10 Conscious Security Tips for Every Nigerian

As Nigeria’s security situation increasingly becomes a dilemma, One
begins to ponder where to run to. Is it a crime to be born here?,
Recently adjudged as the 6th worst Nation to live in Africa, Nigeria
over the years due to crass decay in Leadership and increased
corruption has become a danger zone for its citizens and the
international community. Government and public office holder’s
detachment from their communities and responsibilities have come back
to hurt us. We have thus bitten the forbidden fruit.
With a population of over 155 million people,Nigeria currently lies in
a dire security mess as individuals can no longer sleep well or even
travel within to certain geographical zones of the country due to the
stronghold of some sects. Safeguarding yourself and your family is now
at your peril as Social vices, trespassing, uncertainty, debasement,
treachery and the dreaded Jama’atu Ahlis Sunna Lidda’awati Wal-Jihad
better known by its Hausa name Boko Haram can easily describe the

Nigerian polity today. All these largely arising due to Government’s
maleficience and character/culture degeneration.
Here are 15 cautious tips to keep you alert and be forethoughtful in
the Nigeria we live in today :
1) Be Friendly With Neighbours | Maintaining a positive relationship
with your neighbours go a long way in ensuring a safe neighbourhood.
This breeds a lookout situation for every suburb and thus guarantees a
watchful and vigilant locality.
2) Simple Lifestyle | Living a simple and responsible lifestyle
thoroughly drives off attention from criminals and hoodlums.
Conducting activities moderately and avoiding glitz and glamour help
to make one less of a censurable and threat personality.
3) Be Vigilant | Being alert and watchful is a wisdom element. Every
individual has to be sharp spirited and psyched up to happenings
around them. Be observant,be perceptive and report any
unwholesome/unusual behaviour immediately to the appropriate
authorities.
4) Never Give Out Information Carelessly | This seems rather normal
for most Nigerians,secret memos and datas leak out of our lips either
willingly, in pubs or even in at atmosphere of hysteria. Always
ensure cogent information about you or members of your family are
shared amongst those trustworthy. Never give vital information to
persons unfamiliar to you.
5) Keep Gadgets Close at Night | Over the years,it has become common
knowledge that having gadgets like radios,phones(loaded with airtime)
and even the torchlight close to our easy reach permanently helps us
during danger times. SOS Phone calls help to save lives as well as
other home appliances.
6) Ensure Availability of Home Security Equipments | For the
Home,security has never been a more talked about situation than now.
Basic security appliances like lights,windows,doors and gates should
be available and secured at night time. Doors should be
locked,curtains drawn and gates closed.
7) Identify Weaknesses | Every individual/corporate body should
always note the weaknesses in their home/organization and work hard to
solve it. Weaknesses such as bad locks,a bad door or even a faulty
bulb could be an incentive for opportunistic theft and thus attract
burglars.
8) Avoid Late Night Outings | Taking the security situation of the
country into consideration, it is wise for individuals to keep off
late night activities. Depravity, evil doings and libidinousness
mostly typify and peg night life in Nigeria.
9) Maintain a Conscious Mind | Nowadays in Nigeria,every home is a
potential target but the more we maintain a sense of
conscious,neighbourless and community togetherness, security and
defense would sooner than later become a problem of the past.
10) Examine Visitors | Ensure to always check and vet external bodies
that visit your homes. Some are hoodlums who act on uniform as NPF or
PHCN Staff. Always scrutinize such individuals and visitors and keep
them at a distance.
We alone as a people can only secure ourselves. There is no
surveillance like individual surveillance. Note that your safety is
paramount and no officer can protect you more than you can.

By Toni Eghosa-Kruz Ewone

8/21/2012