BY Hassana Yakubu

The Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC) has advised Government to improve the welfare of judicial and security personnel to curb the high level of criminal activities in the country.

The Executive Director of CISLAC, Auwal Rafsanjani said at a press conference on Friday in Kaduna that criminal justice officials require special attention to drive peace and security in the country.

Rafsanjani said no society can function effectively and effectively without proper functioning of the security sector and the administrative justice system.

According to him, any neglect of the two important sectors would bring about challenges in terms of access to justice and ensuring that the country and citizens are secured.

He said the recent happening in the country has clearly justified the need for government to address the issue of administrative justice system in the country.

He said that about 4,556 persons have died in 2020 from violent related killings according to the Global Rights Nigeria Country office in its Mass Atrocities Casualties Tracking Report.

He said that the number represents a spike of about 43 per cent from 3,188 persons in 2019.

“According to the US-based Council on Foreign Relations (CFR), Nigeria witnessed a total of 2,860 kidnappings in 2020 which was up from 1,386 in 2019 an increase of over 100%.

“Sadly, this year is on track to reach new heights in violent crime.

“So, we find it very critical to advocate on the need to ensure that there is an improvement in the welfare of the criminal justice system as well as the security agencies,” he said.

According to him, if the two system are no able to have all the necessary facilities, equipment and renumerations, it would be extremely difficult for the personnel to give their lives to secure the country or ensure access to justice.

He stressed that the welfare of criminal justice officers determine their efficiency.

He said improvement in the welfare condition of the police would ensure effective performance with regards to crime prevention, detection and control and law enforcement.

According to him, a security system fuelled by corruption and lack of adequate allocation is incapable of effectively policing a country as big and populous as Nigeria.

Rafsanjani said the insecurity and gaps in law enforcement system are inadvertently interlinked to the criminal justice system and plays a crucial role in the maintenance of law and order.

The task of the criminal justice system is carried out through the means of detecting, apprehending, prosecuting, adjudicating, and sanctioning both citizens and non-citizens of the state who violate the established laws governing the state or country,

The current crime rate in Nigeria is at an extremely high level, including crimes such as kidnappings, banditry and drug abuse and trafficking.

The situation calls to question the effectiveness of the institutions, agencies and their leadership charged with the duty of fighting crime.

“Why have criminal justice officials been largely unable to tackle the issue of high crime rates in the country?

He said for the system to improve, the government should review the renumeration of security personnel, and provide them health and life insurance cover,

Rafsanjani also recommend the provision of arms, relevant facilities and adequate funding to ensure optimal performance.