Kidnapping, which is the act of taking somebody away illegally and keeping them as prisoners or hostages, especially in order to get ransom or other benefits before they are released, is evidently giving us cause for concern now. Kidnapping is a serious offence. In fact, in some states of the federation, kidnapping is now considered a capital offence, that is, an offence that is punishable by death. As the Police and other critical stakeholders are doing everything humanly possible to combat it, frankmba.ng is on its own proffering a few tips on some of the ways not only to avoid being kidnapped but also on how to survive when you are unfortunately kidnapped. To avoid being kidnapped, you may consider adopting some of the following security tips:

* Do not work-out, drive, go to work or take children to school using the same route all the time especially where you have alternate routes. This is because felons may rely on your routines to track you down and look for a time when you are most vulnerable to strike.

*Do not accept rides offered by strangers, because you would be at their mercy if they turn out to be kidnappers.

* Always let someone know your whereabouts or where you are going. Give the name and other useful information of the person you are going to meet, in case of any eventuality.

*Do not accept drinks, gums, cigarettes, and food from anybody you are not familiar with. You could easily be drugged and taken hostage.

* Teach the children not to accept gifts from persons they are not familiar with. It is however important we do this with utmost care so as not to make our children become paranoid.

*  Do not draw unnecessary attention to yourself, especially by making public donations or appearing flashy or spraying money carelessly at events. Note that even when musicians and praise-singers are praising you to high heavens during such events, they may unwittingly be attracting unscrupulous elements to you.

* Be familiar with your surroundings; also know your neighbors as these are critical to your personal safety and well-being. Remember the case of Evans, the billionaire kidnapper who lived in a beautiful estate in Lagos for years yet none within the neighborhood had an inkling that they were living with the “most wanted kidnapper” in Nigeria until he was apprehended by the Police. 

* Identify Police Stations, barracks and other security zones that are close to your residence or place of work in case of any exigency.

* Ensure you have Control Room numbers of relevant security agencies especially the ones nearest to you in case of emergencies.

*Make sure you secure your home. You could do this by:

–  Simulating human presence especially when you     are alone in the house or you feel insecure.

–Activating home security such as alarm system, CCTV if any.

–At night ensure that your home is well-lit.

– When in the house, ensure your doors are properly shut/locked especially at night or whilst alone.

*  It is important that you do a thorough background check on your domestic staff such as your drivers, nannies, cooks, gardeners, and cleaners etc before you employ them. 

– Study their change in lifestyle, the company they keep and their whereabouts at all times.

– Persons employed as drivers for school-runs must constantly be monitored as experience has shown that some drivers connive with criminals to facilitate the kidnap of innocent children.

– Treat your staff fairly with utmost decency and care. This is important to win their trust and loyalty and reduce the chance of criminals infiltrating them and leveraging them to harm you. 

* Always exercise caution especially while on the social media platforms. It is important that you minimize posting of sensitive information and pictures such as:

– Your financial transactions

– Your whereabouts or location.

– Pictures of your family etc that could readily give you out to would-be felons.

*When you notice a threat in any form, quickly attract the attention of people around, either by shouting, screaming or running away etc, when it is safe to do so.

* Always be vigilant. Ensure you have airtime on your phone and that the phone is nearby in case you may have to make an urgent call.

* Drive defensively, especially at night or when you are on a lonely and dangerous road or you suspect that you are being followed by suspected kidnappers. Even when you have a punctured tyre, manage it to a safer place. It is better to lose the wheel of your car than to be taken hostage.

*  There is security in numbers! Always ensure that when you engage in work outs, jogging, walking, biking, running etc, you do so in concert with others. You are less likely to be attacked when you are amongst people than when alone.

(Part 2 which deals on how to survive in the hands of kidnappers, in the unlikely event of being kidnapped is coming soon)

**Authored by CP Frank Mba***

In the unlikely event, that in spite of your observance of all the precautionary measures mentioned earlier you are still kidnapped, surviving the ordeal should be the next course of action.

TIPS FOR SURVIVING IN THE HANDS OF KIDNAPPERS

Below are the necessary tips you should observe while in the hands of kidnappers.

 Take a deep breath; assure yourself that you will certainly come back alive. Note that the first few minutes of abduction or kidnapping is the most critical and hostile period. At this stage, the kidnappers are also afraid for their lives. Failure on their part means they could be arrested and prosecuted. They are therefore jittery and any suspicious move by you could make them pull the trigger at you.

· Having tried to avoid the kidnap situation and failing, the most important option should be to cooperate as unplanned attempt to escape may become too risky.

· Avoid openly making any facial contact with the kidnappers, but try and memorize their description, if you get the opportunity to view them without endangering your life.

· Keep mental note of the landmark especially the shops, supermarket, fuel stations, buildings around the area the kidnappers are taking you to if you are not blindfolded by your captors.

· Obey all instructions from the kidnappers and avoid unnecessary argument with them.

· Avoid behaviors or attitude that will provoke the kidnappers.

· Listen to their conversation and keep mental note of the details about their names, accent, slangs and other information about the abductors to assist the police in investigation after your rescue.

· Try to avoid too much complaint so they do not get tired of you and kill you.

· Try to stay healthy. Avoid anything that will make you sustain physical injury as getting medical attention might be difficult. More so, as you do not know how soon you will be rescued or freed.

· Gradually try to win the kidnappers’ trust. Try playing mind games with them especially with any of them you consider less hardened. For instance show empathy to the kidnappers even if you are acting it. If for example they claim they were driven into kidnapping for reason of unemployment, tell them you understand and blame someone else for not providing them a decent job. You may try talking them into pitying you or putting yourself in any of their relatives’ shoes.

