Insecurity: Ex-Ambassadors back ranching, state police

The Association of Retired Career Ambassadors of Nigeria (ARCAN) has tasked President Muhammadu Buhari to urgently review the country’s social and security structure as a way to check rising insecurity.

ARCAN prescribed state police, redesigning of cattle routes, ranching, implementation of voluntary surrender of weapons programme, recruitment and equipping of military personnel, among others, as solutions to the problem.

In a statement made available to The Nation on Monday, ARCAN President, Dr Oladapo Fafowora, said the diplomats were “deeply concerned” about the security situation in the country.

Fafowora said: “Government should evolve a comprehensive programme and effective mechanisms to protect the lives and properties of Nigerians, and the resolution of communal conflicts…”

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The mechanisms, he noted, should include, “Arrest and diligent prosecution of suspected perpetrators of the killings and arsons, including their sponsors and supporters, no matter how highly-placed.”

The association warned politicians, government officials and religious leaders against inciting tension and hatred among Nigerians.

It called for the “immediate repeal of the Firearms Act of 1959 to bring it up to speed with the current realities regarding the proliferation of small and light weapons.

“Embark on a comprehensive and sustained programme of disarmament and voluntary surrender of the illicit arms and their destruction to mop up the estimated over 300 million small arms and light weapons in ihe hands of nonstate actors with which most of the killings have been perpetrated across Nigeria.”

According to Fafowora, state police, with effective checks and balances to prevent abuse, is a necessity.

He added: “To enhance the primary role of the Armed Forces, there is the need to increase the size of our military and equip them with sophisticated arms and modern equipment.

“The Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON) IN Kaduna should also be revitalized to produce most of the much-needed weapons so as to enhance self-reliance in armaments.”

©The Nation