By David Onwuchekwa
The recent incident at Oba in Idemili South Local Government Area of Anambra State, where a female member of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) was assaulted by operatives of the state-backed security outfit, Agunechemba, is not only unfortunate but also highly condemnable in all ramifications.
It raises serious concerns about the conduct, professionalism, and accountability of those who are entrusted with the critical responsibility of safeguarding lives and property.
Security operatives, regardless of the platform under which they serve, must never lose sight of their statutory duty, to protect, not to assault.
When those entrusted with the responsibility of protection turn against the very people they are meant to safeguard, the credibility of the entire security architecture is called into question.
This ugly development underscores the urgent need for the Anambra State Government to rethink the recruitment and operational framework of the Agunechemba or any other outfit.
Security should never be treated as an all-comers affair where anyone, irrespective of character or qualification, is absorbed. A clear benchmark in terms of academic qualification, mental fitness, and moral integrity must be set.
Beyond recruitment, regular training and retraining should be institutionalized—not only on crime-fighting techniques but also on comportment, human relations, and respect for fundamental rights.
Equally important is accountability. Commands of the Agunechemba or any other outfit must be held responsible for the actions of their operatives. Sanctions and disciplinary measures should be swift and transparent, not only to serve as deterrent but also to restore public confidence in the system. Without accountability, impunity festers.
However, it is not enough to heap all the responsibility on the government and the security agents alone. Citizens also have a role to play in ensuring a harmonious relationship with security operatives. Confrontational attitudes should be avoided, and cooperation should be extended to ease their tasks. Security personnel, after all, are human beings who can be provoked or misled by poor approaches from the public.
That said, cooperation from citizens does not excuse brutality or abuse of power. A fine balance must be struck: while citizens must be law-abiding and supportive, operatives must embody discipline, patience, and professionalism. Only through this synergy can the purpose of community security be achieved.
The Oba incident should, therefore, serve as a wake-up call. Governor Soludo’s administration must act decisively to sanitize and professionalize Agunechemba or any other name called in order to avert a repeat of this shameful episode. Security can only be effective when it inspires trust, not fear.
