportunity presents itself.

He called for massive reorientation campaigns in the region, adding that the provision of adequate work equipment and improved welfare package for security operatives would help to reverse the trend.

A clinical psychologist, Dr Chinenye Aliche, said that although the Civil War ended many years ago, its impact on the South-East had remained strong, leaving negative impression on the average youth from the region.

Aliche said: “Although the then Head of State, Gen. Yakubu Gowon (rtd.), for the proclamation of “no victor, no vanquished” at the end of the war, all the promises that were made to the region that lost over three million lives and many property were allegedly not fulfilled to date.

“As a result, young people from the region have over the years grown to believe that they are not accepted as part of the entity called Nigeria.

“Someone who has perceived that he is treated as a second class citizen, especially when issues concerning him is not given adequate attention, may not be willing to enrol in any of the security agencies.”

Continuing, he said, “I cannot remember how many Igbo people have been appointed Inspector-Generals of Police since the end of the war.

“All these experiences discourage and demoralise the youths from enlisting in the Police Force and other security agencies.