· During Police rescue operation, lie on the floor to prevent stray bullet from hitting you. Identify yourself to the rescuers as soon it is safe to do so.  

· Plan your escape only if it is absolutely safe to do so. This should be your last resort and remember, there is no escape plan that is absolutely risk-free.

**** Authored by CP Frank Mba****

Suicide, a conscious act of intentionally taking one’s own life, can come in many forms. For example, by hanging, shooting, stabbing, jumping from a hill top, high rise buildings, telecommunication masts, running into a path way of a moving vehicle, and through the use of substances such as gammalin, sniper, acid, codeine, tramadol etc. Although, discussing suicide can be a very touchy and highly sensitive issue, it is fast becoming one of the most leading causes of death in many societies and Nigeria is not an exception. A number of factors account for this worrying trend. Some of these include: financial difficulty/debt, terminal illness, mental disorder, relationship issues/rejection by a loved one, chronic pain, loneliness, traumatic experiences arising from, e.g bullying, sexual and physical abuse, substances abuse, etc.

The intention of “Frankmba.ng” therefore is to inspire hope and make them understand that suicide is not a solution to life problems.   

In what follows, the blog will provide you in Part 1, of this topic: Tips for recognizing the warning signs for suicide and suicidal behavior. Part 2 and 3, would be devoted to tips to overcome thoughts about ending your life and tips towards helping someone to overcome suicidal thoughts respectively.  

Please read on…

TIPS FOR RECOGNIZING SUICIDAL BEHAVIOR

Recognizing the warning signs for suicide is key to understanding when a fellow citizen is contemplating suicide and how such a person can be helped.  

WARNING SIGNS FOR SUICIDE INCLUDE:

• Excessive sadness which can lead to long-lasting sadness and if not addressed to, lead to moodiness, depression and possibly lead to suicidal thoughts.
• Sometimes however, the suicidal person may look happy – smiling and telling jokes but underneath it all, a careful study of their utterances and writings would reveal immense sadness, pessimism, hollowness, helplessness and hopelessness.
• Isolation: Gradual or Sudden withdrawal from friends, loved ones, social activities, social circles, hobbies etc also are possible symptoms of behavior prone to depression.
• Asking questions or engaging in conversations with other people and seeking their validation or justification for suicide.
• Surfing the internet on ways to die or posting write- ups on social media platforms about ending one’s life.
• Making open or subtle threats about taking their own lives and saying things such as: “I am tired of this life ooooo !, “I will just kill myself oooo”!. Unfortunately, most people ignore such threats or treat them with levity.
• Mood swing is a major risk factor for suicide:

• Sudden desire to be alone.
• Sudden unusual calmness.
• Sudden excitement: becoming unnecessarily and overtly happy without any plausible explanation

• Sudden loss of interest or pleasure in activities the person previously enjoyed.
• Sudden fascination with, and bearing of, weapons and poisonous substances by the individuals.
• Sudden loss of appetite or sudden increase in appetite.
• Changes in personality for example a person known to be an extrovert suddenly becomes introverted or vice-versa.
• Becomes less concerned about his or her personal appearance or suddenly starts putting their affairs in order
• The person starts talking to himself, gesticu lating to unseen entity.
• The person begins to move with an unusual speed or slowness.
• The person may start engaging in ways that may cause him harm:

• Staring into space
• Becoming unusually fascinated with water sources, bridges, narcotics, alcohol etc.
• Running into moving vehicles.
• Jumping from hill tops, high rise buildings, telecommunication masts etc.
• Disfiguring the body through scratching, cutting, marking, hitting himself with stick etc.
• Going against doctor’s prescription such as taking overdose of drugs or not taking at all indicating that the person no longer values his or her life.

• Resort to use of drugs and alcohol to get high, numb pains, succumb to peer pressures. Unfortunately, overdosing is quite prevalent amongst users and these can lead to complications or even death.
• Sudden and effusive calls/visitation to family members and friends. This might be their own way of saying final goodbye to all his loved ones before taking his own life. Other acts that may also signpost the individual’s resolve to take his or her life include:

• Sudden giving away of personal possessions.
• Asking for forgiveness even when you cannot explain the reason for such request.
• Making sober statements like: “take care of my children, parents, husband, wife” etc.
• Sudden writing of will. Some people will write a note before committing suicide.

When you see or notice any of these signs, better attention should be paid to the person and all the necessary support provided. “If you see or notice something, do something”!

Kindly look forward to PART 2 which deals on ‘TIPS TO OVERCOME SUICIDAL THOUGHTS’

****Authored by CP Frank Mba****

Suicidal thoughts can be overwhelming. How long these thoughts last, differ for everyone. The thoughts can affect anyone, no matter the age, gender or background at any time. If you are feeling suicidal, it is likely that you have been experiencing a growing sense of hopelessness and worthlessness for some time. These thoughts could completely consume you, making you feel like you have no control over your own body. 

For us as Police Officers, fewer policing duties can be more challenging and horrifying than the task of responding to a suicide situation. The very act of untangling a dangling lifeless body from a suicide rope and transporting such to a morgue for example can be excruciatingly tormenting.

The feelings in the run up to a suicidal act can be very complex and difficult to interpret both to the person harboring the thoughts and the onlooker. If you are unsure of why you feel suicidal, you may find it even harder to believe that there could be a solution. But whatever the reason, know that there is hope. Also, note that with the support of people around you, you will certainly overcome.

