Of Army And Police Inimical Relationship:  Who Will Bell The Cat?

It is not an exaggeration to say that Nigerians have for long been witnessing inter-agency rivalry among security operatives, particularly between men of the Nigerian Army and that of the Nigeria Police to the extent that the somewhat enmity is by each passing day becoming so glaring and gory in the country.

It is expedient to say that in what may certainly go down as the bloodiest clash in recent time between the Police and the Army that three persons were feared killed in 2005, specifically on October 3, at Ojuelegba area of Surulere, Lagos, when some soldiers and policemen engaged themselves in an all-out war that shut down the entire area for most part of the day.

The incident, which began at about 9.30am, also left six soldiers and two policemen, injured, and the Area 'C' Command of the Lagos State Police Command, which houses the Surulere Police Station, and the Police Barracks behind it, was completely burnt down at the time

In a similar vein, the Nigerian Army in January this year arrested a soldier for assaulting two police wardens in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital. A viral video showed him and others beat up the policemen who were controlling traffic. The incident took place on Friday, January 7, 2022 at Adeoye Road by Ring Road.

In response to the incident, Brigadier General Onyema Nwachukwu, Director of Public Relations, at the time said the Army Headquarters ordered an investigation, and announced that the soldier in custody is a Lance Corporal, though, his name was withheld.

The Spokesman noted at the time that “Efforts are being made in collaboration with the Oyo State Command of the Nigeria Police Force to identify, locate and arrest the remaining culprits.” The General explained that vicious attack on fellow security personnel or unarmed citizens was not consistent with the ethos and professionalism of the Nigerian Army, and added that “Anyone found culpable in the Ibadan incident will face the full wrath of the disciplinary provisions.”

As if the witnessed skirmishes between the Army and the Police were not enough, both virtual and physical news platforms were agog with the news on August 4, 2022 that Soldiers attached to the 81 Division have beaten a police officer to death in the Ojo area of Lagos State.

As gathered, the Soldiers from the Ojo Military Cantonment beat a police officer identified as Inspector Monday Orube to death in Lagos over rights to way. The Soldiers who were said to be over thirty (30) in numbers were reported to have abducted two policemen who were working as traffic warden to their barracks while the third officer managed to escape from being abducted.

A source claimed that the lane through which the Soldiers were driving in a Coaster bus was stopped by the three Police Officers who were on duty at the time of the incident to allow other road users on the other lane to pass not knowing that the coastal bus was conveying Soldiers who were still behind.

The Soldiers got infuriated and insisted on taking one-way during an argument with the Officers.

They were said to have pounced on the officers and beat them to pulp. The Soldiers also kidnapped two of the police officers to their barracks where the beating continued.

The source further said when the soldiers noticed that the abducted policemen became unconscious, they decided to take them to their hospital at the cantonment.

However, one of the Police Officers. Inspector Monday Orube unfortunately gave up the ghost on Thursday afternoon.

Another source further disclosed that the Soldiers who were going to their cantonment in a coaster bus, were stopped by the Police Officers and they got angry and asked why Civilians will be allowed to pass before them.

“The three traffic wardens were beaten by over 30 Soldiers before they were abducted to their cantonment.”

One of them was unconscious and they were both taken to their hospital.

The officers were kidnapped while their rifles which include two AK 47, with over seventy rounds of ammunition were reported to be have been confiscated by the Soldiers. However, given the peaceful efforts that have been put in place since then between the leadership of the Army and the Police, it can be opine that they might have being returned to the Police. Though it can in this context

The Soldiers involved in this unlawful act were said to be among the lowest in rank who have only spent four years in service while the Police Officers are senior officers with over twenty years in service.

When contacted on the incident, the Police Public Relations Officer, Lagos State Command, SP Benjamin Hundeyin confirmed that the incident happened.

He said: “It is true that an incident occurred between our officers and some soldiers numbering up to thirty on Wednesday around the Ojo area of the State.”

He however said that the Command and the sister Agency (The Army) involved in the incident are working together to resolve the issue.

At this juncture, it is expedient to ask, “Who is going to bell the cat?” The question becomes imperative in this context as the Army officials are the most dreaded uniformed men in Nigeria. It is not an exaggeration to say that it is the most feared arm of the military by the civilians who they intimidatingly referred to as “Bloody Civilians” whenever there is trouble between them and the defenseless members of the public.

To this end, it is explanatory to say that “Who is going to bell the Cat?” is relatively an old idiom which means to perform a dangerous or a risky task. When you ask someone ‘Who is going to bell the cat?’ you wish to know as to which individual has the courage to do something dangerous.

Yes, Nigerians need to inform the Chief of Army Staff that his men are by each passing day intimidating other Nigerians. Since the incident was reported to have occurred on Friday, not few Lagosians are in hush-hush tone asking, “But who is going to bell the cat?” In fact, making reference to the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) in this context cannot be farfetched as he is the only one that can bell the cat by virtue of being the highest ranking military officer of the Nigerian Army, and having the statutory duty to formulate and execute policies towards the highest attainment of operational competence of the force.

The expression comes from the world of Aesop's fables. In this particular story, a group of mice hold a meeting as to what they can do to prevent the housecat from sneaking up on them. A mouse suggests that if a bell were hung around the cat's neck, then everyone would know where the animal was. The question was, who was going to perform the dangerous task of putting a bell around the cat's neck?

Without overemphasizing the issue, it is germane to also make reference to an African proverb that says “If the keg of palm-wine is not quickly snatched from the hands of an exuberant drunk, he may drink himself to stupor.” A similar proverb has it that “If an overzealous child is not assisted by his elders when roasting yams in the farm, he may innocently set the farm and the hut ablaze”. To me, I think overzealous Army officers need to be called to order, particularly given the fact that Nigeria is at moment in a democratic dispensation, and not under military regime.