Since the unhallowed civil war, thousands of human lives have been needlessly lost in unheralded battle fields across Nigeria. At no time in the history of the country has there been so much bloodshed (other than the civil war, of course) than in recent years. The seemingly intractable Modakeke-Ife and the Aguleri-Omuleri strives in the west and East respectively, in the 1980s and 1990s gradually faded into the militant uprisings in the South-South in the 2000s. These then graduated into the Boko Haram mayhem and ethno-religious conflicts in the Middle Belt of Nigeria, especially in Plateau State. In all these cases, the state as an entity has performed abysmally in emplacing strategies to stifle, cope with, mitigate or eliminate the situation to any appreciable way. Plateau State presents a case study of the wicked failure of the state to properly and adequately respond to the problem with the zeal, determination and force of will that the situation demands. Methinks that an uncharacteristic absence of proper prioritization of the problem is at the apex of our collective failure rather than the beaten paths of “beyond our control” that have been echoed in many chambers of government. This raises the question: how much is too expensive for a human life in Plateau State?

Since the unhallowed civil war, thousands of human lives have been needlessly lost in unheralded battle fields across Nigeria. At no time in the history of the country has there been so much bloodshed (other than the civil war, of course) than in recent years. The seemingly intractable Modakeke-Ife and the Aguleri-Omuleri strives in the west and East respectively, in the 1980s and 1990s gradually faded into the militant uprisings in the South-South in the 2000s. These then graduated into the Boko Haram mayhem and ethno-religious conflicts in the Middle Belt of Nigeria, especially in Plateau State. In all these cases, the state as an entity has performed abysmally in emplacing strategies to stifle, cope with, mitigate or eliminate the situation to any appreciable way. Plateau State presents a case study of the wicked failure of the state to properly and adequately respond to the problem with the zeal, determination and force of will that the situation demands. Methinks that an uncharacteristic absence of proper prioritization of the problem is at the apex of our collective failure rather than the beaten paths of “beyond our control” that have been echoed in many chambers of government. This raises the question: how much is too expensive for a human life in Plateau State?

The violence in Plateau State is matched in ferocity, intensity and scope only by the Boko Haram massacre in the North East. On a nearly weekly basis, we are bombarded by reports of scores of human lives lost and hundreds of thousands of Naira’s worth of properties destroyed. This has steamrolled for more than a decade now. Men, women, and children have been literally slaughtered in hundreds at a time and the lives of the survivors have been left traumatized, disjointed and shattered. Hundreds more have been left to attend to hospital bills they can ill-afford. The pain and suffering of survivors are almost unquantifiable, and the trauma of expected visitation of doom on other communities in the zone of death can only be imagined. Gone were the days when people all over the country envied you for being a citizen of Plateau State, the Home of Peace and Tourism. Gone were the squared shoulders, the ramrod head we squeezed above others, the chest we pushed out and the mouths we pouted in uncommon display of shameless pride. We were the incomparable peacock of the nation, and everyone, even those who did not like us excused, understood and appreciated our lack of humility in our state and the Tin City, Jos. These days we have been reduced to playing the Ugly Duck, with our heads sunk low into our chests, walking in the shadows and doing just enough to parry the barrage of insults and derogatory word-shots directed at us by snipers of fortune and doom alike. The image of Plateau state as the home of peace has not only been shattered but few would dare to taste our cocktail of tourist attractions. There is no doubt that millions of Naira have been lost in the Tourism industry in the state. The continuation and escalation of violence in the state have also created an unbridled climate of fear that has investors scurrying to other states with far lesser potentials and promise than our dear state. Many more millions of Naira have been lost in potential investments and employment opportunities thereof. The cost of violence in Plateau State has been tremendous in all senses, spheres and measures. To add salt to injury, the military presence in the state has not appeared to put a dent on the frequency and magnitude of violence being meted on our hapless communities. In some inexplicable way, it seems to have aided and abetted the problem. However it may be conceived or perceived, the strategies being employed have failed monumentally. It is described as insanity when a strategy that has failed is repeated time and time again with the expectation of a different result. The fact that we have not changed strategy in combating the violence and its agents in over a decade is indicative of our collective failure but more importantly our disdain for the lives under our privileged care. If we prioritized the lives of other members of our community high, we would have made more concerted efforts to address the situation. Here is my argument.

