Military, others strengthen presence in Borno, Plateau

From Madu Onuorah, Florence Lawrence (Abuja) and Njadvara Musa (Maiduguri)

Gunmen kill two in Borno

THE Military, Police and other security agencies have strengthened their presence in Borno and Plateau states in line with President Goodluck Jonathan's mandate to Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Oluseyin Petinrin to restore peace and security in Jos and curtail the activities of Boko Haram elements.

To achieve the aim, the Special Task Force (STF) in Plateau State, comprising the military wing - Army, Navy and Air Force, has raised its strength to 1,200 personnel.

The STF has an additional 2,000 Police Mobile Force (PMF) personnel drawn from various Squadrons across the country.

Similarly, the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps has sent additional 100 personnel while the State Security Services (SSS) has deployed more operatives.

Director of Defence Information, Col Mohammed Yerima, who addressed the media on behalf of Joint Security Information Managers Committee (JSIM) announced that one of the two soldiers - Private Jaduwa Thalma - who was implicated in the kidnap of the father of footballer, Mikel Obi, had been dismissed from the Army while the second, Sgt Victor Essien, a senior Non-commissioned Officer, was referred to "higher prosecuting authority in line with Nigeria Army military ethics."

The JSIM is made up of Spokespersons of Defence and Service (Army, Navy and Air Force) headquarters, Police, State Security Services), National Intelligence Agencies, Civil Defence Corps and other security agencies.

On the Joint Task Force (JTF) in the Niger Delta, the Defence Spokesman said it "resolved to take the current drive in arms recovery to a greater level" and had issued a seven-day ultimatum to "everyone bearing arms illegally in Niger Delta region to come forward and submit them", adding that at the end of the period, "anyone found with illegal arms will be arrested and prosecuted."

Meanwhile, four suspected members of the Boko Haram Islamic sect on Wednesday night in the Maiduguri killed a lawyer, Mr. Alkali Mallam Yusuf, 49, and an artisan with the Borno State Management Agency (BOSEMA), Mr. Sunday Sule, 37.

The gunmen allegedly arrived in the area in an unmarked vehicle, walked into the homes of their targets in London Chiki ward in the metropolis and shot them with a Kalashnikov rifle, which one of the killers hid in his flowing robe.

Sources in the area said the gunmen fired several shots into Yusuf's head and chest, from which he died at 8.30 p.m.

They allegedly moved to the late Sule's house 25 minutes later and killed him with the same gun.

The Police Commissioner, Simeone Midenda, told The Guardian that he had received the report and said the suspects took the lawyer's vehicle and drove into the neighbouring wards of Gomari Constain and Customs area.

http://odili.net/news/source/2011/sep/23/1.html

I also believe that like in JOS and Borno.The government should consider surveillance camera.I am saying this because i can assure that it would ordinarily give security materials as evidence and also help alert them of an impending attack.It is good that Abuja has gone all camera.But they should atleast place a few around the cities of Jos and Borno.
For me i think it would go a long way in allowing security individually ID mob actors and trace the cause/perpetrators of the attacks.So that blames/prosecution/hunt maybe made or security officers who take part or claim ignorance/negligence can be monitored.The same should also start across all cities of Nigeria.Before any violence even steps there.Peaceful or non peaceful.Attach priority to conflict areas and gradually deploy same in peace time states as no condition is permanent.In case things ever go wrong.A few Millions if honestly put to use could deploy this equipments in key areas and areas prone to security bridge until the states of Nigeria are all covered.
This could deter security personals who are on active duty from failing to act or respond to crisis promptly.Also it allows superior review of the situation for better management of the security to such security bridge in future.
Government should start collation of all data they have presently and gradually review them over time and upgrade them to minimize errors and false bios of Nigerians and foreigners.For instance,Ask all Universities,Secondary schools,WAEC,NECO,Hospitals medical,FRSC,Immigration,Civil service,Armed forces,LGA staff,State Government,Primary schools,hospital,hotel,employment/appointment documents,death certificates,association data,religious movement,INEC,NCC,censors,telecoms data,political parties,bank details and marriage data etc documents and begin to build individual profile of each and every Nigerian for now and then insist on long term mandatory documentation of persons in Nigeria.Putting all this can certainly reduce the lack of human profile by atleast 60% and give a good start.That single act can provide details for government to identify people to a large extent or relate persons to something,someone or somewhere to easily track wanted persons or predict there likely actions.
For me all this is do able and could be done in months.Think we have alot of IT professionals to build goods apps and deploy the needs for this.We have a large chunk of educated unemployed people.Get them working and put them on this project period.Within months you can do all the work.FG has the money.This can be done and subsequently it will only be managed over time and we do not expect another one be done again.We only then upgrade,review and add etc.

^^Well said Haka Nai,

Nigeria need to start using the tested and trusted finger print system, in addition to having a very good forensic lab. Like you said, identifying and punishing crimes and criminal is very important tool in deterrence an prevention. The time to start is now!