Frankmba.ng will provide you with some tips on how to overcome suicidal thoughts.

Please read on……

TIPS ON OVERCOMING SUICIDAL THOUGHTS.

1. When you’re feeling really downcast, that is not the time to make key decisions about life. Please, wait for a while, time heals wounds. Postpone that key decision to the next morning, and the next morning and the next morning!. Situation will surely change for the better.

2. Do not believe everything you see or read on the social media. The social media oftentimes creates a pseudo world filled with lies and fake lifestyles that may drive the innocent and the inexperienced to the pursuit of unrealistic goals. 

3. Be contented with what you have, while remaining focused on your life goals and aspirations. Think less about the people who are ahead of you except for the purposes of drawing inspiration from them. Remember the millions you are better than. 

4. If you do have depression, you can do a few things to keep it from getting worse. Find ways to handle stress associated with it:

• Keep a positive attitude.
• Create time for hobbies, interests and relaxation.
• Get enough rest and sleep as your body needs time to recover from stressful situations and events.
• Learn to manage your time effectively.
• Take good care of yourself. Get enough sleep, eat well, and exercise regularly.
• Learn and practice relaxation techniques; meditate, listen to music, walk, engage in yoga, religious activities like choir, ushering, prayer groups etc.
• Talk to your doctor or your mental-care assistant.

5. Improve your self-esteem:

• Be nice and kind to yourself. Extinguish any negative thoughts from your head.
• Remember nobody is perfect. Perfection is an unrealistic goal. You should however endeavor to do your best at all times. 
• Spend time with your family and friends. Surround yourself with supportive people. Find people whose lifestyles encourage you to do well and make you feel good about yourself.
•  Avoid fault-finders and all those who always make you feel bad for no just cause.
• Do what makes you happy. If you spend time doing the things you enjoy, you are more likely to think positively. 

6.When you are stressed or depressed:

• Avoid situations that could make your thoughts or symptoms worse. 
• Keep note, tell your confidant, doctor or therapist about it.
• Think about joining a support group. Do things that keep you connected to others.
• Don’t take unnecessary risks by having weapons, poisonous substance or extra medications around yourself.

7. You can ask a friend or family member to keep or put harmful objects away from you.

8. You can do a simple exercise like,

• Slowing your breathing which helps to slow your heart rate down and supply more oxygen to your brain. 
• Such exercise can also help to shift your attention away from whatever negative thoughts you’re having.
• Focus on relaxing your muscles. Start with your head and try to relax each muscle group, work your way down (face, jaw, neck, shoulders, back, arms, legs, calves, etc.)
• You can use your hands to massage your neck or shoulders as well.

9. Get regular medical checkups, and see your doctor if you don’t feel right.

10. Stick with your treatment plan. If you are on medicine, 

• Take it as prescribed, whether you feel good or not. 
• Don’t skip therapy sessions. 
• Let your doctor know what is and isn’t working for you.

11. See a psychologist or a psychiatrist if the suicide thought remains persistent, compelling or compulsive. Discard the thought that only mad people keep appointments with psychiatrists!

Kindly look forward to the concluding edition of these series which deals on “Tips towards helping someone overcome suicidal thoughts”

…AUTHORED BY CP Frank Mba…

Every beginning has an end and so frankmba.ng intends to draw the curtain on our discussion on suicide. Recall that Part 1 dealt on Tips on recognizing suicidal thoughts while Part 2 centered on Tips on how individual can help themselves to overcome thoughts about ending their lives. In part 3 which concludes the series, we will apprise ourselves on how third parties can help individuals with suicidal thoughts overcome such thoughts.

It is important however, that we understand, first and foremost, that a suicidal person may not ask for help. This, nonetheless, does not mean that help is not needed. In fact, people who give up and take their own lives may never have wished to die, perhaps, all they ever wanted was to be free from pains and grief. Therefore, our ability to recognize and respond accordingly to the warning signs or signals which most suicidal individuals give, will assist us considerably in saving lives.

TIPS TOWARDS HELPING SOMEONE OVERCOME SUICIDAL THOUGHTS

(1) Be observant: (See if there is anything unusual about the person). If there is;

• Take the person seriously. If the person complains and says things like: I can’t move on, or I am tired of life etc, offer to share their worries with them.

• Educate the person on the values of life. Let them know that suicide is not an option.  

• Encourage positive lifestyle such as eating healthy diet, having enough sleep, and exercising regularly.

(2) Watch out for behaviors, comments or social media posts that indicate that they are feeling overwhelmed by sadness or pessimism about life.

(3) Don’t argue with the suicidal person, rather, encourage them to exercise restraint believing that time heals wounds and that they will eventually overcome whatever trauma being experienced.

(4) Show concern:

• Listen to them.
• Empathize with them.
• Be concerned about their well-being.
• Do not judge them.

(5) Try and identify what triggers the suicidal thoughts and work on it.

(6)Promise the suicidal person confidentiality of all information he has confided in you, and make sure you keep to your promise.

(7) Be proactive, those contemplating suicide often do not believe they can be helped, so provide constant supervision. Do not leave them alone.

 (8) Reassure them that there is help and the situation will not remain the same forever.

(9) Remove means for self-harm.

 (10) Ask them for a promise like “I will not hurt myself”, “I will always call you” etc.

 (11) Reach out to family and friends of the suicidal person when/if necessary.

 (12) Encourage them to avoid alcohol and recreational drugs which may seem to make them feel better but actually end up worsening their situation.

