CHAPTER 1: Introduction
Security is the enduring yet elusive
quest. Today most of us similarly seek security, yet our quest is
tempered by the reality that while humans have sought safety history,
they say have usually failed to achieve that goal for long (Rourke &
Boyer, 2002:243). Most scholars agree that security is a ‘contested
concept’. There is a consensus that it implies freedom from threats to
core values (for both individuals and group) but there is a major
disagreement about whether the main focus of enquiry should be on
‘individual’, ’national’, or ‘international’ security (Baylis &
Smith, 2001:300). Some security experts argued that the concept of
security has always been associated with the safety and survival of the
state and its citizens from harm or destruction or from dangerous
threats. This conception generally holds that the state is the only
institution with the primary responsibility and power for the safety of
its territory and its people (Zabadi, 2005:3). The concept of security
in this paper is operationalized within the context of a nation hence
the concept of
Internal security. Civil war
writing was dominated by ideas of national security which was largely
defined in militarized terms with scholars and statesmen advocating on
the military capabilities of states to deal with threat that face them.
More recently, however, this idea of security has been criticized for
being ethnocentric (culturally based) and too narrowly defined. A number
of contemporary writers have argued for an expanded conception of
security outward from the limits of parochial national security to
include a range of other considerations. Buzan (1992) in his study,
People, States and Fear, argues for a view of security which include
political, economic, societal, environmental as well as military aspect
and which is also defined in broader international terms as in the case
of security, the discussion is about the pursuit of freedom from threat.
When this discussion is in the context of the international system,
security is about the ability of states and societies to maintain their
independent identity and their functional integrity (Baylis & Smith,
2001:300).
Security is often viewed in terms of the
basic survival, welfare, and protection of the state existing in an
international system characterized by self- help (Viotti, P. &
Kauppi, and M. 2009:15). As Ozoemena (2009) argues, security is all
about national interest and involves “the sum total of actions and
measures, including legislative and operational procedures, adopted to
ensure peace, stability and the general wellbeing of a nation and its
citizens” (Ozoemena, 2009)
Journal of Social Sciences (2014) MCSER Publishing, Rome-Italy Vol 5 No 27December 2014 1302
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1.1 Background of the Study
Military involvement in the internal
security operations is inevitable as the need for higher level of
aggression continues to reveal itself. Although, this has been the case
ever since Nigeria was formed and it also continued throughout the
colonial period, the recent occurrence of terrorism witnessed in the
country has further justified the need for military participation in
internal security operations. This move however, is not without
challenges of its own as the military is not particularly trained for
internal security operations unlike the civil authorities and as a
result, consistently engage in acts which are not civil enough (Azinge,
2013:2). In view of the above assertion, this paper seeks to affirm the
need for the military to maintain a frontal role in the internal
security of the country so as to meet the challenges inherent in today’s
Nigeria. The 1999 Constitution of Nigeria which provides for the
military in its section 217 makes it clear that the duties of the
military, that is the Army, Navy and Air-force will be to defend Nigeria
from external aggression, maintain its territorial integrity and
securing its borders from isolation on land, sea or air, suppressing
insurrection and acting in aid of civil authorities to restore order
when called upon to do so by the President but subject to such
conditions as may be prescribed by an Act of National Assembly. The
military is also to perform such other functions as may be prescribed by
an Act of the National Assembly. Although the main functions of the
military is to protect the nation against external aggression or
threats, occasionally the military may be required to assist the civil
authorities to deal with internal violence and suppress internal
tension. For instance, the military may be required to assist the police
in restoring law and order in any part of the country. Section 217 (c)
1999 constitution forms the basis of involvement of the military in
internal security operations in Nigeria. It provides thus in relation to
the functions of the military in Nigeria: “suppressing insurrection and
acting in aid of civil authorities to restore order when called upon to
do so by the President but subject to such conditions as may be
prescribed by an Act of National Assembly”.
1.2 Statement of the Problem
Since the return to democratic rule in
1999, Nigeria has witnessed different forms of conflict ranging from
sectarian to ethno religious crises, whole sale abduction, hostage
taking, arson, incidents of cattle rustlings and terrorism in the North.
Our nascent democracy has also been tested by rampant crimes of armed
robbery, baby factories and kidnappings in the East, pipeline vandalism,
crude-oil theft and civil unrest in the South; abduction, hostage
taking and ritual killings in the West. All these have had severe
consequences on human and material resources of the nation hence the
inevitability of military involvement in internal security of the
country. Although the main functions of the military is to protect the
nation against external aggression or threats, occasionally the military
may be required to assist the civil authorities to deal with internal
violence and suppress internal tension. For instance, the military may
be required to assist the police in restoring law and order in any part
of the country. Section 217 (c) 1999 constitution forms the basis of
involvement of the military in internal security operations in Nigeria.
It provides thus in relation to the functions of the military in
Nigeria: “suppressing insurrection and acting in aid of civil
authorities to restore order when called upon to do so by the
President but subject to such conditions as may be prescribed by an
Act of National Assembly”. The problem confronting this research is to
investigate Military Internal Security Operations and Human right; An
Assessment of the Ongoing Military Operations in Nigeria
1.3 Objective of the Study
1To determine the nature of Military internal security operations
2 To determine the nature of Human right observance and violation in military internal security operations
3 To determine the nature of the ongoing military operations in Nigeria.
1.4 Research Questions
1 What is the nature of military internal security operation
2 What is the nature of human right observance and violation in military internal security operation?
3 What is the nature of the ongoing military operations in Nigeria
1.5 Significance of the Study
The study provides a communication
framework of the nature of military internal security operation and
human right issues with particular investigation of the ongoing military
operation in Nigeria.
1.6 Statement of Hypothesis
1 Ho The Level of internal security in Nigeria is Low
Hi The Level of internal security in Nigeria is high
2 Ho Military internal security operation and Human right in Nigeria is not effective
3 Ho Military internal security operation and Human right in Nigeria is effective.
1.7 Scope of the Study
The study focuses on the appraisal of
military internal security operation and human right with a case study
of the ongoing military operation in Nigeria.
1.8 Definition of Terms
SECURITY DEFINED
There is a consensus that it implies
freedom from threats. Some security experts argued that the concept of
security has always been associated with the safety and survival of the
state and its citizens from harm or destruction or from dangerous
threats.
INTERNAL SECURITY DEFINED
Internal security Operations are those
acts carried out by the domestic security agents such as the Police,
Customs Services, Immigration Services, and others for the purpose of
containing domestic threats to the security of the country.
STRATEGY DEFINED
Strategy is planning, coordination, and
general direction of military operations to meet overall political and
military objectives.
TACTICS DEFINED
Tactics implement strategy by short-term decision on the movement of troops and employment of weapons on the field of battle.