Terrorists/bandits killings: Northern Coalitions blast FG
…No single day without killings – Sultan
…Volunteer information to security agencies — CAN President to residents
…As CISLAC, TI identify insecurity in Nigeria’s anti-corruption profile
…Presidency claims of victory amidst glaring failure, unacceptable, no more tolerable — Northern Coalition
…We cannot fight insecurity alone — FG
By Moses Adeniyi
Northern based socio-cultural and right groups have taken strong wipe on the Federal Government over what they have described as the ‘woeful failure’ of the Government to address the heightening state of insecurity mayhem of bandits and terrorists’ operations which have left thousands dead and displaced in the region.
The recent killings of no less than 23 travellers who were burnt to death by bandits on Monday at Anguwan Bawa in Sabon Birni Council of Sokoto State, had sparked stronger reactions as various groups continue to express grievances over the heightening spate of insecurity mayhem across the Country.
A number of groups under different umbrella on Thursday took up harsh criticisms against the Federal Government for unrepelled records of rampaging activities of bandits and terrorists tormenting the region with killings, arsons and kidnapping, leaving many dead and thousands displaced.
Presidency claims of victory amidst glaring failure, unacceptable, no more tolerable – CNG
The Coalition of Northern Groups (CNG) on Thursday while condemning the escalation of attacks and killings by terrorists in Northern communities, said the mayhem was a confirmation of the failure of the Federal and State Governments in the region to secure the lives and property of Nigerians.
According to the Group, attacks and killings across Northern Nigerian communities, cities, towns and highways have exposed the entire region to the mercy of Boko Haram-ISWAP insurgents in the North East, “and ruthless banditry and kidnapping rings to the North West and North Central.”
The Group which spoke in a briefing in Abuja on Thursday, through its Spokesman, Abdul-Azeez Suleiman, lamented the government’s slow response to killings suggested that it was not disturbed by the loss of the lives of its citizens.
It further observed that Nigeria’s vast land borders with its northern neighbours have been completely overrun by assortments of armed criminal gangs turning them into dangerous conduits for drugs, arms, smugglers, illegal immigrants and foreign fighters from Countries in the troubled Sahel region.
The Group alleged that the claims of the presidency of flaunting victory in the face of glaring failure, which “appears in total isolation or in deep denial,” have reached an unacceptable and an intolerable point where the urgent citizen action remains the only option.
The Northern Coalition observed that the recent roasting to death of 23 travellers at Anguwan Bawa in Sabon Birni Council of Sokoto State by bandits, the attacks of ISWAP in the Northeast, and the unabated phenomenon of banditry along Abuja-Kaduna highway as well as school abductions have exposed the helplessness of the government.
According to the Group, the escalation of the security challenges bedevilling the North do not only pose existential threats to the region, but to the whole nation and the fragile democracy of the Country.
The Group said: “The Coalition of Northern Groups (CNG) is agitated by the recent unchecked escalation of attacks and killings across Northern Nigerian communities, cities, towns and highways that has literally exposed the entire region to the mercy of Boko Haram-ISWAP insurgents to the North East, and ruthless banditry and kidnapping rings to the North West and North Central.
“At the risk of overstating the case, we can unhesitatingly assert that already, Nigeria’s vast land borders with its northern neighbours have been completely overrun by assortments of armed criminal gangs turning them into dangerous conduits for drugs, arms, smugglers, illegal immigrants and foreign fighters from countries in the troubled Sahel region.
“CNG notes that the following recent escalations of attacks, killings and kidnappings while the presidency appears in total isolation or in deep denial by constantly flaunting victory in the face of glaring failure, has reached an unacceptable and an intolerable point where the urgent citizen action remains the only option.
“In the light of the above, the CNG has inadvertently arrived at the following inevitable observations and inferences: That the Federal and State governments in the North have woefully failed in the vital area of providing security of lives and properties to citizens, especially in northern Nigeria, where the ruling All Progressives Congress extracted the bulk of its votes in the 2015 and 2019 rounds of elections.
“That the escalation of the security challenges bedevilling the North today is not only existential threats to the region, but to the whole nation with our very fragile democracy threatened by the worst insecurity of our lifetime.
“That the glaring inability to secure the borders, forests and highways in northern Nigeria is partly a result of incapacity, absence of a political will, defence corruption and bad governance.
“In recognition of the enormity of these security and socio-economic challenges, the CNG has resolved to embark on a massive mobilisation of all men and women of goodwill in the region and beyond, to raise their voices to give voice to our voiceless people.
“Consequently, the CNG has resolved to organise a Mega Pan Northern Nigerian Summit under the chairmanship of the convener of the Northern Elders Forum, Professor Ango Abdullahi to look into and proffer definite solutions to the security challenges in the region.”
…Nigeria turned into a killing field – NEYGA
This is just as another coalition of Northern Youth Groups under the aegis of Northern Ethnic Group Assembly (NEYGA), has said Nigeria has been turned into a killing field by bandits terrorising the Country.