 (13) Be very observant of any friend who have attempted suicide before (especially those who did recently).

(14) If the challenge is medical, encourage them to seek treatment, support them by offering to pay their medicals bills, if you can.

 (15) Continue your support over the time. Stay in touch, your support is vital to ensure proper elimination of suicidal thoughts, please.

There is no doubt that with the above tips, if we genuinely care to support and help someone contemplating suicide, we truly can do it. Frankmba.ng however will also want to draw attention of the government and other relevant stakeholders on the position of the law with respect to suicide.

WHAT DOES THE LAW SAY ABOUT SUICIDE?  A suicide victim (that is a person who had successfully taken his/her life through acts of suicide) cannot be prosecuted under our laws as the victim is deemed not to have committed any offence.

In any case, such person is already dead and you cannot charge a dead man to court. Paradoxically, an unsuccessful suicide attracts punishment. Under the Penal Code, Section 327, for instance, any person who attempts to kill himself is liable to imprisonment for one year.

Some observers have wondered why the law should punish victims of failed suicide or persons who unsuccessfully attempted to commit suicide. They contend that in as much as the suicidal persons do not pose any threat to, or administer physical hurt on others, there is no justifiable basis subjecting them to punishment following unsuccessful suicide attempts.

Frankmba.ng identifies with such position. It submits that, as evident from our analysis so far on suicide, such victims need help, support and care. It reiterates further that rather than criminalizing failed suicide attempts, relevant authorities should in fact, create support groups/lines to provide them with help, as truth be told, such victims do not need to be labelled, stigmatized, nor do they need to be given jail sentence!

The only persons that deserve to be punished are persons who knowingly or deliberately facilitated, aided or abetted suicide. It is therefore our hope that our law makers will take a closer look at our laws and make necessary amendments.

**Authored by CP Frank Mba **

In continuation of our discussion on safe and cordial relationship between the Public and the Police, frankmbablog.comis today, in part 2 of our series providing you with ‘TIPS FOR SAFE AND CORDIAL CONDUCTS DURING AN ARREST SITUATION’. 

It will also interest you to know that the Part 3 of the series (which will be published soon) will provide you with Tips on Safe and Cordial Conducts at the Police Stations, while the concluding part, which is Part 4 will focus on the Expectations of the public from Police Officers in promoting safe and cordial interactions between them and the citizens. 

Please read on!

Arrest situations can easily turn violent. If not properly handled, it can portray you as a hostile person or give the impression that you are resisting arrest which on its own constitutes an offence, therefore:

*Do not resist arrest. Even if you believe that the arrest is illegal or uncalled for, allow the arrest to take place without any incident. Note that resisting arrest could lead to an encounter that might result in harm, injuries and/or permanent disabilities or death to you or even the officer arresting you. It is therefore better to allow the arrest to take place without an incident and thereafter seek redress and appropriate sanction against the defaulting officer through a legitimate process.

*Politely demand to know the reason for your arrest. It is your right to know. Also, where the officers have not disclosed their identity, courteously request their identity and where they came from, or the office where they work.

*On arrest, it is within the powers of the police to do any of the following:

-Search your body, clothing and other belongings

– On the highway, the police may search your vehicle if you were in it at the time they stopped you.

– May ask you to write and sign a statement. It is however your right to decline, especially if you feel that doing so will implicate you.

– The Police may ask you to perform some tests such as walking in a straight line. This is so when they suspect you are under the influence of alcohol or drugs, particularly in the absence of breathalyses or other forensic aids.

– Handcuff you if you are violent or show propensity to escape.

*Always let the officers know your health challenge (if any) after arrest. This is important in case you may need immediate medical attention, particularly asthmatic patients, persons with history of epilepsy, high blood pressure, diabetes especially those on insulin etc. You should immediately make full disclosures.

*Demand to see the warrant of arrest where necessary (Note however that not all invitation/arrest requires a warrant). As a matter of fact, under our laws, the Police have wide powers to arrest without warrant in many circumstances.

*Politely request that the officers allow you inform a trusted friend or a family member or a lawyer, soon after your arrest in order to avoid unnecessary apprehension as to your whereabouts or safety.

*If the arrest requires the officer to conduct a search on you, demand to see the Search Warrant and comply with all legitimate instruction during the search (Note that there are a lot of instances where a policeman can search you  with or without warrant)

*You may politely request that the officer be searched before searching you. Often times, this helps to allay fears that someone may be trying to “plant” incriminating items on you or implicate you in any other way.

*Don’t obstructively interfere or intervene when a third party is being arrested. Be careful as you may not know the details and seriousness of the charge against the person.

*Do not use your phone indiscriminately while being arrested.

*Willingly follow the officers to the station. It may be indicative that you have nothing to hide. In addition, this voluntary action of yours will eliminate any possibility of the arresting Officer resorting to the use of “Minimal or Reasonable force” to elicit your compliance.

Finally, on a lighter note, but also seriously speaking, every encounter with the police, including an arrest/invitation scenario is an opportunity to learn more about the Police, the security community, your rights and privileges and make friends with them. Please make effective use of it!

In continuation of our discussion on safe and cordial relationship between the Public and the Police, frankmbablog.com is today, in part 2 of our series providing you with ‘TIPS FOR SAFE AND CORDIAL CONDUCTS DURING AN ARREST SITUATION’.

 It will also interest you to know that the Part 3 of the series (which will be published soon) will provide you with Tips on Safe and Cordial Conducts at the Police Stations, while the concluding part, which is Part 4 will focus on the Expectations of the public from Police Officers in promoting safe and cordial interactions between them and the citizens.

