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THE CHALLENGES OF LOCAL, NATIONAL AND TRANSNATIONAL SECURITY ISSUES AND VIOLENCE: THE ROLE OF STUDENT LEADERSBEING A PAPER PRESENTED AT THE LEADERSHIP RETREAT FOR THE NEW CROP OF FUTASU LEADERS (YR 2013) AT NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF EDUCATIONAL PLANNING AND ADMINISTRATUION (NIEPA) ONDO, ONDO STATE BY J.O ADETOYINBO (FIIPS) ASST CHIEF SECURITY OFFICER FEDERAL UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY, AKURE
`INTRODUCTION Violence and fear of insecurity in Nigerian tertiary institutions has become a major source of problem or challenge within and outside the institutions. Since the 1980s when students’ cultism shed the toga of ordinary rascals and put on the toga of death, the specter of terror and campus violence in Nigerian tertiary institutions has risen to such an alarming level that it has remained a permanent feature and always in the front burner in national discourse. That our campuses are fast becoming citadels of violence is only a truism. The peace, serenity and sense of security that make our campus centre of intellectual excellence are fast giving way to unbridled reign of terror, fear and blood letting. One of the earliest reported secret cult violence occurred of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka in 1985 when a non-cult student incurred wrath of another who was a cult leader, for “snatching” the latter’s girl friend. Sometimes in 1991, a student of the University of Portharcourt was beheaded during a feud between cult members. In 1993, 15 students of the University of Port Harcourt were jailed for terms varying from five to 30 years for belonging to secret cult. All other campuses especially in the south west have notoriously shared in the orgy of violence. Significant campuses are those of Lagos State University (LASU), University of Lagos (UNILAG), ObefemiAwolowo University, Ile-Ife (OAU), Yaba College of Technology Lagos, Lagos Sate Polytechnic, Isolo, Federal Polytechnic Ilaro, MoshudAbola Polytechnic, Abeokuta. In the year 1995, about 44 students of FUTA were expelled for their membership of secret cults. They were terribly involved in inter-cult clashes which were characterized with violence. Between March 2003 and August 2004, at least 47 students were killed in 13 higher institutions in the country during clashes involving different cult groups. Since that times, the monster has continued to grow on our campus un abated. The usual students’ demonstration could also be described as a form of campus violence in so far as it entails use of force that causes or are capable of causing damage or injury or disruption to the system. Students demonstration usually involve a farly large number of students and are about issues that are of interest to the generality of students. Campus violence is one of the major security challenges of contemporary Nigeria society and educational system. It is a problem that has attracted the attention of all stake holders in the educational system including students, student leaders, school administrators, Parents and the Government. Campus violence poses a serious threat to peace and stability in higher institutions of learning causing unnecessary and unavoidable disruption to the academic calendar and thus imparting negatively on the quality of education. All these under-score the reason why there shall be continuous discussion on the subject matter.
1. DEFINITIONS OF CAMPUS VIOLENCE Campus violence is usually defined in terms of the adjective “violent” to refer to any deliberate or forceful act that causes or is capable of causing physical harm or injury or damage to the body of a person or property. It could be described as an unruly beheviour by its perpetrators to express dissatisfaction or anger against some social issues deemed to have negatively affected them. Campus violence is an aggressive behaviour which usually involves physical and coercive force, inflicting injuries on both erring and innocent individuals. In most cases, campus violence is the handiwork of a small minority of students who either talk or coerce the majority of the students to join them.
2. THE LIST OF OTHER FORMS OF SECURITY THREATS (CHALLENGES) ON CAMPUS • Assassination • Ritual Killing • Hostage taking/Kidnapping • Burglary / House Breaking • Stealing • Cyber (Internet theft) • Obtaining by false Pretences • Arson • Sexual abuse e.g. Rape • Pen Robbery • Armed Robbery • Murder • Examination Malpractice • Staff Unrest • Pilferage • Fire Outbreak • Assault.
3. CAMPUS VIOLENCE PREDISPOSING FACTORS In order for the student’ leaders to effectively control or manage violence and other forms of security challenges on campus, there is need for them to have the knowledge of some of their major predisposing factors. The predisposing factors for campus violence and other forms of security challenges are myriad, varying from purely domestic, outlanddish to antruilstic and nationalistic in nature.
4. THE LIST OF THE PREDISPOSING FACTORS • The Nigerian military Antecedent • Repressive socio-economic policies of the Government • Sustained disparities between the rich and the poor • A culture of violence that has become a legacy of demanding for right in unfulfiled obligations • The swelling influence of peer group and other anti social groups • Unemployment and in security problem • Global influence.
5. BEHAVIOUR OF KEY ACTORS ON CAMPUS The behaviour codes and life style of key actors in the educational system also sometime serve as a predisposing factor for campus violence. For instance, some Lecturers not only sexually harass, they may also mark down recalcitrant females, and make students who are perceived as competing with them for girls attention. Some lecturers do collect money from students in order to jerk up their scores. Top government officials also mount pressure on school administrators for favour just as some lecturers Pursue government Functionaries to ward off or escape disciplinary measures and proper procedure by the institutions or to seek position within or outside the educational system. These pressures endanger peaceful coexistence on campus.
