THE ROLE OF MILITARY IN INTERNAL SECURITY OPERATIONS AND HUMAN RIGHT – AN ASSESSMENT OF THE ONGOING MILITARY OPERATIONS IN NIGERIA

ABSTRACT

This study examined “The Role of Military in Internal Security Operations an Human Right: An Assessment of the Ongoing Military Operations in Nigeria”. Purposefully, the study assessed the connection(s) between military inefficiency and internal security in Nigeria; the factors that contribute to insecurity in the country and the causes/challenges facing the military internal security operations. The researcher used survey research designs to carry out the study. The sample size of the population was 200. So 200 questionnaires were administered to 200 respondents from Kaduna South Local Government Area. But, one hundred an ninety-five (195) usable questionnaires provided the database (given an 97.5% response rate) in this study The data obtained was analysed using frequency and simple percentage in tabular form. Based on the findings from the analysis of the data, conclusion was drawn and recommendations given, such as: the military should at least make judicious use of the available resources given them to create a secure environment, the government and the military authorities should provide adequate logistics means that will contribute to the effective and efficiency delivery of the military service… .

Chapter One

INTRODUCTION

1.0       Introduction

Security is an encompassing phenomenon that is paramount to individuals, entities, communities and even nations. Security has to do with self-preservation which is the first law of existence. Security implies a stable, relatively predicable environment in which an individual or group may pursue its ends or objectives without disruption, harm, danger and without fear of disturbance or injury.History, they say, has usually failed to achieve that goal for long (Rourke& Boyer, 2002:243). Most scholars agree that security is a ‘contested concept’. There is a consensus that it implies freedom from threats to core values (for both individuals and group) but there is a major disagreement about whether the main focus of enquiry should be on ‘individual’, ’national’, or ‘international’ security (Baylis& Smith, 2001:300). Some security experts argued that the concept of security has always been associated with the safety and survival of the state and its citizens from harm or destruction or from dangerous threats. This conception generally holds that the state is the only institution with the primary responsibility and power for the safety of its territory and its people (Zabadi, 2005:3). The concept of security in this paper is operationalized within the context of a nation hence the concept ofInternal security. Civil war writing was dominated by ideas of national security which was largely defined in militarized terms with scholars and statesmen advocating on the military capabilities of states to deal with threat that face them. More recently, however, this idea of security has been criticized for being ethnocentric (culturally based) and too narrowly defined. A number of contemporary writers have argued for an expanded conception of security outward from the limits of parochial national security to include a range of other considerations. Buzan (1992) in his study, People, States and Fear, argues for a view of security which include political, economic, societal, environmental as well as military aspect and which is also defined in broader international terms as in the case of security, the discussion is about the pursuit of freedom from threat. When this discussion is in the context of the international system, security is about the ability of states and societies to maintain their independent identity and their functional integrity (Baylis& Smith, 2001:300).

Security is often viewed in terms of the basic survival, welfare, and protection of the state existing in an international system characterized by self- help (Viotti, P. &Kauppi, and M. 2009:15). As Ozoemena (2009) argues, security is all about national interest and involves “the sum total of actions and measures, including legislative and operational procedures, adopted to ensure peace, stability and the general wellbeing of a nation and its citizens” (Ozoemena, 2009)

