Personal
Security in Present Day Eleme: A Paper Presented to the Youths of the Redeemed
Church of God, Aleto Eleme by Osaro Ollorwi on Monday 12th May, 2019
Introduction
Before
delving into the rudiments of personal security let us briefly describe insecurity;
thereafter examine what security is, its origin, the importance of personal
security in present day Eleme and conclude by advising ourselves on friendship
selection and some qualities of true and lasting friendship.
What is
Insecurity?
Insecurity is
the tendency to feel fearful, anxious, unsafe, and apprehensive regarding
present or future situations or circumstances.
On the
other hand, the philosophy of security is concerned and associated with assets
protection, crime prevention and loss prevention. The time and space met for this lecture will
not permit us to go into the rudimentary process of explaining assets, crime
and loss in security. It is assumed that
we all have the basic knowledge of all these security terminologies.
Origin of
Security
The origin of security has always been traced to the
Holy Bible. The entire Christian Bible is concerned with the following:
a.
How God protected Believers’ lives and properties
yesterday;
b. How He
is protecting them today; and
c.
How He planned to protect them tomorrow and in
eternity.
In the beginning God revealed the essence of
security. He kept Adam and Eve and their family in a secured environment with
all protective measures put in place – in the Garden of Eden. Adam and his family
were only required to observe the basic security measures by obeying simple
instructions and keeping themselves and properties out of harms’ way. But, this
reliable security arrangement was breached when the mole inside allowed the enemy
access, which resulted in deceit, lies, criminal conspiracy, and
murder.
The cumulative consequences of the above include:
1.
Separation of God from Adam;
2. Ejection
of Adam and Eve from the beautiful Garden of Eden;
3. Withdrawal
of security from Adam and his family;
4. Exposure
of Adam and his family to varied security threats;
5. Assassination
of Abel by his brother Cain, an abomination;
6. Cain did
not only became a criminal at large,
he declared wanted and death penalty pronounced
on him; and
7.
Crime, violence and loss became institutionalised in
the society.
The aim of God for taking man and putting him in the
Garden of Eden to work (develop)
it and take care of (protect) it;
Gen. 2:15 was defeated. The thief stole their peace and shattered their security;
he brought envy and bitterness into the family, killed Abel, pursued Cain into
exile and destroyed the first family, John 10:10. Let us heed the warning to “Be
alert, be on the watch! Your enemy, the Devil, roams round like a roaring lion,
looking for someone to devour. ” 1
Peter 5:8.
Situation
on Ground in Eleme
For some time now, the mass media have been agog
with horrifying news of cold-blooded murder, kidnapping, armed robbery, and
sundry crime-related reports. These mind-bogging news items that we are constantly
bombarded with are the sad reflections of our daily experiences as a people, so
much so that citizens and residents awaits each day with some replicated,
unsure whether the next day would meet them alive.
The
police on its part operating with limited manpower, technology and other vital
resources are finding it very difficult to protect the citizens and residents.
Every year, violence ends the lives of thousands of young people across the
State. Their families are left to cope with the loss of a life barely lived and
to face the future over-shadowed by violence.
The
military regiment in Eleme is stack in-between delving into pure police duties
or performing its core constitutional functions; thus slowing them down each
time they swift into action. The military are not trained for policing, neither
are they equipped for crowd or traffic control. Providing “aids to civil authority” when called
upon to do so temporarily doesn’t make them law enforcement agency.
The
dart of real-time information is not only reducing the competency of our troops
but also rendering them handicap. Unfortunately, it appears the criminals have
more real-time information than our security agencies courtesy citizens and
residents whom the security agents are working tirelessly to protect.
The
terrain is unknown to the security operatives coupled with the absence of streets
name, unidentified roads and other undefined landmarks across Eleme.
Guns in
Eleme
The dastardly killing of over 40 people between 2013
and first quarter of 2019 by cultists and the daily unlashing of mayhem on the
communities by these hoodlums speaks volumes of how much we are trapped in the
whirlpool of violence. It will be
improper to name the victims of cult-violence in recent times in Eleme. But,
these people are not supposed to die untimely. These youths whose parents work
very hard to support their families are not supposed to wind up in body bags
with their parents, relations and friends weeping over a tragedy that is too
great and too final ever to overcome. Nor, are many of our youngsters supposed
to endure their adolescence choking on the guilt and desire for revenge that
comes when you watch your brother shot down by a cultist.
There
are no more wars in Eleme or between Eleme and any of its neighbours. It is
guns now. The number and sophistication of handguns in Eleme has doubled. Our
youths too often resolve their trivial arguments by shooting one another to
death. Often, the victims and the perpetrators are too young to even realize
that death is not a television stunt – to be done and undone in a twinkling.