The Assembly lamented that the North-West has, virtually been taken over by rampaging bandits who kidnap for ransom and kill victims who cannot pay for their freedom.
Describing the recent Sokoto incident as “one attack that cannot be forgotten in a hurry,” the group said innocent civilians looking for their daily bread are now being “forced to live in perpetual fear.”
In a statement signed by its spokesperson, Ibrahim Dan-Musa, the group said, “Virtually all parts of Nigeria are currently battling with one form of insecurity or the other with various crimes going on, largely unabated.
“Despite attempts by Muhammadu Buhari led administration to curb the rising criminalities and killings across the country, the nation’s security apparatus under Monguno appears to be overwhelmed with criminals maiming and extorting their victims.”
The Groups which berated the Police said “the body language of Mr. Monguno shows that he is only interested in power and more power and acquisitions of properties instead of intelligent gathering.
“Nigeria Police Force is poorly funded and motivated, and the military, which is fighting a decade-long insurgency in the North-East, appears to be at the end of their wits on how to curtail the downward spiral in security.”
“Swathes of the North-West have, virtually been taken over by rampaging bandits who kidnap for ransom and kill victims who cannot pay for their freedom.
“The North-Central is not free from the deadly assaults by these bandits, and kidnap gangs who now operate freely in parts of Niger, Kogi and Nasarawa are making it into the Federal Capital Territory.
“The North-East is yet to experience peace as Boko Haram insurgents are in a deadly battle of supremacy daily with the nation’s military in a bid to carve out an Islamic state.
“Now largely ‘degraded’ as stated by federal officials, and focusing more on soft targets and solitary military formations, the insurgents still carry out attacks in a bid to terrorise the numerous communities in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa,” the statement partly read.
…CISLAC, TI identify insecurity in Nigeria’s anti-corruption profile
In similar vein, the Civil Society Organisations, Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC) and the Transparency International on Thursday, identified insecurity among subjects on which it berated the President Muhammadu Buhari led government.
The Groups slammed the Government over alleged failure and throwing Nigeria into deep and widespread insecurity, unemployment, poverty and inequality, and others.
In a statement signed by the-Executive Director, CISLAC, Auwal Ibrahim Rafsanjani, in view of the 2021 International Anti-Corruption Day-with theme ‘Your Right, Your Role, Say No to Corruption’, the Advocacy Group said, “President Muhammadu Buhari’s failure to quickly tackle the legacies of misgovernance inherited after coming to office in 2015 and missteps by the administration has sunk the Country deeper into widespread insecurity, unemployment, poverty and inequality, voter apathy, corruption and impunity, extra-judicial killings and high-handedness among law enforcement and security agencies, and a widening distrust for government among citizens.”
…Volunteer information to security agencies – CAN President to residents
On his part, the President of the Chairman Association of Nigeria (CAN), Rev. Samson Ayokunle at the NIREC meeting, said highways in the Country have become “den of kidnappers and a no-go-area for travellers.”
The CAN President who wondered why bandits were operating with free hands without being repelled by security forces, said: “Travelling from one point to another by road in particular has become a very great risk. Kidnappers are everywhere and they don’t only come out to kidnap but also to kill. So, you don’t know who the next victim is going to be.
“Why should these people be killing and hiding people in our territory without being challenged? Why should it be easy for them to hide people somewhere within the state and the security agencies in the state within few days or weeks will not be able to fish them out?”
The CAN President who however called for increase in intelligence gathering; implored members of the public to also volunteer information to security agencies to help the tracing and apprehension of the criminals.
Calling for increased investment in the military to enhance their performance, Ayokunle warned the security forces to purge themselves of mischievous elements abetting criminality in the Country.
…No single day without killings – Sultan
On his part, the Sultan of Sokoto, Sa’ad Abubakar while speaking in Abuja at the 4th Quarter 2021 Meeting of the Nigeria Inter-Religious Council (NIREC) on Thursday, said situations were not right in the Country by the worsening profile of security threats.
Sa’ad who said there are daily attacks in the North which are largely unreported, submitted it was high time concerted efforts were deployed to address the prevailing threats.
The Sultan said, “Some few days ago, we were witnesses to the media report on how people were killed in a bus in Sokoto, even though the figure is not correct, but even one life is important.
“There is no single day that passes without people being killed in the North especially in the North West now, but we don’t hear it.
“Let’s not deceive ourselves, everything is not alright. I have said this so many times, and to know that you have a problem, you have part of the solution The earlier we rise up to the occasion, come together, the better for us.”
…We cannot fight insecurity alone – FG
Recall that in a reaction to the recent killing in Sokoto President Muhammadu Buhari had in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Chief Femi Adesina, said that the dastardly act by bandits showed that the evil his administration was confronting required the support and involvement of all Nigerians.
“I am very distressed at the manner of death visited on these hapless citizens who were undertaking a legitimate journey to another part of the Country. It shows that the evil this administration is confronting is one that requires the support and involvement of all Nigerians,” the statement quoted him.