SETTING AND GETTING OUR PRIORITIES RIGHT

First let us examine the budgetary allocations in the state (Please read the 2014 Budget presented by Da Jang, the Governor to confirm these numbers):

1. In 2013, the Plateau State government spent the sums of N1.8 Billion on the procurement of security equipment, vehicles and assets and N275 Million to rehabilitate internally displaced persons, and the purchase and distribution of relief materials. In the same time period, N2 Billion was spent on the New Government House, Rayfield and N129 Million on the Deputy Governor’s Lodge. This takes a back seat to the proposed 2014 allocations
2. In 2014, the government intends to spend the sums of N2.6 Billion on the procurement of security equipment, vehicles and assets; N2.7 Billion on the completion of the New Government House, Rayfield; N3.2 Billion on renovation of the Old Government House; and, N4 Billion on renovation and upgrading of Plateau Hotel to a 5-Star hotel status.

These are just a few of the allocations I care to pick on for obvious reasons. First, less money was spent on the security of the state than on a single, ego-tripping house, the New Government House, Rayfield. Second, less money has been allocated to security in the state than for the same house (does it matter if it is a mansion?) for the year 2014. But more preposterous is the allocation of N4 Billion Naira to renovating and upgrading Plateau Hotel. To what intent and purpose is the upgrading of the hotel to a 5-Star status if not for tourism? And which and how many tourists would come to Plateau State amidst the insecurity and death tolls and destructions being witnessed? Would it not make more sense to have the state secured first and, re-package our image and boost tourism before we invest years of life’s worth of investments in the sector? The image of the state is already battered; building a new Hilton in Jos will not bring tourists. In fact it is foolhardy and does not in any way boost the image or the tourism industry in the state. It would make more sense to have these allocations swapped! – Security for Plateau Hotel’s allocation.

Second, security is still ensconced under “Administration” along with several other things, including the Offices of the Governor and Secretary of the State. It may be presumed that security is subsumed under the duties of the governor, and being overseen by the Adviser to the governor on security matters. I am bold to state that this does not accord it the privileged status that it requires despite the fact that it is “directly” under the Governor. The state is littered with many retired Generals, many with great reputations in the army. There are many other retired senior military officers who have earned their badges in services around the world. A serious prioritization of the security situation in the state would be the creation of an office of high standing, a bureau if you like, headed by one among the crop of excellent retired military officers with the clear mandate to bring the violence under control. For one, we know our terrains better than the Nigerian Military and even our traducers but importantly we know the resources we have in our people and how to organize and bring out the best in them. Simple strategies would suffice to mitigate the frequency and toll of destruction being witnessed. We will come to the tasks that such a bureau may be saddled with momentarily. But the lack of a specific office to oversee the security situation bespeaks of our misplaced priorities.

Third, the near total absence of the employment of modern technology to win this war betrays our antiquated mindset of approaching and dealing with new problems. My friend insists that these days analog problems require digital solutions and digital problems surely demand digital solutions. We need to shed the toga of ineptitude, inefficiency and inadequacy that we have clothed ourselves with and think outside the box to new ways and solutions to deal with old and new problems alike. When we see new strategies in place and yet continue to get beaten, we know that someone somewhere is doing something about our plight. In the absence of that, we have only the unpleasant trinity of disillusionment, disappointment and discouragement for company.

IS HUMAN LIFE TRULY PRICELESS?

Economists the world over have constructed models to quantify the cost of human life. Religionists and moralists tell us that human life is priceless because we lack the knowledge of the mechanism that provides and sustains the breadth of life. But we are humans and materialistic. And like the search for the all-illusive Holy Grail or Philosopher’s Stone or Fountain or Elixir of Youth, we continue our search to put a price on human life. Generally, we have come to sense that a human life is worth some trade off amount between total sums of their earnings, lifestyle, choices, potentials and risks. For example, in the US, law makers generally assume the sum of $1.5 Million per human life while Transportation economists, Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) officials have come up with values of $6 Million, $7.5 Million and $9 Million respectively. For the sake of argument, we will attempt an analysis of the cost of a human life in Nigeria based on crude estimates derived from minimum wage alone.

