Women ‘should be given more responsibilities’ in security sector

Senator Iroegbu, a security expert, says women should be given more roles in security matters.

In an interview he granted, Iroegbu said women should be more involved and included in the security deliberations because they could act as a reliable source for sustainable peace.

He also said their inclusion would encourage gender equity and justice.

He advocated for a reform in the security system and its leadership, as well as, restructuring of the society, economic and socio-political architecture.

Iroegbu said this would encourage citizens participation in internal security operations across the country.

He, however, noted that the security agencies are trying their best in curtailing the security challenges but that the security measures are not enough.

“The security situation is appalling and unacceptable. We must not come to a situation whereby we accept what is currently going on across the country, particularly the bloodletting in the three geopolitical zones in the north as the norm,” he said.

“Unfortunately, women and children bear the brunt of these conflicts across the country as they are more vulnerable to the vagaries of conflict including the challenges of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) that may affect their husbands, fathers, brothers, or fiancé on return from the battlefield.

“There is an increasing and encouraging role of women at the civil society and private sector but they are still largely marginalised at the governmental cycles especially in the area of peace and security where all the heads of relevant agencies are headed by men.

“Women and girls make up about 50 percent of our population and hence as a matter of inclusion, equity, fairness and justice as well as gender equality, they must be part of the security architecture in the country.

“In addition, women bring a different perspective to the concept of peace and security and could, therefore, be a reliable source for sustainable peace.

“They could be a stabilising and calming force in volatile masculine driven conflicts. In addition, they are also alongside their children, mostly the victims of these crises and would, therefore, be more passionate and resolute in seeking more sustainable solutions to peace.”

Iroegbu said insecurity must be defeated in all forms, adding that Nigeria must not accept “blood letting” as the norm.

He said the nation can get it right “if we set our minds to it as some past experiences of Nigeria at various stages of the nation’s history has proved.”

He said: “It must be defeated both kinetically and non-kinetically especially psychologically. Sadly, the country is spiraling out of control both economically and security wise and we are increasingly witnessing a violent and militarised society, which as I stated earlier, is unacceptable.

“We must not accept the menacing situation but should not also pretend as if these problems do not exist as relevant agencies, officials and stakeholders would want us to believe at times.

“Coupled with the fact that our military is overstretched, policing elements underutilized, actionable intelligence scarcely deployed and worst of it all, our security architecture is obsolete vis-a-vis the emerging 21st-century security challenges.”