Ehigimetor Igbaugba
2 November 2008
Dr Nosa Anabesenu, the Chief Executive Officer, African Women Empowerment Guild, was driving home that Friday night.
The activist had hoped to reunite with her loved ones after a tiring day's work. But she was rattled when robbers snatched her car at about 7:00pm around Benoni Street in the GRA in Benin and dispossessed her of three mobile phones and a hand-bag containing valuable item?
"We are no longer safe in our homes not to talk of outside. I really do not know what to do. We now live in fear of the unknown," she says.
This incident, like countless other robberies, has become a great concern to Benin residents who now find it difficult to sleep with their eyes closed.
Some of the residents attribute the rise in crime to the current level of unemployment and economic hardship in Edo generally.
Reeling out crime statistics, Mr Chris Dega, the Commissioner of Police in the state, says that the police command arrested more than 115 robbery suspects since January.
According to the Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Mr Peter Ogboi, 16 cars out of the many that were snatched in Benin were recovered within the last one month.
Within the same period, Ogboi says that 20 armed robbery suspects were arrested, while 10 were killed during gunfight with the police.
He adds that one civilian was killed by suspected cultists within the month. The police spokesman speaks of situations where arrested armed robbery suspects claim to be cultists in order to attract lesser penalty.
"What these robbers do these days is to claim that they are not robbers but cultists. We, however, do know that they are robbers because they are trying to run away from the punishment," he says.
Sharing the people's concern about the rising crime rate is the state Governor, Prof. Oserheimen Osunbor, who openly confesses that he is worried about the trend.
"I am worried that in recent past, the rate of crime in the state has been on the increase.
I have personally discussed this with the Commissioner of Police." To stem the crime rate, the government has committed N400 million to the purchase of 35 Hilux pick-up vehicles and one armoured personnel carrier for the police.
In addition, three Hilux vans each went to the NDLEA, the civil defence corps and the Immigration Service. According to Osunbor, this measure will enhance the mobility of the police and other security agents in the discharge of their duties. "We have to chase out these robbers who have taken over the city (Benin). I am sure that when these vehicles are put into proper use, increase in crime rate will be a thing of the past.
"We are desirous of equipping the police in as many ways as possible for them to continue to fight crime, which is assuming an alarming proportion in the state," he says.
To ensure the safety of lives and property during the ember months and beyond, the governor says that he has advised the local government councils in the state to assist the police.
"From the oil windfall money they receive, I have discussed with them to embark on the construction of 10 one-bedroom flats in each of the local government areas for the police," he says.
But how prepared are the police for the daunting and arduous task of routing robbers out of Benin?
For the police commissioner, the command is not resting on its oars in the prevention of crime. He, however, concedes that the police lack equipment and other logistics to effectively check crime.
Dega appeals to corporate organisations to emulate the state government as the issue of security involves everyone. "There is no end to it as long as the society exists; we will continue to ask for more support," he says.
But some residents disagree with the government's tactics of combating crime through the procurement of arms and ammunition. They advise that the only way of checking this is through the provision of employment opportunities for the idle populace.
Ms Touchi Okpala, a stockbroker in Benin says that the crime rate in the metropolis and the state in general will only reduce if the government provides jobs.
She appeals to the government to create job opportunities by either revitalising its ailing industries, setting up new ones or providing the enabling environment for investors to come in.
Okpala observes that many graduates and talented youths are roaming the streets in search of jobs. "Because of idleness, these people pick up this attitude of doing anything that will put food on their table.
"We have among this people talented and gifted ones whose hidden talents rust away untapped due to the lack of motivation," she says.
The stockbroker says that if these people are motivated and their talents harnessed, it will keep them off the streets and subsequently help to reduce crime in the society.
In addition, she calls on the government to improve the economic wellbeing of the citizens by reducing the biting effect of poverty before the situation get out of hand.
Okpala claims that the police and other law enforcement agencies are not doing enough to curb crime.
According to her, this situation is tied to the issue of corruption. 'You find a policeman freeing a person who has committed a serious crime because of the exchange of a few naira notes. "These people go back into the society unrepentant to continue from where they stopped," she says.
But the police deny such allegations, with their spokesman saying that the command is doing its best to combat crime in Edo. He calls on well-meaning individuals to come to the assistants of the police.
"The duty of ensuring adequate security is not for the police alone. These robbers live within us. Any suspicious movement should be reported. "Police also need equipment to fight crime. Government alone cannot do it. We expect all well-meaning people to come to our aid," Ogboi says.
The police image-maker observes that some affluent Benin residents spend millions of naira on social functions, denying the police the needed financial and material support.
"We have some men in Benin who spend more N50 million on ceremonies. If only they can take just N2 million out of this to assist the police, I am sure it will not be out of place.
"What most of them know how to do is to request for police to be sent to protect their properties or themselves. They should be able to give back to the police in return," he says.
Sociologists attribute the forces leading to the commission of crime to many factors, some of which are peer group pressure, broken homes, idleness, poverty and insatiate love for material things.
Analysts, therefore, want the government to work in tandem with the larger society to address these causes of crime perpetration. They call on parents and guardians to guide their children and wards, in addition to instilling the fear of God in them.
Similarly, the analysts want the government to take the issue of security seriously by equipping the various security agencies adequately.
On their part, the citizens should assist the police by providing useful information that could lead to the arrest of criminally minded people.
At least, robbers are not spirits, they are human beings and live among the people.
News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)
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