1.1       Background of the Study

Military role in the internal security operations is inevitable as the need for higher level of aggression continues to reveal itself. Although, this has been the case ever since Nigeria was formed and it also continued throughout the colonial period, the recent occurrence of terrorism witnessed in the country has further justified the need for military participation in internal security operations. This move however, is not without challenges of its own as the military is not particularly trained for internal security operations unlike the civil authorities and as a result, consistently engage in acts which are not civil enough (Azinge, 2013:2). In view of the above assertion, this paper seeks to affirm the need for the military to maintain a frontal role in the internal security of the country so as to meet the challenges inherent in today’s Nigeria. The 1999 Constitution of Nigeria which provides for the military in its section 217 makes it clear that the duties of the military, that is the Army, Navy and Air-military will be to defend Nigeria from external aggression, maintain its territorial integrity and securing its borders from isolation on land, sea or air, suppressing insurrection and acting in aid of civil authorities to restore order when called upon to do so by the President but subject to such conditions as may be prescribed by an Act of National Assembly. The military is also to perform such other functions as may be prescribed by an Act of the National Assembly. Although the main functions of the military is to protect the nation against external aggression or threats, occasionally the military may be required to assist the civil authorities to deal with internal violence and suppress internal tension. For instance, the military may be required to assist themilitary in restoring law and order in any part of the country. Section 217 (c) 1999 constitution forms the basis of role of the military in internal security operations in Nigeria. It provides thus in relation to the functions of the military in Nigeria: “suppressing insurrection and acting in aid of civil authorities to restore order when called upon to do so by the President but subject to such conditions as may be prescribed by an Act of National Assembly”.

1.2      Statement of the Problem

Since the return to democratic rule in 1999, Nigeria has witnessed different forms of conflict ranging from sectarian to ethno religious crises, whole sale abduction, hostage taking, arson, incidents of cattle rustlings and terrorism in the North. Our nascent democracy has also been tested by rampant crimes of armed robbery, baby factories and kidnappings in the East, pipeline vandalism, crude-oil theft and civil unrest in the South; abduction, hostage taking and ritual killings in the West. All these have had severe consequences on human and material resources of the nation hence the inevitability of military role in internal security of the country. Although the main functions of the military is to protect the nation against external aggression or threats, occasionally the military may be required to assist the civil authorities to deal with internal violence and suppress internal tension. For instance, the military may be required to assist themilitary in restoring law and order in any part of the country. Section 217 (c) 1999 constitution forms the basis of role of the military in internal security operations in Nigeria. It provides thus in relation to the functions of the military in Nigeria: “suppressing insurrection and acting in aid of civil authorities to restore order when called upon to do so by the   President but subject to such conditions as may be prescribed by an Act of National Assembly”. The problem confronting this research is to investigate Military Internal Security Operations and Human right; An Assessment of the Ongoing Military Operations in Nigeria.

1.3       Objectives of the Study

• Examine connection(s) between military inefficiency and internal security in Nigeria.
• Analyse the factors that contribute to insecurity in the country.
• Examine the causes/challenges facing the military internal security operations.

1.4      Research Questions

• Is there any connection(s) between military inefficiency and internal security in Nigeria?
• Are there factors that contribute to insecurity in the country?
• What are the causes/challenges facing the military operations to curb insecurity in Nigeria?

1.5       Research Hypothesis

H₀        There is no connection between military inefficiency and internal security.

H₁        The is connection between military inefficiency and internal security.

1.6       Significance of the Study

The study provides a communication framework of the nature of military internal security operation and human right issues with particular investigation of the ongoing military operation in Nigeria.

1.7       Scope and Limitations of the Study

The study focuses on the appraisal of military internal security operation and human right with a case study of the ongoing military operation in Nigeria.

Most research works usually come with one challenge or the other and therefore, this will not be an exemption. In projection of this study, the research work will be constrained with time as the research work is clashing with the academic workloads of the researcher.

Other limitation of the study is inadequate resources (Finance) to conduct a satisfactory and detailed study of the role of the military in internal security operations and human right, an assessment of the ongoing military operations in Nigeria.

So also difficulty was experienced in getting material like textbooks that will also give relevant information to the researcher.

1.8       Definition of Terms

Security: There is a consensus that it implies freedom from threats. Some security experts argued that the concept of security has always been associated with the safety and survival of the state and its citizens from harm or destruction or from dangerous threats.

Internal Security: Internal security Operations are those acts carried out by the domestic security agents such as themilitary, Customs Services, Immigration Services, and others for the purpose of containing domestic threats to the security of the country.

Strategy: Strategy is planning, coordination, and general direction of military operations to meet overall political and military objectives.

Tactics: Tactics implement strategy by short-term decision on the movement of troops and employment of weapons on the field of battle.

Tagged with: Human Right, Internal Security Operations, Military Operations, Role