Security is Everyone’s Responsibility, By Suleiman S. Jauhar
EMERGENCY DIGEST- It is no more news that security is everyone’s responsibility. In essence, it can be used in developing and fostering a positive security culture which are critical to our very existence.
Every member of society has a responsibility to contribute to crime prevention. No single group or organization can possibly prevent crime on behalf of all. Preventing crime is not the job of law enforcement agencies alone, neither is it exclusive preserve of parents, home owners, or alarm companies. Each person, each group has the potential to prevent crime and spur others to action, and the efforts of all are necessary.
Making crime prevention each person’s business can mean a host of actions from specific improvements in physical security to bringing groups together for more far-reaching efforts.
The point here is that each of us brings his or her leverage to bear against crime. Everyone in the neighborhood has some responsibility to ensure everyone’s safety. For a country to be secure, every citizen needs to have a security mindset, and security thinking must precede every action.
Read Also:
Nigeria in recent times has witnessed an unprecedented level of insecurity. This has made national security threat to be a major issue for the government and has prompted huge allocation of the national budget to the security sector. In order to address the incidences of crimes, the Federal Government has embarked on criminalization of terrorism by passing the Anti-Terrorism Act in 2011, installation of Computer-based Closed Circuit Television cameras (CCTV) in some parts of the country, enhancement of surveillance as well as investigation of criminal related offences, heightening of physical security measures around the country aimed at checking or disrupting potential attacks, strengthening of security agencies through the provision of security facilities and the development and broadcast of security tips in mass media (Azazi, 2011).
In addition, Security should be seen as everybody’s business. As individuals we need to cultivate the habit of security consciousness and to report any security situation to the appropriate authorities immediately. Every individual must cultivate a high level of security awareness and alertness.
This is because individuals understand their communities better and any report of suspicious behaviour or activity could lead to actionable intelligence leading to disruption of attacks. Through the early detection of impending conflicts and its prevention, it will help to provide a safe and enabling environment for the people to operate in, and for economic development to thrive.
Finally, it is important to note that security management can be significantly aided by the cooperation of local communities. Depending on our perceptions and sincere feelings as regards our collective responsibilities towards lasting peace in Nigeria, communities should strive to live peacefully within themselves and their neighbors. They should also be vigilant of strangers in their localities to ensure that criminals do not have easy access to their communities.
More so, the traditional value system of the Nigerian society like most African societies is characterized by such endearing features as collectivism, loyalty to authority and community, truthfulness, honesty, hard work, tolerance, love for others, mutual harmony and coexistence, and identification of individual with one another (Clifford, 2009).
Suleiman S. Jauhar is an NYSC member in Abuja
