Inter-Agencies Rivalries and Impunity amongst Security Agencies in Nigeria: Implication for National Security
1Dappa Tamuno-omi Godwin, Ph.D & 2Don John O. Omale, Ph.D
1Department of Political Science, Federal University Wukari
2Department of Sociology, Federal University, Wukari
Email: 1dr.dappa40@yahoo.com & 2djomale@yahoo.co.uk
Abstract
Impunity and unethical conducts exhibited by Security Agencies in Nigeria during conflicts and non-conflict settings demands accountability and responsibility for human rights violations. Given the prevalence of inter-agencies violence in Nigeria and its security implications, this study tries to achieve the objectives of determining the premises, which underlie the impunity of security agencies in Nigeria; to determine the characteristic features that captures the impunity of these security agencies during inter agencies’ conflicts and to determine if this trend of inter agencies belligerencies is a sign of growing discontent. To achieve these objectives, this paper draws its theoretical framework of analysis from the socio-psychological perspective on collective behaviour, a view that finds support in the foundations provided by the Frustration-Aggression theory, which has been successfully used to explain several societal and organizational violations. Using this framework, this paper argues that the belligerences between security agencies in Nigeria can be explained by the power contestations between security agencies in the socio-political environment, that has thrown up a structured “group complex” where some agencies possess greater access and control of state power and decision mechanisms, which it thus, uses to the detriment of others. The study reveals that negative outcomes such as impunity, conflicts and other forms of aggressive behaviour, are the result of certain frustrating antecedents. The paper recommends that government should functionally and mentally engage the Nigerian Security Agencies in nation building activities other than only those relating to protecting the nation from external aggression, carry out value orientation programmes aimed at bridging the gap between members of the security agencies in terms of the “we” and “them” perceptions
