Coronavirus pandemic is spreading like wildfire across countries in the world. The pandemic has b... more Coronavirus pandemic is spreading like wildfire across countries in the world. The pandemic has brought to the fore the need to re-examine police response in Nigeria and to set an agenda for pandemic policing. The thrust of this article was borne out of the disturbing trends closely linked to policing state actors bordering on the use of excessive force, involvement in corrupt practices and extra-judicial killings during COVID-19 lockdown. The need to examine the rights of citizens during the pandemic also formed of a core objective of the article. The article concludes that even in a pandemic, fundamental human rights of citizens must be upheld and protected by law enforcement actors such as the Nigeria Police. Therefore, scenario planning, specialized codes of conduct focused on policing complex pandemics, and training of rank and file officers should be essential aspects of pandemic policing. In light of the re-introduction of community policing initiatives by the Federal government and the Nigeria Police prior to the pandemic, it is essential that the Police continue to conduct themselves professionally to secure the trust of the community and ensure that modest gains recorded on community policing in specific locations are not rolled back
Basic Education and the Almajiri Child in Nigeria, 2013
Despite the policy of a free and compulsory education, about 9 million school aged children in Ni... more Despite the policy of a free and compulsory education, about 9 million school aged children in Nigeria are currently not served by this policy. This research is an attempt to make visible the experiences of school aged Muslim boys who are excluded from the mainstream school system. Drawing on qualitative field research and textual analysis, the study examined the ways in which they are excluded specifically looking at causal factors that structure their schooling/under-schooling. Research findings show that while this universal program of education has enabled access for some children, children from poor rural Muslim households are not able to enact their active citizenship through the rights to education. A limited focus of western-styled education, indirect costs and childhood construction amongst others were found in the study to have thrust these households into alternatives considered as ‘free’ for their children. The research findings therefore unveil the failure of the state to be responsive to the multiplicity of childhoods in the context where rural Muslim households desire both religious and western-styled education for their children. Ultimately, the study highlights the need for the state to provide meaningful education that takes account of the diversity of childhoods through broadening the present focus and content of western-styled education.
Deepening Civil Military Relations for Effective Peacebuilding and Democratic Governance in Nigeria, 2019
One of the greatest security challenges confronting the Nigerian state after the Civil War is the... more One of the greatest security challenges confronting the Nigerian state after the Civil War is the current insurgency campaign led by the Jama’atu Ahlis Sunna Lidda’awatiwal-Jihad popularly known as Boko Haram in the North East of Nigeria. This reign of terror continues to generate tensions and deepen existing mistrust between civilians and the military on the one hand and while on the other hand constituting security threats for security operatives in the region and in Nigeria at large. The situation in the North East is further compounded by other security challenges in other parts of the country involving other non-state armed and unarmed groups. These crises collectively pose threats to the peace and stability of the Nigerian state. Sadly, a common approach by the Federal Government of Nigeria to addressing these security challenges is the deployment of the military and other security agents to internal conflict and conflict-prone areas, which is progressively becoming a norm in Nigeria. The paper highlights the practicalities, opportunities, challenges and lessons learned in implementing a civil military relations project in Nigeria drawing extensively from field experiences. It further examines military approaches to civil military relations in Nigeria. While the challenges of civil military relations in Nigeria is deeply rooted in history, the paper recommends that positive civil military relations as a key approach and strategy to be deployed by all stakeholders particularly the Military in restoring trust amongst crisis affected communities and for improving the overall architecture of national security in Nigeria.
Coronavirus pandemic is spreading like wildfire across countries in the world. The pandemic has b... more Coronavirus pandemic is spreading like wildfire across countries in the world. The pandemic has brought to the fore the need to re-examine police response in Nigeria and to set an agenda for pandemic policing. The thrust of this article was borne out of the disturbing trends closely linked to policing state actors bordering on the use of excessive force, involvement in corrupt practices and extra-judicial killings during COVID-19 lockdown. The need to examine the rights of citizens during the pandemic also formed of a core objective of the article. The article concludes that even in a pandemic, fundamental human rights of citizens must be upheld and protected by law enforcement actors such as the Nigeria Police. Therefore, scenario planning, specialized codes of conduct focused on policing complex pandemics, and training of rank and file officers should be essential aspects of pandemic policing. In light of the re-introduction of community policing initiatives by the Federal government and the Nigeria Police prior to the pandemic, it is essential that the Police continue to conduct themselves professionally to secure the trust of the community and ensure that modest gains recorded on community policing in specific locations are not rolled back
Basic Education and the Almajiri Child in Nigeria, 2013
Despite the policy of a free and compulsory education, about 9 million school aged children in Ni... more Despite the policy of a free and compulsory education, about 9 million school aged children in Nigeria are currently not served by this policy. This research is an attempt to make visible the experiences of school aged Muslim boys who are excluded from the mainstream school system. Drawing on qualitative field research and textual analysis, the study examined the ways in which they are excluded specifically looking at causal factors that structure their schooling/under-schooling. Research findings show that while this universal program of education has enabled access for some children, children from poor rural Muslim households are not able to enact their active citizenship through the rights to education. A limited focus of western-styled education, indirect costs and childhood construction amongst others were found in the study to have thrust these households into alternatives considered as ‘free’ for their children. The research findings therefore unveil the failure of the state to be responsive to the multiplicity of childhoods in the context where rural Muslim households desire both religious and western-styled education for their children. Ultimately, the study highlights the need for the state to provide meaningful education that takes account of the diversity of childhoods through broadening the present focus and content of western-styled education.
Deepening Civil Military Relations for Effective Peacebuilding and Democratic Governance in Nigeria, 2019
One of the greatest security challenges confronting the Nigerian state after the Civil War is the... more One of the greatest security challenges confronting the Nigerian state after the Civil War is the current insurgency campaign led by the Jama’atu Ahlis Sunna Lidda’awatiwal-Jihad popularly known as Boko Haram in the North East of Nigeria. This reign of terror continues to generate tensions and deepen existing mistrust between civilians and the military on the one hand and while on the other hand constituting security threats for security operatives in the region and in Nigeria at large. The situation in the North East is further compounded by other security challenges in other parts of the country involving other non-state armed and unarmed groups. These crises collectively pose threats to the peace and stability of the Nigerian state. Sadly, a common approach by the Federal Government of Nigeria to addressing these security challenges is the deployment of the military and other security agents to internal conflict and conflict-prone areas, which is progressively becoming a norm in Nigeria. The paper highlights the practicalities, opportunities, challenges and lessons learned in implementing a civil military relations project in Nigeria drawing extensively from field experiences. It further examines military approaches to civil military relations in Nigeria. While the challenges of civil military relations in Nigeria is deeply rooted in history, the paper recommends that positive civil military relations as a key approach and strategy to be deployed by all stakeholders particularly the Military in restoring trust amongst crisis affected communities and for improving the overall architecture of national security in Nigeria.
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Papers by Ruth Olofin