The minimum wage in Nigeria is N18,000 (Eighteen Thousand Naira) per month. In 12 months (One year), a Nigerian on minimum wage earns N216,000 (Two Hundred and Sixteen Thousand Naira) only. Assuming the person starts work at the age of 18 (just after secondary school for minimum wages) and works for the maximum number of years allowed, which is 35yrs (Thirty-five years), the person would have earned a total of N7.56 Million (Seven Million, Five Hundred and Sixty Thousand Naira) only. Seeing that the life expectancy in Nigeria is 53.2 years, the retirement age of the person coincides with his/her life expectancy, which works out fine for our crude estimation (either ways). This estimate does not account for potentials and risks (of course, some people will earn much more than minimum wage, while many others may not have amassed such earnings in their lifetime). But that is why we are assuming minimum wage only. A few weeks ago, about 33 (Thirty-three) people were killed in Shonong village, Riyom LGA in one of many raids in the state. Extrapolating for these people, a total costs of N249.5 Million (Two Hundred and Forty-nine and a half Million naira) was incurred in human life alone, which is almost 10% of the 2014 budgetary allocation to security in the state. In the first few months of 2014 so far we have recorded more than 50 deaths already. Quantify and add the costs of damaged properties, pain and suffering and you may come to the realization that no amount of money is probably too expensive for human life.

RECOMMENDATIONS

First, the state needs to prioritize the security of the state. Actually, the most fundamental duty of government is to safeguard the lives and properties of people in the state. Any other duty and responsibility competes for a distant third. No amount of engineering and re-engineering work will work to elevate the state and alleviate the sufferings of its people if their security is uncertain. How many farmers can put in a true day’s work on their farms? How many workers will earn a true day’s wage in their employment and business places? How many people will invest in the market that is potentially subject to collapse through violence on its workers? How many people would like to bring their skills, knowledge and business into this scary fog of war? It is high time the government created a special office, under a seasoned military officer to search for ways and means to quell down the violence. The office should be saddled with the coordination of state efforts along with the Nigerian military to tackle the problem. All communities, especially in the problem areas of the North and Southern parts of the state should be trained in the art and science of reconnaissance, surveillance and monitoring tactics. They should be able to identify tale tell signs of imminent attacks, uncommon movements around them and response strategies. At the height of the Cold War, all communities, schools (Tertiary, Secondary and Elementary) in the US were taught response strategies in the event of a nuclear attack by Russia. That is prioritizing security.

Second, all communities should be equipped with specially designed cell phones whose buttons all direct a SOS (Save Our Souls) Emergency call to the Security Office to coordinate immediate response. At least 5 (five) persons “WhistleBlowers” should be trained in the use of this phone that they should carry on their persons at all time and transfer same to one of 5 other equally trained persons (“Retainers”) in the event they would not be in the community for any amount of time. The cell phones should be equipped with GPS capabilities that will identify the location(s) of call and allow the security office to coordinate and roll out its counter strategy for the particular zone immediately. There are many technicians in Jos that can customize this special cell phone from the myriad of collections that line the pavements of Ahmadu Bello Way, Jos.

Third, simple but very loud alarm warning systems that run on solar energy should be placed in all the communities and be activated in the event of an attack. The alarm will benefit communities in several ways: (i) warn members of the community that they are under attack and that the individual and collective response program (whatever it is) should be put into action (ii) warn nearby communities that they are in danger and should respond accordingly (iii) alert security agents in the proximate area to respond accordingly (iv) place the attackers under pressure to evacuate as soon as possible, hoping that in that event mistakes may be made and/or lives may be saved. With the general zone of attack identified by the security outfits, a cordon may be put in place for a search and kill mission.