Despite
the high level of poverty, illiteracy, unemployment, ignorance,
underdevelopment, and above all, ungodliness in the area, it is estimated that
over 500 of local and foreign made handguns are now in circulation in Eleme.
The key
word here is “circulation”. Guns don’t stay where their owners put them. They
exchange hands. Our youths know where to get these guns and they brag openly
how easy guns are to be obtained. They borrow guns, steal guns, or buy guns for
paltry sum. Statistics confirm that young people in Eleme have no trouble
obtaining guns; and they carry more sophisticated arms than even the police.
Thus, in Eleme, as in many Nigerian cities, a bloodbath is drowning thousands
of young men who are supposed to live good productive lives – long lives.
It is
for these reasons that the government, the police and those concerned with
security have made the clarion call to the civil populace to assist the police
with relevant timely information to check crimes and to apprehend criminals.
This
message is no less important as we gather to discuss ways of obviating the
menace of cultism, violence, armed robbery, kidnapping and other
life-threatening crimes. Cult violence related crimes have indeed graduated
from a tumour to a full-blown cancer in Eleme; and it is only the experts who
can cure our society of the scourge of cultism. Cultism is a public health problem that is fast
decimating a generation of our youths.
Cultism, Women and HIV/AIDS in Eleme
Apart from the mind-bogging cult-related violent
deaths in Eleme, the impact of cultism on women and future of Eleme is
worrisome.
Women play both active
and passive roles in cult activities and they suffer the most from cult
violence. They are the mothers, aunties, sisters and daughters as well as
initiates of these cultists and cult groups respectively who are trapped in an
unending web of cult violence. Their roles depends on who they are to an
individual cultist or cult group but many involve supplying of information,
provision of food, ordinances, ferry of weapons across boundaries, and leading
of special operations.
Women are also agents
of Cult-Initiations. Cult groups are known to have sex with young women in
turns as part of their initiation. That accounts for a renowned medical doctor
in Eleme saying that Eleme is on the verge of extinction. He estimated HIV/AIDS prevalence in Eleme to
be far above Rivers State average of 15.5 per cent. He lamented that if nothing
is done and quickly too, in the near future the population of Eleme will be
highly depleted.
Although, women remain
a minority of street cultists and perpetrators of cult violence, they
increasingly suffer the greatest harm. They are faced with specific and
devastating forms of sexual violence; they are the first to be affected by
infrastructure breakdown as they struggle to keep families together and care
for the wounded; and many are forced to turn to sexual exploitation in order to
survive and support their families. What next?
Managing Personal Security in
Eleme
Personal security management is assessing the
security risks around you, developing strategies to prevent or mitigate threats
that can harm you, your family and property. Some of these threats are cult or terrorist
attacks, kidnapping, robbery, rape, fires or break-ins. It is also concerned
with designing emergency response plans should these events occur; assessing
programme effectiveness and familiarity with the acceptable security protocol.
Knowing
Dangerous People
The first
step to managing personal security is to know dangerous people. It is not easy to learn how to spot a dangerous
person. You need to learn to listen to and trust your instincts when something
a stranger says or does makes you feel as if you are at risk of harm. Dangerous
men exhibit behaviours that communicate their belief that they are justified in
what they do. In addition a dangerous man can have absolutely no intention of
harming you physically, but in other ways be it emotionally, sexually or
criminally.
Understand
Risky and Dangerous Actions
Listen to your instincts and learn how to spot a
dangerous person.
Dangerous people look just as normal as people who are not a threat to you or
others. Their danger to you does not have to include physical danger. They can
be a threat financially, spiritually, emotionally, or sexually. Control is an
example of danger sign. If someone wants control over you, mentally,
economically or emotionally, this is a warning sign. Also, beware of lies being
used to gain dominance.
Walk away or push the person away if his physical actions or verbal communications tell
you he is dangerous to you. Even though society has taught you to be
polite and accommodating, when someone is dangerous and you are picking up on
this, you can be rude as you rebuff his advances.
Also, act proactively when
you are out at night. If you are walking through a parking
garage or down a dark street, have your keys interlaced between your fingers in
a tight grip should you encounter a man you don't know. If a man is following
you, look for an open business so you can seek help. If you carry mace, make
sure to have the kind that does not freeze in cold climates.
Personal Security: Helping Yourself
and Family 1
Work with your family, in your neighbourhood, and in your community.
Recognize that violence has many
causes. Some are immediate, e.g.:
a. A specific argument,
b. Easy availability of a weapon,
c. A situation in which an aggressor
thinks violence will bring quick rewards,
d. An anger that sees no other
outlet.
Some are less direct for example:
a. A community tolerance of high
violence levels, reinforced by:
1. Violence in news and
entertainment media. Some are
2. Individual inability to see
another way to settle disagreements
3. Peer pressure that measures or
boosts self-esteem through violence.
Personal
Security: Helping Yourself and Family 11
1. Make yourself, family and things
safer from violence a priority.