Please read on!

Arrest situations can easily turn violent. If not properly handled, it can portray you as a hostile person or give the impression that you are resisting arrest which on its own constitutes an offence, therefore:

*Do not resist arrest. Even if you believe that the arrest is illegal or uncalled for, allow the arrest to take place without any incident. Note that resisting arrest could lead to an encounter that might result in harm, injuries and/or permanent disabilities or death to you or even the officer arresting you. It is therefore better to allow the arrest to take place without an incident and thereafter seek redress and appropriate sanction against the defaulting officer through a legitimate process.

*Politely demand to know the reason for your arrest. It is your right to know. Also, where the officers have not disclosed their identity, courteously request their identity and where they came from, or the office where they work.

* On arrest, it is within the powers of the police to do any of the following:

-Search your body, clothing and other belongings

– On the highway, the police may search your vehicle if you were in it at the time they stopped you.

– May ask you to write and sign a statement. It is however your right to decline, especially if you feel that doing so will implicate you.

– The Police may ask you to perform some tests such as walking in a straight line. This is so when they suspect you are under the influence of alcohol or drugs, particularly in the absence of breathalyses or other forensic aids.

– Handcuff you if you are violent or show propensity to escape.

*Always let the officers know your health challenge (if any) after arrest. This is important in case you may need immediate medical attention, particularly asthmatic patients, persons with history of epilepsy, high blood pressure, diabetes especially those on insulin etc. You should immediately make full disclosures.

*Demand to see the warrant of arrest where necessary (Note however that not all invitation/arrest requires a warrant). As a matter of fact, under our laws, the Police have wide powers to arrest without warrant in many circumstances.

*Politely request that the officers allow you inform a trusted friend or a family member or a lawyer, soon after your arrest in order to avoid unnecessary apprehension as to your whereabouts or safety.

*If the arrest requires the officer to conduct a search on you, demand to see the Search Warrant and comply with all legitimate instruction during the search (Note that there are a lot of instances where a policeman can search you  with or without warrant)

*You may politely request that the officer be searched before searching you. Often times, this helps to allay fears that someone may be trying to “plant” incriminating items on you or implicate you in any other way.

*Don’t obstructively interfere or intervene when a third party is being arrested. Be careful as you may not know the details and seriousness of the charge against the person.

*Do not use your phone indiscriminately while being arrested.

*Willingly follow the officers to the station. It may be indicative that you have nothing to hide. In addition, this voluntary action of yours will eliminate any possibility of the arresting Officer resorting to the use of “Minimal or Reasonable force” to elicit your compliance.

Finally, on a lighter note, but also seriously speaking, every encounter with the police, including an arrest/invitation scenario is an opportunity to learn more about the Police, the security community, your rights and privileges and make friends with them. Please make effective use of it!

***Authored by CP Frank Mba***

In the wake of recent killings of innocent citizens by unscrupulous police men and also unprovoked attacks on some police men by some criminally-minded persons, “Frankmba’s blog” is today providing you with tips for safe and cordial interaction with the police at different encounters. Please read on…

Ordinarily, encounters between the citizens and the Police or other law enforcement agents should be reassuring and delightful. In fact, the mere sight of the Police ought to generate in the citizen an instant feeling of relief, safety and security. This unfortunately, is not the reality in Nigeria today.

In fact, some encounters in the past had led to embarrassment, injuries, permanent disability and, in extreme cases, death of the citizens. Similarly, some security agents have also suffered molestation and harm from such encounters.

While Police officers are reminded of the need to exercise ‘courageous calm’ and avoid resort to the use of deadly force or lethal weapon at the slightest provocation, members of the public on the other hand are expected to avoid actions that could turn simple encounters with security personnel into more serious ones.

It is against this backdrop that we are today providing our readers with tips that could help in enhancing cordial relationship between the Police and the citizenry.

Tips for safe and cordial relationship at check points

When approaching a security checkpoint or when flagged-down by the Police or other security agencies;

•      Endeavor to slow down your vehicle. It shows that you are not reckless. It also douses suspicion that you are a criminal and may want to speed-off.
•      Turn down the volume of your car stereo. Courtesy demands this. Besides, you are able to hear each other better. This simple act will also help you to win the confidence of the security operative.
•      Keep your hands visible to avoid unnecessary suspicion or fear by the officers that you are attempting to bring out a gun or other harmful objects to attack them
•      Turn on the inner light of your vehicle while approaching the cops (if at night). It readily sends an unspoken message that you have nothing to hide.
•      Be friendly and cheerful. Commend the officers especially when you see them working under very unfriendly weather conditions such as the rains, the harsh harmattan conditions, excessive heat, cold or sunshine. We know it’s their job, but a little kind word from you will do a lot of good. Remember when you smile at the mirror, the mirror smiles back at you.
•      Endeavour to be polite even when answering questions put to you by the officers
•      Don’t dare or challenge an armed security man to a duel. Oftentimes, you hear people say things like ‘shoot me, if you can!” Note that this is a recipe for disaster! It is very provocative and an unnecessary call for war. So, please play safe, more so, as you do not know the state of mind of the officer concerned.
•      Also, don’t go into a physical fight with an armed security officer. He may resort to the use of his weapon (rightly or wrongly) to defend himself.
•      Avoid unnecessary argument with armed security personnel. There are a thousand and one ways to seek redress where you feel your rights have been infringed upon.
•      Never try to touch an officer in an unfriendly manner. He may suspect you of trying to disarm him.
•      If you are a regular traveler or road user, make sure you have the police emergency phone numbers of the route you operate. You never can tell when an emergency situation could arise and you need the Police to come to your aid.
•      Make sure you have all your relevant car papers and desist from actions or inactions that constitute either a criminal or traffic offence. Such infractions of the law provide veritable grounds for possible charges and other forms of adversarial contact with the Police or other law enforcement agencies, including unnecessary arguments.
•      Don’t give the impression that you are unhappy to see an officer on his beat or that he is wasting your time. But if you do have an emergency, politely inform the officer. Don’t speed off while still being checked.
•      Take note of the name tags, Force or Service numbers, personal description, description of weapons or patrol vehicle of the security officer especially where the officers begin to conduct themselves in unprofessional manner.
•      Seek audience with the most senior police officer at the check point if things are not working out smoothly.
•      Politely insist to be taken to the police station if your complaint is not properly addressed.

