Book: Security Issues In Nigeria: A Media Perspective
Author: Albinus Chiedu
Publisher: Aviation Monitor Limited
Date of Publication: 2013
Number of Pages: 89
Reviewer: Ariyo Akinfenwa
?
?Recent studies indicate that the rate of rape has gone up drastically and this is worrisome. Almost on a daily basis, reports are made of either a teacher raping a pupil, a religious leader raping a member of his flock, robbers raping a victim, a man raping his sister-in-law or daughter-in-law, a group of boys or men raping a lady, a master raping his house maid, a security man raping his master?s wife, a boss raping an employee, a father raping his daughter, a young man raping a grandmother, a? minor raping a fellow minor, a traditional ruler raping his subject, an 80-year-old man raping an eight-year-old-girl and so on.?
This extract from page 67 of the book titled: Security Issues In Nigeria: A Media Perspective, formed part of the numerous national security issues discussed by stakeholders at the public presentation of the book held recently at Sweet Sensation, Opebi, Lagos.
The book, which is the fifth book written by the author, Deacon Albinus Chiedu???? has a very simple language and style, identifying security challenges in the country and offering possible solutions to each challenge. The research work is loaded with problem-solving data on security issues in the country.
Chiedu?s 89-page book with 8 preliminary pages has a very attractive cover, designed with pictures of the current Inspector-General of Nigeria Police as well as uniformed personnel of the Nigeria Army, Nigeria Police, Nigeria Navy, Nigeria Security & Civil Defence Corps, Nigeria Immigration Service and Nigeria Customs Service.
The first of eight chapters offers tips on various aspects of security while chapter two highlights relationship between the Nigeria Police and the public, offering improvement strategies. The third chapter identifies security and related organisations in Nigeria and chapter four offers countless suggestions on how to reduce insecurity in the country. Chapters five, six, seven and eight are titled Aviation Security, Some Prominent Crimes, Terrorism and the Role of Mass Media In? National Security respectively.
In his welcome speech at the book launch, the author disclosed that he wrote the book as his little contribution to the search for solutions to the numerous security challenges in the country. He urged the federal government to revisit communiqu?s from past security fora and strategically implement them at this critical period in the nation?s security history.
?Security is an all stakeholders? affair. I want to urge Nigerians to get more security conscious and develop the attitude of supporting the nation?s security agencies, especially the Nigeria Police? he said.
Chiedu further noted that ?it would be irrational, myopic and subjective to lay all blames of Nigeria?s numerous security challenges at the doorsteps of poverty and economy. A terrorist activity like rape for instance, has very insignificant, or no connection with Nigeria?s economic problems. It is a mere act of wickedness and man?s inhumanity to man.?
The author is a marriage counsellor, motivational speaker and public affairs analyst. He has attended series of trainings, including the training on insider threat to security held in Abuja in December 2011. He is also the publisher of Aviation Monitor, having spent 13 years in the aviation industry.
The book launch featured a panellist discussion on the growing menace of rape in Nigerian society. CSP Omolara Oloruntola, who represented CP Umaru Manko, Lagos State Commissioner of Police, explained that lack of cooperation by parents and relatives of victims of rape has posed a challenge to the police during investigations. He urged members of the public to be more forthcoming with information to help prosecute offenders.
The Chairman of Nigerian Bar Association, Ikeja branch, Barrister Monday Ubani identified the fear of stigmatization by victims, deficiencies in judicial processes and difficulties in proving evidence as some of the challenges surrounding rape cases in the country.
The Director of National Orientation Agency, Lagos, Mr. Waheed Ishola blamed provocative dressing for the recent increase in the rate of rape incidents. He called for a legislation prescribing life sentence for rapists.
However, Barrister Emeka Odom of the Consumer Protection Council argued that though the nation already had enough laws to prosecute rapists, implementation of the laws has been the major challenge.
The panelists and other discussants had a consensus that minimizing the growing menace of rape and other crimes in the society was an all stakeholder affair. They urged the government to strengthen and implement rape laws in order to deter potential offenders.
More colour illustrations inside the pages would have been preferable to the numerous black and white pictures. However, the pictures are so clear that any reader will find the book very interesting.
Security Issues In Nigeria: A Media Perspective is a must-read for everybody in the Nigerian society. According to the foreword written by ?N.J. Kawekwune, a Principal Staff Officer, DSS (Rtd.) and the current Chief Security Officer of Federal College of Education (Technical) Asaba, Delta State, ?The book is therefore, sincerely recommended for both law enforcement agencies and members of the public.?
