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On September 6, 2018,I wrote a piece on Ember months, where I lamented many security uncertainties and the usual sing-song of Federal Road Safety Corps, which is turning to be a cracked record. I wrote on “the turn of events in the country, the rate of insecurity, increased with the downturn of the economy, unemployment and social ills and injustice.”
I have noticed over the years that the coinage “Ember,” which ordinarily refers to the last four great unpredictable months of the year, September, October, November and December, has become a security playground of some sort.
The coinage was first communicated to members of the public when Osita Chidoka was the head of Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) and he made comments on a road safety programme about all national highways.
Consistent road walks, radio and television advertisements were initiated, while announcements and talk shows were carried out.
In later years, the Nigeria Police saw the advantage in the FRSC initiative and cued into the national programme. Unfortunately, absolutely nothing has changed: the economy has nosedived, cost of items are on the increase, the rate of poverty has tripled, more Nigerian youth are roaming the streets unemployed, radio stations are shutting down due to non-availability of diesel, the same with airlines. Companies are folding up, thereby increasing the rate of unemployment in the country.
Surprisingly it is during ember months that data of motor accidents are released..
The coinage has become a sing-song that tends to remind the people that, with the unfolding ‘Ember’ months, evil is easily unleashed on the society. With the unfolding ‘Ember’ months, the urge to make quick money among the youths and even parents becomes very high.
The resultant effect is that insecurity and criminality are provided veritable playground to fester faster. Many security institutions have come to the realisation that ‘Ember’ months seem to be the major kickstarter of criminality that awakens security agencies from their slumber
Since 2012, Nigerians have not witnessed relative peace, the way other countries are enjoying peaceful atmosphere like Ghana and others. Our type of peace is usually the graveyard type of peace that is enveloped in fear and trepidation. Fear of the unknown. Fear that is triggered with the presence of security personnel or arms-wielding ruffians known as terrorists, bandits and others. Such fears usually incapacitate the system and could weigh down even those in authourity, especially when such leaders are not covered by armed security agents. So, volunteering to discuss unsubstantiated security reports just to calm down the insecurity atmosphere, then those in authourity should think better and refrain from manipulations.
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Apart from the awakening, it is even more pathetic that security agencies are not as proactively inclined as expected of institutions managing security.
More worrisome is the spate of unfolding vicious criminalities spanning from the North to the South East and other parts of the country. It is foolhardy that, on one hand, the government is not showing the much needed protection of lives and properties and on the other hand the same government appears to be handling the issue of repentant terrorists and bandits with kid gloves. ‘Ember’ months are already giving very gloomy warning signals.
For instance, the recent wide clampdown on motocyclists across the country as disclosed by the acting head of the FRSC, Mr. Dauda Biu, who said that over 13,000 illegal motorcycle riders were arrested and he also revealed that 20,000 motorcycles were impounded in the month of August and over 100,000 vehicles have been uploaded into the national vehicle identification database. Perhaps one would have commended Biu for joining other state governors in the North who lately started clamping down on motorcyclist in their states. The governors’ reasons are that the bandits use motorcycles for their devilish operations. But because neither the agencies nor the governors did anything to arrest the situation since 2008, should we see all these moves as activities of winding up of this administration? Even at that, what is more worrisome is the amount of firearms in unauthorized hands as disclosed by former head of state, General Abdusallam Abubakar. Also worrisome is the volume of illicit drugs being imported into the country and the growing number of radical youth activists in all nooks and crannies of the country. However, with the turn of events in the country, the rate of insecurity increased with the downturn of the economy, unemployment and social injustice in the country.
It is inconceivable that politicians who before now had assisted some policemen in their posting may now wait for the campaign season where they would use them for their nefarious activities.
It is such clandestine moves that should attract the attention of the police management team who should help to reverse such negative trends across the country.
In a few more days, the gates of political campaign would have swung open for political activities towards the 2023 elections. The uncertainty pervading the political atmosphere around the country is nerve-shaking, the reason being the recent mass awakening of the political consciousness of Nigerian youths. The youths need to be better washed by security agencies so that evil-minded politicians will not take advantage of their youthful exuberance to perpetrate evil.
There is also the call by security panelists drawn from “Total Security Platform”, an assemblage of top security officers from the rank of assistant commissioner of police to inspector-general of police and lieutenant colonel to chief of army staff and directors of the DSS, where they appealed to the government to ensure that all security agencies are utilized collaboratively in ensuring that Nigeria witnesses a very successful 2023 general election.
Already, ordinary harmless greeting by members of opposing political parties no longer sees such simple greetings as ordinary and harmless, they are now interrogating the real motive for the greeting.
Just to create a tense situation.
