By Katdapba Yunana Gobum

NEWSDAILYNIGERIA: The work of any security operative can be challenging, yet rewarding. If there is success, praise becomes apparent, for duty executed.

To fail is to wish it never occurred. Some of the times, failure occurs as a result of overzealousness.

Last week, September 2, 2022 for Joy Owolabi was hell. For an innocuous request to an officer of the law to enable her customers gain access to her shop, the NSCDC officer would have no ‘bloody civilian’ challenge him.

Rather, she got what she never bargained for: He punched her. And kicked her mercilessly until she submitted in pains, with a swollen face. Her neighbours stood transfixed and watched helplessly as he rein blows on all that was her body.

As if to say: ‘Woman, this is what you deserve for challenging an officer of the law’. He went satisfied, but left her bruised beyond comprehension.

Those who saw the ‘harmless and helpless woman’ as in the above picture) may have rightly wondered what must have hit her.

I don’t know what the family feels, but, boy, no husband would return home to find his wife assaulted in that senseless manner and feel content.

Any officer of the law is meant to protect. If the protection goes beyond what is expected like in Owolabi’s, the head of the perpetrator(s) must be critically examined.

The NSCDC personnel (not yet fingered) in the assault, it has been reported will be fished out, as the Plateau State Command is ‘worried by this unfortunate incident’, describing
the ‘incident as barbaric, unfortunate, regrettable and uncivilised’.

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A full ‘investigation into the matter to ascertain the real identity of the suspect’ has been directed by the State Commandant, Alexander Bissa Barunde. No officer of the law should condescend to the level of being barbaric and to inflict ‘bodily harm’ on persons who should be protected.

Overzealousness has been the bane of some security operatives, who, over time, have gone over board leaving citizens wondering if we understand their rules of engagement. If,’the Corps’ commitment to the protection of lives and property of the citizens’, are anything to go by, that officer must be fished out.

While an apology has been offered ‘to the family of the woman concerned’, NSCDC says, ‘the matter would not be swept under the carpet’. That ‘decisive action’ that ‘will be taken against the culprit as soon as the outcome of the investigation is made’ should be made public.

We are watching and waiting for the outcome of the investigation. Being a security man is not a license to treat people with disdain, but we are where we are because this is Nigeria. It is not palatable, it stinks to high heavens.

Professionalism is the hallmark of any security. They have been accused severally for lack of ‘respect of the fundamental human rights of the citizens’ and swept under the carpet because people didn’t stand up to what may have happened.

So long as those engaged in these barbaric acts are not fished out, so long will it continue. Once identified and punished, it will serve as deterrent to those who have the proclivity to go the same way.

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This should not be isolated and left to dust in official files : FIDA, NAWOJ, CSOs please, get to work. This vicious trademark of certain security officials must be curtailed. Let us live as civilized people, anywhere in Nigeria.

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