THE DSS IN CALABAR HAS DEFINITELY GONE MAD. - THAT'S TYPICAL‎

I stumbled onto this sad development an hour ago. Much as I try to articulate an understanding of this event, (if ever such a thing is possible), I know for sure that I will NEVER get satisfaction and closure on this, until steps are taken to redress this situation and reduce the potential for recurrence‎.

The standard operating procedure has been for the leadership of our security agencies to explain away the criminal excesses of their underlings as over reach with no liability implied. Not even a slap on the wrist for those involved. If your boss did not send you on a reckless rampage, why should he get involved in the subsequent cover up? Top commanders in the Nigerian Air Force, Army, Police, DSS, NSCDC and even the Navy do this all the time. In some cases even the Police is the victim. Why? Because the military mentality with the implied and unquestioned impunity has not left our ruling elite. This has serious adverse consequences to which we are all witnesses. Our Military Academies is supposed to offer courses and orientation to remedy this situation. It is either they are taught by incompetent and previously compromised military brass not keen on changing this sinister mind set, or the civilian professors in the mould of such apologists like Isawa Elaigu are unconvinced about the primacy of civil law in any interaction between civilians and the military. It is clear that the academic offerings and staff have to be revamped. Anyone with a bad attitude, including the simple matter of referring to the rest of us as "bloody civilians" flunks out to go and look for another career. For goodness sake, our security forces belong to 'WE THE PEOPLE" and not to the officers and enlisted men that we offer the privilege to serve! If they do not like the subservient position implied by serving under civilian command, they have the choice to go look for other jobs. Or they can try unemployment for a change. Enough is enough.

I understand that a lawyer, representing the. Federal Government Girls' College, Calabar, the brutalized teachers, or both is in the process of suing for some damages (a measly N10m?) and other reliefs. That would be grossly inadequate. The DSS could easily use OUR OWN money to pay off that, while the rogue officers go scot free, get transferred to Jalingo or Birnin Kebbi to continue with the same life of brigandage.

Since the invasion of the FGGC campus in Calabar was not done in pursuance of even an illegal or irrational order, the perpetrators must be dismissed from the service while the traumatized victims proceed to bankrupt them to with a civil suit of say N750m. The lessons will surely reverberate across the whole of West Africa.