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ABSTRACT
The focus of this study is on the effect of military (un)professionalism on civil-military relations and citizens’ security in Nigeria. To sketch the context, the article provides a brief background on the nature of armed conflict, which necessitated the deployment of the military in internal operations. Following this is a brief description of the extent and nature of military abuse, which strains civil-military relations. Using the principles of what constitutes military professionalism, the study shows that the conduct of the Nigerian military, together with the lack of civil control undermines internal security operations and has eroded trust in the armed forces. The influence on civil-military relations is analysed, with reference to a qualitative study conducted among civilians affected by military abuse in Plateau State. The findings show that the unprofessionalism of the Nigerian military undermines military effectiveness, civil-military relations, and exacerbates the insecurity of citizens.
Disclosure statement
No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.
Notes
1 Institute for Economics and Peace, Global Terrorism Index; and Isine, ‘Boko Haram Has Killed.’
2 Agbiboa, ‘At War against Itself’; and Musa, ‘A Phenomenology of Children.’
3 Dambazau, ‘Nigeria and Her Security’; Joshua, Gberevbie, and Onor, ‘Building Security through Insecurity.’
4 Ojo, ‘Taming the Monster’, 267; and Wambua, ‘Police Corruption in Africa’, 4.
5 Sun, Sung, and Chu, ‘Collateral Gains from the Military? A Cross-National Analysis of the Armed Forces-Crime Relationship.’
6 Odoemene, ‘The Nigerian Armed Forces’; and Joshua, Gberevbie, and Onor, ‘Building Security through Insecurity.’
7 Joshua, Gberevbie, and Onor, ‘Building Security through Insecurity’, 1.
8 Ogah, ‘Law and Security in Nigeria: The Role of the Military’; Peterside, ‘The Military and Internal Security in Nigeria’; Omede, ‘The Nigerian Military: Analysing Fifty Years of Defence.’
9 Effiong, ‘The Odi Killings’, 73–82; and Nwachukwu and Ojugbana, ‘The Benue Killings’, 152.
10 Ahovi, ‘Plateau Killings: Tarok Community.’
11 Amnesty International, ‘Nigeria: Military Cover-up of Mass Slaughter.’
12 Aborisade et al., ‘Soldiers Dragged Benue Warlord.’
13 Omonobi, ‘Gana Killing.’
14 Oyadongha, ‘Military Invade Bayelsa Community.’
15 Vanguard News Nigeria, ‘Herdsmen Kill 2 Soldiers.’
16 Amnesty International, ‘Nigeria: Military Razes Villages.’
17 BBC Africa Eye, ‘Africa Eye: Torture ‘Rampant.’
18 Vanguard News Nigeria, ‘Rivers Community Deserted.’
19 Musa, Military Internal Security Operations in Plateau State, 98.
20 Africa Center for Strategic Studies, ‘After the Election’, 2.
21 McKinlay, The Perceived Role of the Military, 250–251.
22 Huntington, The Soldier and the State; Janowitz, The Professional Soldier; Sarkesian, Beyond the Battlefield; and Downes, ‘To Be or Not To Be a Profession.’
23 Huntington, The Soldier and the State, 11.
24 Franke, ‘Warriors for Peace’; Dandeker and Weibull, Facing Uncertainty: Flexible Forces; and Eriksson and Rhinard, ‘The Internal-External Security Nexus.’
25 Africa Center for Strategic Studies, ‘After the Election’; Bergman, Burdett, and Greenberg, ‘Service Life and Beyond’, 63.
26 International Crisis Group, Nigeria: The Challenge of Military Reform, 17.
27 Downes, ‘To Be or Not To Be a Profession’, 160.
28 Ibid., 160–161.
29 Perlmutter and Bennett, The Political Influence of the Military, 203–207.
30 Agbese, ‘Demilitarization and Prospects for Democracy in Nigeria.’
31 Musa, Military Internal Security Operations in Plateau State, 43.
32 Downes, ‘To Be or Not To Be a Profession’, 161.
33 Huntington, The Soldier and the State, 10.
34 Frank, ‘Warriors for Peace’; Siebold, ‘The Essence of Military Group Cohesion’; King, ‘The Existence of Group Cohesion’; Käihkö, ‘Introduction to the Armed Forces & Society Forum.’