AUTHORED BY CP FRANK MBA

INTRODUCTION: Statistics from four States of the Federation- Ogun, Oyo, Lagos and Kano show that the following numbers of rape/indecent assault cases were reported in the year 2012: Ogun – 8, Oyo – 131, Lagos – 129, Kano – 57(totalling 325 for the four states). In the year 2013, the States recorded the following reports of same cases: Ogun – 20, Oyo – 365, Lagos –132 and Kano –80 (which gives us a total of 579 cases for the four states).

A cursory look at these statistics shows a clear increase in number of rape cases in most parts of the country. This is worrisome!

Rape in its simplest form is when a man has an unlawful sexual intercourse with a woman without her consent or if the consent is obtained by force, fraud, intimidation or threats. It is one of the most frightening and potentially dangerous crimes that can be committed against womanhood. Nearly every State of the Federation has one gory tale or the other to tell about this sexual ignominy. Remember the unfortunate but popular case of Cynthia Osokogu who was allegedly drugged, ganged-raped and murdered in a hotel at Festac – Lagos, by her supposed Face-book friends under a very novel circumstance. Unfortunately as it was, the incident was a pointer to the fact that we all need caution in our social engagements and the need to shun every act of sexual violence against women and children.

Rapists find it very easy to carry out their nefarious acts particularly if their victims are underage, mentally incapacitated, physically impaired, asleep or unconscious through the use of sedative drugs as in the case of late Cynthia. About 80% of rape victims know their perpetrators. It is important to note that the offense of rape is not only committed by unknown persons but also by friends, relatives, colleagues, bosses, etc. It can also be committed at any place – offices, hotels, schools, homes, bushes, streets, even at places of worship. Similarly, the offense can take place at any hour of the day.

In the remaining parts of this write-up, I will be discussing the nitty-gritty of rape. While Part (I) will examine the general common misconceptions about rape, Part (II) will discuss the essential steps you can take to prevent and protect yourself from being raped. Part (III) will deal on what to do if rape (God forbid!) eventually occurs. Please stay connected with us.

Misconceptions about Rape

The following popular misconceptions and prejudices about rape have contributed in perpetuating the impunity of rape. They make it difficult for rape victims to get help and justice, and sometimes contribute in denying them the support and comfort they need from parents, friends, relatives, law enforcement agents and other stakeholders.

Some of the misconceptions are…

Rape is love-making.  When you forcefully subject a woman to yield to your uncontrollable sexual urge and satisfaction without her consent,it is a beastly ‘show of violence’;and not love making. It is criminal, immoral and abuse of the dignity of womanhood!

Indecent dressing is a factor.  Rapists are predators. They carry out their act to show dominance rather than the appearance of the woman. Pregnant women, young children and even elderly women at different points have been victims of rape. If you consider indecent dressing as one of the factors that causes rape, what would you say about these groups of people who neither dressed indecently nor overtly sexually attractive, yet are abused and raped?Rape in whichever form, is a violent crime against the body and soul of the victim and has nothing to do with the way a woman is dressed.

Rape is ultimately the victim’s fault. The notion that rape is usually caused by the victims and therefore, it is ultimately their own fault is wrong. It is very okay to feel devastated or traumatized when women are raped but is never their fault yet majority of the victims carry the guilt with them and suffer mental anguish that could even last for a lifetime because of this misconception.

Women ‘cry’ rape to gain revenge.  It is very wrong to conclude that rapes are falsely reported simply to draw unnecessary attention because of some desire for revenge at a jilted lover. The mistake men often make is to believe that once a woman has previously had a consensual sex with them, the woman must always yield to subsequent requests. This is wrong. A woman reserves the right to say ‘NO’ to a fresh request. To forcefully have your way, will amount to rape no matter how intimate you were before then.

Rapists are psychotic patients,strangers.   Most rapists appear to have normal human personalities but with abnormal tendencies. These abnormal tendencies cannot make them to be referred to as mad patients. They are also from every stratum of society- from judges to messengers, from vagrants to corporate executives, from husbands/fathers to strangers, from religious leaders to unbelievers, from partners, friends, relatives to unknown intruders. They could be teachers, doctors, bankers, Military officers or law enforcement agents.

Only bad women are raped.  This notion is taken to mean that only promiscuous and irresponsible girls/women are usually raped. It therefore suggests that if a woman has ‘bad reputation’, the rape is considered justifiable.But this is a wrong notion because even commercial sex workers have the right to the dignity of their persons.