There is a paramilitary outfit on the ground in the state: Operation Rainbow. In any and all of these scenarios above Operation Rainbow agents could be empowered to facilitate training of local communities on the proper use of the equipment (cell phones, alarm systems) and the surveillance, monitoring and response strategies. All that is needed is for the units to be adequately trained in these tactics themselves. They may then be employed as trainees for communities and be empowered to lead the surveillance and monitoring of different zones.

First, the trouble areas may be demarcated into zones for effective policing. Units of Operation Rainbow personnel should be allocated to each zone under a commander. Second, they should be tasked with teaching communities in their zones all the necessary tactics and strategies as already suggested. Third, they should also be provided with surveillance vehicles, equipped with rudimentary communication gadgets to allow them coordinate with other units and their security base. They also need vehicles and special equipment such as binoculars with night vision capabilities, bullet proof vests and other necessities that would help them to be effective managers of their zones. Fourth, being a special force on the front lines and being first time responders, their compensation should be motivating and incentivizing. Finally, provided with the necessary equipment, they should be held accountable for any attacks in their zones, along with any number of Armed and Police officers that may be drafted to work with the units.

DRONES FOR PEACE ON THE PLATEAU

One of the most important effective means of surveillance in modern times is the employment of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) otherwise known as drones. These are flying machines that could be weaponized to rain death from several hundred meters above the ground. There are many of such drones, unweaponized, that have been used effectively for military and civilian surveillance, intelligence gathering and data collection. Compared to the death, pain and suffering, damaged image and lost investments of our dear state, the costs of many of these drones are relatively cheap. Take the Aeryon Scout for instance. It is a compact piece of flying machine whose height is merely 30 cm (Thirty centimeters – the length of the desk ruler), and wing span is merely 80 cm (Eighty centimeters). Its loaded weight is less than 2 kg (the weight of 2 Five-Alive packages). It cruises at a speed of about 40 km/hr but has a maximum speed of about 80 km/hr. It has a range of about 3 km, which means that it could be flown to a distance of 3 km away from its operation base. It also operates at altitudes over a kilometer above mean sea level (MSL), which is well beyond the effective range of the AK47 and MI6, the two most common assault rifles in the world. The Scout has night vision capabilities, real-time video and pictures transmission capabilities, daytime/nighttime optical and digital image stabilizations that could be zoomed, panned and tilted for more effective coverage as desired. Each unit costs approximately $60,000 (Sixty Thousand US Dollars), which is approximately N10 Million (Ten Million Naira) only. Twenty (20) units would cost approximately N200 Million (Two Hundred Million Naira) only. Add an additional N500 Million (Three Hundred Million Naira) for vehicles and equipment for the Patrol and response units, we still have more than a Billion naira to spend on maintenance, salaries and benefits and other overhead costs.

The genius in the Scout drone is the fact that it can be removed from the back pack, assembled and launched in less than 2 minutes (Two minutes). It can be flown in real time using a simple guidance device or pre-programmed to fly over designated areas. It also requires minimal training and skills to operate effectively. Real-time images can be transmitted directly to the base station to zoom in, identify, follow and guide responders to the number, sophistication and whereabouts of the attackers in real-time. Let’s assume that the Northern zone is demarcated into ten zones, each zone could have two drones to deploy for monitoring and surveillance and also to respond to distress calls from communities as soon as and when they are being attacked.

These are simplified outlines of more sophisticated operations but they have been laid bare to demonstrate the fact that our responses have been inept, inadequate, inefficient and ineffective. There are many political hurdles to climb to enable the use of some of these technologies, but they will be worthwhile at the end. No amount is too expensive to pay for a human life; for peace and security; and for the pursuit of freedom, liberty and happiness.

But assuming the government will not listen to voices of reason, they should please make the STF mobile and prtrol, day and night the nooks and crannies of the zone of battle, for good ness sake. A sit-tight, road-blocking, bribe-demanding and collecting and virtually immobile armed force on the ground is useless. We should expect and demand more.

Joseph Dangme Rinyom has written many articles on the security situation in Plateau State and Politics in Nigeria for nearly a decade.

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My Candid assessment of the Jang administration – by Joseph Dangme Rinyom