By JAPHET ALAKAM

SECURITY of lives and property of the citizens is the number one priority of every government and it is on that basis that different government created diverse  security outfits for that purpose. And since the creation of the different forces,like the Police, SSS, army etc they have been doing everything possible to meet the security challenges.

But recent developments especially the violent crimes orchestrated by the activities of the Boko Haram have changed the security situation in Nigeria that people are no longer comfortable with their approach. Though the government and different security agencies are not sleeping over that as they have embarked on a lot of measures to meet the security challenges, there is need for the citizens to take some precautionary measures in order to help the security agencies and themselves too.

It is on the basis of this that Mike Okiro, a lawyer, a former Inspector General of Police and a man who has seen it all in the force before retiring brings his wealth of experience to bear in his new  book, titled Overcoming security challenges.  The 155 pages book  published by Bharmoss Ventures Nigeria Ltd, Port Harcourt, Rivers State serves as a guide on security awareness for Nigerians caught in the present prevailing security challenges .

The coming of the book which is a revised and updated version of his earlier book titled Surviving the Cities is timely as it will equip the average reader with the basic knowledge that would greatly assist him/her in overcoming the current security challenges as well as ensuring a relatively crime free nation.

Using his wealth of experience as one who has seen it all in the force, the author in the thirty one chapters book in a very simple language compiles some of the real life grievous security mistakes by people across the globe with most references from Nigeria.

Starting with the topic, Know your neighbours, the author highlights incidences where the inability of some individuals to know their neighbours led to loss of lives. Other topics includes: Stalking Vehicles, Guard your property at public places, Tools that facilitate crime, Identify target before you fire; Learn to do certain things yourself and others.

In all these, the author delivers the needed message with good examples of incidences where the failure to take care of such simple measures cost loss of life and property and how some people who made use of such simple measures saved their families from the hands of the evil ones.

The cases are numerous, he did not end it there he also in the last two chapters provides the reader with the distress call numbers addresses and telephone numbers in Nigeria and security hints that serve as palliatives that if adhered to will make the reader overcome the security situations in urban community.

Written in very simple English for easy understanding, despite some avoidable errors, the book could be described as a manual of crime prevention and a compendium of expedient clues that could guide government authorities and individuals on security challenges facing the nation. I therefore recommend it all.