Rapes happen only in bad parts of town, at night, in lonely places by strangers who intimidate victims withcrude force and weapons. This also, is not true. Most rapes do not involve the use of weapons. Rapes can occur anywhere- either at the victim’s house or at the perpetrator’s house, offices, hotels, cars etc. It may also happen at any time of the day or night.

If we understand and appreciate these misconceptions, we will empathize with the victims, help in counseling them, deal with the stigmatization and work with the law enforcement agencies.

As we leave you pondering over these age long demystified misconceptions about rape, we enjoined  you to stay with us for the part two, dealing with tips for preventing rape. It is a must read for all.

SECURITY TIPS AGAINST TERRORISM

In view of the current security and terrorist threats in parts of our country, especially the recent Nyanya bomb  blast, the Nigeria Police has repeatedly called on the citizens to stay vigilant and join hands with the security agencies in making Nigeria a safer place.

In line with the above, I wish to provide our readers with the following security tips which I believe will help in strengthening both personal and communal sense of safety.

• Know your neighbors: You must strive to know not only the person living in your house but in your surrounding environment. Find out their means of livelihood as every strange face must be probed.

• Owners of uncompleted building must clear them of undesirable elements such as vagabonds and hoodlums.

• Park owners, garage operators and operators of shopping malls must ensure that they thoroughly scan, search and take stock of all vehicles parked within and around the premises of such public places.

• Suspicious movements of unknown persons should be reported immediately to the nearest police formation.

• Draw the attention of the Police or security agencies to vehicles parked by unknown persons.

• Empty containers, gas cylinders, dustbins and other receptacles not in use must be properly disposed or kept away from the reach of unauthorized persons.
• Do not allow unknown persons to drop or abandon bags, boxes, fruit barrows or trolleys, articles of trade, cartons or any rapped or sealed containers around your premises.

• Always check your surroundings for any dangerous object.

• Avoid any bag or object kept by unknown person or persons.

• Be vigilant at public places as object such as bomb can be kept by unscrupulous persons.

• Make conscious effort to know and memorize important emergency phone numbers that can help you reach the police and other security agencies in times of emergency, including the newly released 112 (Emergency number). You could resort to the emergency phone numbers on this blog.

• In the unforeseen circumstances of a bomb blast, stay away from the blast scene. Avoid the temptation of rushing to the scene (except you work with any of the Security or Emergency Management Agencies). Remember, terrorists often detonate secondary explosions in order to harm innocent by-standers and on-lookers.

• Always report suspicious persons or movements within your neighborhood to the Police through available means of communication.

In case you just stumbled into this write up, it is the concluding edition of our previously published articles on rape. This last part will teach you the nitty-gritty of dealing with actual rape situations. We enjoin you to read on.

Nobody ever wants to think about what she will do would do if placed in a situation as a victim of rape. In fact, it is unpleasant and frightening to think about because of its physical and emotional trauma on the victim. But the fact is that many women including children are being raped almost every day. Rape is an act of violence, and can happen to anyone. In case it happens, practice the following tips:

Be prepared in advance. Some would-be rapists will immediately give up if their target shows the least signs of resistance, yet others will become more incensed and violent if their victim tries to fight back. Whatever your decision, be confident and prepared to follow through.

Thwart it if you can. It will be better for you if you can thwart the rape but if the danger of resistance outweighs the potential for immediate escape, it means the escape is not realistic and therefore not worth the risk, you then think rationally and do the safest thing at that moment.

Endeavour to leave as much evidence as possible at the scene of crime. Such evidence includes both physical and biological evidence- torn clothes, fashion accessories, strands of hair, blood stains, human bites, broken nails, disorganized room, damaged furniture etc. This can be accomplished by putting up resistance (struggle, kick, yell, bite, punch, scratch, etc) and leaving trails of these evidence at the scene. For instance, a victim may deliberately bite her attacker, bearing in mind that every human dentition is unique. Thus, the suspect may have to explain how and why he sustained a strange human bite. All these may become useful in the course of investigation and prosecution.

Preserve all physical evidence after rape. Do not take your bath or change the clothes you wore during the rape incident. This may destroy essential components of evidence necessary to establish your case and convict the rapist. Preserve all torn materials such as underwears, bras or other apparels. Similarly, all blood stained or seminal fluid-stained items should also be preserved. Personal items belonging to the suspects picked up from the scene should also be preserved. Where possible, the scene of rape also known as the scene of crime should be preserved to enable investigators review it in its uncontaminated form.

Take note of the characteristics of your predators such as their habits, contacts, speech and other distinctive sounds if they are more than one. This information could prove very valuable when you report the case to the Police.

Go along with someone to see the doctor for medical examination and care immediately.

Report the incident to the nearest Police Station. Be free to speak with the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) or the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) nearest to you about it. Even when the suspect is a member of any of the Security Forces (Military, Police, Customs, etc) don’t be intimidated or blackmailed from reporting or speaking out.

Deal with the Stigmatization.

Rape victims face a mixture of pity, torn and abuse. Some victims even commit suicide rather than live with the ‘shame’ of having been raped. To overcome this, it is important that you constantly remind yourself that it was not your own fault; after all, no one asks to be abused, injured or humiliated. Get counseling to help deal with the situation.

Ending Rape Lies Within Prevention

In an ideal world, the best way to prevent a potential rape is to educate all men to respect and protect women and other vulnerable members of the society. Victims of rape are encouraged to speak up against the crime. The victims and members of their immediate family should support the Police in carrying out successful investigation and prosecution of rape offenders. Citizens must never hide under the cover of family ties or other forms of sentiment to give rapist undeserved soft landing. To halt the impunity associated with rape and other sexual offences, offenders must be consistently brought to book. Where serious crimes are left undetected and unpunished, criminals are emboldened to commit even greater crimes.