2. Work with your own children, with
other kids you care about, and with teens and adults you care about to reduce
the risk that you or someone you love will fall victim to violence. In other
words:
a. Children should learn not to hit,
kick, or bite.
b. Children must know the real
consequences of violent events and entertainment.
c. Teach children how else a
conflict might have been settled, what the angry person might have done
instead, what unseen or unspoken consequences violence might have.
d. Let children lay out their
thoughts about violence. This helps them learn how to think through this and
other issues.
e. Encourage your child to approach
you about a real or possible danger. You may be a neighbour, an aunt or uncle,
or a grown-up who happens to be nearby. Suddenly a child comes to tell you
something is wrong. How can you handle it helpfully?
f. If the child has found a weapon
or a possible weapon or describes some other immediate danger; go to the scene
at once, if you’re not putting yourself at risk.
g. Children should avoid
name-calling and teasing. These can easily get out of hand, moving all too
quickly from "just words" to fists, knives, and even firearms.
h. Teach children that bullying is
wrong; help them learn to say "no" to bullies and to get adult help
with the situation if need be. Remember that words can hurt as much as a fist.
i.
Take a
hard look at what you, your family, and your friends watch and listen to for
entertainment—from action movies to cop shows, from soap operas to situation
comedies, from video games to music lyrics. What values are they teaching? Do
they make violence appear exciting, humorous, or glamorous? How do characters
solve problems? Are the real-life consequences of violence clear? Set clear
limits on TV viewing and provide active, positive alternatives for free time.
j.
Teach
children basic strategies for personal safety to prevent violence and reduce
their risk of victimization.
k. Help them learn and practice
common courtesies. "Please," "thank you," "excuse
me," and "I am sorry" help ease tensions that can lead to
violence.
l.
Emphasize the importance of being drug free. Research
shows use of alcohol and other drugs like Tramadol, Codeine, Marijuana, etc., is
closely linked with violence, including the use of guns and other weapons.
m. Encourage children to stick with
friends who steer clear of violence and drugs. Make your home a comfortable
place for these kids to gather; help them find positive, enjoyable things to
do.
n. Remind children of simple
self-protection rules not to go anywhere with someone they (and you) don’t know
and trust; how and when to respond to phone calls and visitors if you are
unavailable, how to deal with adults (or other children) who approach or touch
them inappropriately, what are safe routes to favourite neighbourhood
destinations.
o. Rehearse what to do in urgent
situations, like finding a weapon or being approached inappropriately by a
stranger or seeing something wrong happen.
p. Help your children to both learn
and practice ways to keep arguments from becoming violent.
q. Encourage young people to tackle
security problems. Urge them to find out:
1. How they can learn simple
strategies to prevent crime against themselves and their friends;
2. How groups can settle
disagreements without using fists or weapons; and
3. What drug-free, alcohol-free
positive activities are available for teenagers?
Personal Security – Choose True and
Lasting Friends
What
is friendship? Friendship means the attachment of one person to another marked
by mutual affection and trust, intimacy and love. Because many of us do not
know the true meaning of friendship we fall into wrong hands in the name of
friendship.
As Christians, choose your friends wisely. Prov.
22:24,25. James 4:4. Select your friends well. Be a companion of all them that
fear God, and of them that keep God’s precepts. Ps.119:63. In accordance with
Proverbs 2:20b, walk in the way of good people, and keep the paths of the
righteous. If you walk with wise people you shall be wise: but a companion of
fools shall be destroyed, (emphasis,
mine), Prov.13:20. When a particular friend of yours failed to be ointment and
perfume to rejoice your heart, the Holy Bible advised us to change that friend,
Prov. 27:9.
Qualities of True and Lasting Friendship
If
your friendship lack any of the following qualities, please look the other
side:
1. Compassion
– Job 6:14a
2. Forgiveness
– Prov.17:9, 1Peter 4:8
3. Supportiveness
– Prov. 17:17
4. Initiative
Prov. 18:24a
5. Discretion
Prov. 25:17
6. Loving
Counsel and Correction – Prov. 27:6a
7. Consideration
– Prov. 27:14
8. Loyalty
– Prov. 27:10a
9. Encouragement
– Prov. 27:17
10. Teamwork
– Ecclesiastes 4:9,10
11. Unity
– Amos 3:3
12. True
Understanding – John3:29
13. Self-Sacrifice – John 15:13
14. Open
and Honest Communication – John15:15
15. Unselfishness
– Rom.15:1,2
16. Mutual
Concern – Philippians 2:4
17. Mutual
Edification and Inspiration – Colossians 3:16
18. Positive
Peer Pressure – Heb. 10:24
19. Love
– 1 Peter 4:8
High
Chief Osaro Ollorwi
Tel.
08036694027, 08096811012