6. BEHAVIOUR OF KEY ACTORS ON CAMPUS • THE ISSUE OF VICTIM-PRECIPITATION The victim precipitation theory contends that victims contribute to or cause their victimization by their behaviour and therefore deserve what they get. • PEER INFLUENCE Students being lured or coerced into joining cult groups and other anti social groups on campus • RIVALRY Group rivalry and conflict usually over girls, money and political control • FAILURE OF UNIVERSITY MANAGEMENT TO MEET SOME BASIC NEEDS In ability or failure of the school authorities to meet the demands and expectations of the students in term of provision of certain amenities or services e.g water, light, transport facility, etc.
MANAGEMENT POLICIES Disagreement on certain school management policies e.g. increase in school fees, change of school academic calendar etc. • THE ISSUE OF MARGINALIZATION When students are not made to be part of some decision making processes of the institution. • RELIGIOUS INTOLERANCE It is usually experienced when there is conflict among the religious groups on campus e.g Muslim/Christian disagreement over places of worship. It also occurs when a particular religion is more favoured or recognized than others on campus. • INTRA UNION ISSUES Some issues like an electoral malpractice, leadership tussle, corruption can lead to campus violence.
7. THE EFFECTS Of CAMPUS VIOLENCE • Campus violence when allowed to go un-checked has grave implications to the existence of the university, the stake holders at the society at large. • To the students, it causes un-necessary and avoidable disruptions of the academic calendar and consequent elongation of the duration of the academic programmes. • Undesirable economic costs as a result of properties that may be damaged. There had been reports of wanton destruction of private, institutional and government property including houses, machineries and personal items • Physical harm and injury and in some cases, death may result from it.
The fear of the crime which affect not only the direct victims but also non-victim members of the university including students, staff and visitors, parents and relations of staff. • Psychological / emotional effect of the problem for people affected. • It gives the institution affected a bad name at local and international levels . • It lowers productivity. • It retards national development. • It adversely affects the academic rating of the university nationally and internationally.
8. THE ROLE OF STUDENT LEADERS IN CAMPUS VIOLENCE PREVENTION AND MANAGEMENT Student leaders have an important role to play in violence prevention and management in tertiary institutions. In fact, student leaders have become indispensable in violence management basically because of their influential position among the student population. As democratically elected student leaders, they are popular and respected by their fellow students. Regrettably, some student leaders misuse the opportunity and lead their fellow students on the path of destruction. Arising from the need to create a conductive atmosphere for learning, students are seen as partners in progress with security personnel in ensuring that lives and property are adequately secured on campus. Student leaders could promote violence free atmosphere on campus by:
Supplying vital information that will help relevant authorities of tertiary institutions nip in the bud smoldering security threats on campus. • Impressing upon the students, the need to be security conscious always and to avoid acts which are at variance with good conduct. • Impressing upon the students the need to channel their grievances to the relevant authorities through their leaders instead of resorting to violence at the slightest provocation. • Influencing the students to shun acts capable of tarnishing their own image and the image of their institutions as well as reporting to the authority bad eggs among them, especially cultists who maim and kill. • Ensuring that students maintain the culture of joining forces with the security personnel to safeguard the university’s property, particularly when there are fire incidents on campus. • Serving as regulatory valves or middlemen between management and the student body. • Securing the assistance of individuals, organizations and government to help the institution, especially in the area of provision of necessary facilities. This will enable student leaders to leave good legacies behind for their fellow students. • By becoming role models to their fellow students through exemplary conduct and satisfactory academic performance.
9. THE UNIVERSITY MANAGEMENT AND STUDENT LEADERS In some cases the school environment makes it difficult for student leaders to accomplish the above listed roles. Thus, the university authorities should take note of the following suggestions, which if properly followed, could enhance the performance of student leaders. • The university authorities should provide good leadership for students to emulate. • Facilities required for proper academic learning should be provided. • The university authorities should ensure cordial relationship with student leaders. • Rules and regulations should be applied to all students with fairness, firmness, equity and justice. • The university authorities should create proper interactive forum where grievances could be amicably resolved. • The university authorities must be wary of using students as secret agents for security information. This practice is liable to abuse by students. • The university authorities must ensure high sense of dedication to duty among all staff members.
CONCLUSION What informs the need for student leaders to rise up to the challenge of contributing meaningfully to security of lives and property is the fact that they owe it a duty to ensure that their fellow students develop themselves academically and morally under a secure (crime-free) atmosphere. Although it is extremely difficult to have a society that is completely crime-free, the student leaders should by all means create the awareness and s sense of security among their fellow students. Student leaders also owe it as a duty to the institution to do everything within their power to protect lives and property on campus and engender a high sense of love, unity and progress among members of the institution. Student leaders have a lot to offer by way of assisting security management in the university and they are encouraged to extend their hands of fellowship to the relevant authorities and departments of the institution, e.g. the Vice-Chancellor of the university, the Student Affairs Division, the Security Unit, to mention a few. May God Almighty give you a Peaceful Rewarding and Successful Regime (Amen).
THANK YOU THANK YOU
