Nigeria: Insurgency, Panic Policing and Corruption

There is a general tendency for nations passing through periods of calamities, whether occasioned by nature or beasts who call themselves human beings, as in our case, to easily resort to brute force or to assume emergency powers. It is tempting for the state and its coercive instruments to presume all guilty until they prove otherwise. But as the adage goes, the road to hell is often paved with good intentions.

There is no doubt that in a period of crisis everyone should expect some inconvenience or discomfort here and there. Nevertheless, emergency situations can never justify suspension of the fundamental rights of citizens, including, even in a restricted manner, the beasts who maim and kill our people mindlessly. Of course, our security agencies should do all they can to bomb those felons out of existence.

...

AllAfrica publishes around 400 reports a day from more than 100 news organizations and over 500 other institutions and individuals, representing a diversity of positions on every topic. We publish news and views ranging from vigorous opponents of governments to government publications and spokespersons. Publishers named above each report are responsible for their own content, which AllAfrica does not have the legal right to edit or correct.

Articles and commentaries that identify allAfrica.com as the publisher are produced or commissioned by AllAfrica. To address comments or complaints, please Contact us.