Chief Joseph Ameh Erico, a fellow of the Nigerian Institute for Industrial Security (NIIS), member of Society of Security Practitioners of Nigeria (SSPN) and Police Community Relations Committee (PCRC) is the Chief Executive Officer, Real Strikers Security Services Limited (RSSSL). Fresh from a course on terrorism, which he attended in South Africa, alongside top officials of the Nigeria Ministry of Defence, he speaks with KINGSLEY JEREMIAH on the need for the Federal Government to recognise private security practitioners in combating crime in the country.

Your story is a perfect example of one that rose from zero to a hero, what has been your driving force?

One must be focused, fast and steady to make a difference regardless of the challenges that might come your way.

If you look at distraction in life you will never get to the top because there are a lot of things that will drag you down.

The environment is discouraging and the government makes things worse. But the government has its role to play and you have yours too. If you are not productive and the government provides everything, you will not utilize it well. What we are asking from the government is an enabling environment. But must we always rely on the government?

It used to be popular that slow and steady wins the race but it is a different story now. The reason being that we are in the computer age where everything is so fast and there is need for one to act fast to catch up.

In what ways have your upbringing and family background helped in realising your dream?

Growing up and spending my youthful years in the barrack really shaped my life. I was born in the Efofe, Etuekpe area in Kogi state. I came from a very humble background. I grew up in a polygamous family where my mother was the first wife but my parents divorced when my maternal family stopped tolerating the behaviour of my father. I became the only surviving son that my mother had for my father. My sister and my twin brother could not survive. The situation became worse when my father took a second wife. I had to move in with my uncle in Kaduna. I later got admitted to Army Children School, Kaduna. I was then an active member of the Army club in the school. I could not continue there because I got transferred to former Gongola state, precisely in Numan now in Adamawa state. I completed my Primary Education at Gewana Primary School around 1979/80.

Suddenly it got to a time when my uncle became furious about my dad having many wives. He sent me back to the village, saying, “If my dad could get married to so many wives he should be able to take care of his children too.”

When I got to the village, I took a common entrance examination and was enrolled in Olamaboro Community Secondary School Secondary, Okpo, Kogi State. But due to some reasons, I later completed my secondary education in 1984 at Ogugu Community Secondary School, Olamaboro local council area.

Since there was no money to continue my education, I took up a job with Fertilizers and Chemicals Company Limited, Kaduna. I earned N200 monthly then. The money was apparently small to fend for my family and relatives, so I ventured into supply of items with my outlet called Anamson Joe International Agency in 1994. I was not fulfilled with that until I had my opportunity in private security where I have continued to put in my best in the struggle against crime.

You were recently in South Africa alongside top security officials in Nigeria to take a course on terrorism. How best can we tackle insecurity in Nigeria?

We must realize that the people engaged in the act are our brothers and sisters. We should not have involved the military from the onset; military is meant to be the last resort in issues like this. We are supposed to involve a critical investigative agency to look at the reasons behind the actions and what the terrorists actually wanted. How can we go about the problems if we do not understand what the agitations are?

The police force is best suited for the critical investigation. If we had treated the issue this way, may be things would not have escalated. So, the Nigerian government was wrong with the method she deployed from the onset. To be heard and noticed is the reason the northern sects are causing problems here and there.

The stage we are right now is critical. Boko Haram should come out and discuss with the appropriate agencies. And government should grant them amnesty if they want.

What is the role of private security companies to national security?

Nigerians would make the best use of private security outfits if only they know their importance. Private security outfits own information as far as Nigeria is concerned. But many people do not know let alone valuing them. The outfits own the highest intelligent information but government seem not to know this.

Private security companies play major roles in the security of the nation. They are the grass root security agencies for Nigeria and the world at large. In South Africa, private security companies operate with guns and they have recording procedure that goes straight to the government. In the US, it is the same thing. I marvel when police officers say that security men are not different from any other Nigerian on the street.

How best do you think government can make use of private security companies in enhancing security of the nation?

I want the Federal Government to recognize the security industry. It must also be passed through the police. The police should recognise that we are co-fighters of crime in Nigeria.

They should also properly recognise the Civil Defense Corps as co-fighters of crime. The Civil Defense Corps are our regulatory body as assigned by the FG. Government should get us involved in crime fighting because we know more than they do. But do you expect me to give my information to somebody that does not recognise me? In the North, we have so many security companies that know who the Boko Haram members are.