Finally, men must remember that ‘No’ is ‘No’ and ‘Yes’ is ‘Yes’. Any sexual intercourse without a ‘Yes’ or a ‘Yes’ that was obtained by force or trick, is RAPE and may land the offender in long jail sentence!

Places of worship such as Churches and Mosques are traditionally regarded as places of peace. They are safe heavens and sanctuaries for worshiping and experiencing God’s love, mercy and grace. They are hallowed places and somewhat immune from the troubles, conflicts and violence of the world, including wars.

However, recent events in Nigeria and other parts of the world, particularly, the recent Nyanya bomb blast and past attacks on worship centres in some parts of the country appear to have fundamentally altered this age-long view.

The choice of places of worship as attractive targets of attack by terror groups is obvious. Firstly, places of worship typically have limited protection measures. They are seen as venues for spiritual/religious enterprise and thus depend largely on spiritual protection. There are usually little or no forms of access controls, thus members are not required to produce any form of identification before entering the church or mosque. Physical security gadgets such as CCTV cameras are virtually non-existing. They are thus considered as soft targets by criminal elements.

Secondly, churches and mosques provide a pool of large crowd. Consequently, the possibility of mass casualty in the event of an attack is high. This is a big attraction for terror groups.

Thirdly, any attack on a place of worship is considered sacrilegious. It will therefore elicit mass condemnation and extensive media coverage. Terror groups savour such free and elaborate coverage.

Fourthly, because of the sensitive nature of religion, an attack on a church or mosque can easily provoke hatred, suspicion and reprisals amongst the various religious groups. This can easily lead to a breakdown of law and order. Such state of lawlessness (even if temporary) fits squarely into the desire of terrorist organizations.

In view of the above, conscious efforts must be made to reduce the risks of terrorist’s attacks on our churches and mosques and limit the damage usually associated with such attacks. Officials of our churches and mosques, particularly those in high risk areas must be encouraged to work closely with the Police and other security agencies in formulating pro-active measures that could help in preventing and managing incidences of attack on our places of worship.

Below are some of our recommended security tips. These tips include both short term and long term measures that could help in hardening the security of the worship centres.

–      Officials of churches and mosques are advised to carry out risk assessment and vulnerability surveys. This will enable them determine the level of risk they are exposed to. Factors to be considered in carrying out such assessments include: location of the church/mosque, analysis of its neighbourhood demography, size and architectural design of the church/mosque, population of the members, nature of access roads to the place, etc.

–      Churches and Mosques should establish Standard Security and Safety Committee. Members should be volunteers with impeccable background and a passion for safety and security. Proper vetting and background checks must be carried out on all prospective members to avoid infiltration by enemies.

–      The Committee members should work closely with the local Police authority and other relevant security agencies in formulating appropriate security measures.

–      The Churches/mosques may consider the options of organizing constant trainings, workshops and seminars for committee members.

–      Ushers in Churches should be encouraged to perform additional security duties. Ushers should be given extra trainings and briefings on security. Competency and individual pedigree, rather than mere looks should be the yardstick for appointing ushers.

–      Churches and Mosques may consider erecting barriers to keep human and vehicular traffic away from designated areas. One of the most effective ways of preventing suicide bombing is to isolate the suicide bomber to himself and prevent him from reaching his targeted audience.

–      Churches and Mosques officials are advised to make conscious efforts to know their members. This will make it easier for them to spot and identify strangers and intruders.

–      Churches and Mosques in restive areas must avoid the temptation of isolating themselves from the public or their host community. They must avoid the “fortress mentality”.   They are encouraged to go into the society and play positive roles in solving the problems of the community and changing the society for good. They must build bridges and build bonds.

–      They should strive to build strong relationship with local security agencies (Police, Military, Fire Service etc) and encourage seamless flow of information between themselves and the agencies.

–      Worshippers should park their vehicles at designated distances away from the places of worship. Worshippers who reside close to the places of worship are encouraged to walk rather than drive to the worship centres. This will reduce the number of cars around the worship centres.

–      Worshippers should be discouraged from entering the worship centres with handbags, briefcases and other similar items.

–      There is need for perimeter fencing of all places of worships to prevent invaders from gaining cheap access, especially during Prayers/Services.

–      There is need for training of Churches/Mosques guards by the law enforcement agents to meet up with their responsibilities at their duty posts.

–      Churches/Mosques are advised to invest on modern security gadgets such as CCTV Cameras, Scanners, etc.

–      The officials and worshippers at Churches and Mosques should be ready to partner and cooperate with the security agencies deployed to their places of worship on Sundays and Fridays.

–      People should avoid rushing to the scene of incidents especially explosions to avoid distorting the scene of crime and exposing themselves to further danger.

–      The youths and other members of the congregation must be sufficiently sensitized on the need to always allow the security agencies unrestricted access to scenes of incidents in all emergency situations.

–      Worshippers should be advised to return to their various homes rather than clustering/loitering around the worship centres after Sunday services or Jummat prayers.

–      Worshippers should be security conscious and report all suspicious characters and observations to the Police.

Although, we concede that the concept of absolute security is almost impossible, nonetheless, we believe that with adequate advance planning and systematic synergy amongst the officials of the various places of worship, the worshippers, the host community and the law enforcement agencies, the risks of criminal attacks on our places of worship could be reduced almost to a zero level.

Wishing you all a hitch-free Easter celebration, remember to be security conscious.