35 Dantani, Wika, and Abdullahi, ‘The Politics of Security Deployment’; and Musa, Military Internal Security.
36 McKinlay, The Perceived Role of the Military.
37 Ouédraogo, Advancing Military Professionalism in Africa, 22.
38 Para-Mallam and Hoomlong, A Critical Investigation into the Role, 26–27.
39 Africa Center for Strategic Studies, ‘After the Election’, 2.
40 Ouédraogo, Advancing Military Professionalism in Africa, 16.
41 Nwanaju, ‘Religious Bias and Governance’; and Alli, ‘The Federal Republic of Nigeria Army.’
42 Dantani, Wika, and Abdullahi, ‘The Politics of Security Deployment.’
43 McKinlay, The Perceived Role of the Military, 250–251.
44 Downes, ‘To Be or Not To Be a Profession,’ 159.
45 McKinlay, The Perceived Role of the Military.
46 Gulleng and Hunduh, ‘Nigeria: Human Rights and Internal Security’; and Joshua, Gberevbie, and Onor, ‘Building Security through Insecurity.’
47 Idris, ‘Professional Military Education’; and Joshua et al., ‘Building Security’, 7.
48 Musa, ‘Can There Be Justice for Benjamin Arum Izang? An Unfortunate Victim of Forum Shopping.’ Thoughts From the Criminology Team. February 11, 2020. https://thoughtsfromthecriminologyteam.blog/2020/02/11/can-there-be-justice-for-benjamin-arum-izang-an-unfortunate-victim-of-forum-shopping/.
49 Musa, Military Internal Security Operations in Plateau State, 136.
50 International Crisis Group, Curbing Violence in Nigeria, 21.
51 Pelle and Schendelen, Problems of Control in Constitutional Law.
52 Federal Government of Nigeria, Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
53 Lambert, Democratic Civilian Control of Armed Forces, 42.
54 Alaga and Akum, ‘Civil-Military Relations and Democratic Consolidation’, 231.
55 Adekanye, ‘Civil-Military Relations in Nigeria’, 185; and Adeakin, A New Form of Authoritarianism?
56 Adeakin, ‘A New Form of Authoritarianism?’
57 International Crisis Group, Nigeria: The Challenge, 21; and Para-Mallam and Hoomlong, A Critical Investigation, 11.
58 Olokor, ‘Plateau Killings’; and Usman, ‘Soldiers may have Aided Monday Morning Attack.’
59 Alaga and Akum, ‘Civil-Military Relations’, 227; and Adeakin, A New Form of, 91.
60 Ouédraogo, Advancing Military Professionalism in Africa, 22.
61 Ricks, ‘The Widening Gap.’
62 Dantani, Wika, and Abdullahi, ‘The Politics of Security Deployment.’
63 Adeakin, A New Form of Authoritarianism?
64 Feaver, Armed Servants: Agency, Oversight, 58–60.
65 Nordlinger, Soldiers in Politics: Military Coups, 13.
66 Ojo, ‘Taming the Monster.’
67 Best and Rakodi, Conflict and its Aftermath.
68 Musa, Military Internal Security Operations in Plateau State.
69 Ouédraogo, Advancing Military Professionalism in Africa, 47.
70 Adeakin, A New Form; Bamidele, ‘Domestic Terrorism in Nigeria’; Alaga and Akum, ‘Civil-Military Relations’; Odoemene, ‘The Nigerian Armed Forces.’
71 Bamidele, ‘Domestic Terrorism in Nigeria’; and Ojo, ‘The Military and the Challenge.’
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Notes on contributors
Sallek Yaks Musa
Sallek Yaks Musa is postdoctoral research fellow in the department of Sociology and Social Anthropology, University of Stellenbosch, South Africa. Sallek was a recipient of fellowships from the Next Generation Africa Social Sciences Research Council (SSRC) New York, and Lisa Maskel Doctoral Research Fellowships, Germany. His research interest cuts across the theories and general field of civil-military relations, criminology and security studies, policing, peace and conflict management/resolution, governance, armed groups, terrorism, and human rights.
Lindy Heinecken
Lindy Heinecken is Chair of the Department of Sociology and Social Anthropology, Stellenbosch University, South Africa. Her research focuses on armed forces and society where she has published widely on a range of issues, including civil military relations, and defence transformation. Her recent book is titled South Africa’s Post-Apartheid Military: Lost in Transition and Transformation. She serves on the Council of the Inter-University Seminar on Armed Forces and Society (IUS) and, is the President of the International Sociological Association (ISA) Armed Forces and Conflict Resolution Research Committee (RC01).