CSOs to Tinubu: Declare state of emergency on insecurity now

 

 

 

FAVOUR ISHEMBER, Abuja with agency reports

 

 

A coalition of 48 Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), has called on the Federal Government to declare a  State of Emergency on kidnapping, terrorism and other security challenges bedeviling the country.

Mr. Auwal Rafsanjani, the Executive Director, Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC), a member of the coalition, stated this at a news conference with the theme “End Mass Atrocities, Secure Nigeria and Ensure Accountability for Victims”, on Monday in Abuja.

 

Rafsanjani said the coalition was deeply concerned about the deteriorating state of security across Nigeria, particularly in FCT, Abuja.

He called on the government to take actionable steps to end the endemic security challenge.

He said there was also need to mitigate further attacks by kidnap syndicates and terrorist groups and account for persons missing in attacks.

“These forms of insecurity has jeopardized the security and wellbeing of Nigerians, and has progressively deteriorated over the years. Endemic insecurity has persisted over the last three administrations, including that of President Muhammadu Buhari, who as a former military general had gained public trust to run as president by promising to curb insecurity.

“Mass atrocities fatality tracking across the country by Nigeria Mourns reveals that in President Buhari’s second term alone (2019 to 2023), at least 24,816 Nigerians lost their lives and at least 15,597 persons were abducted,‘’ he said.

Rafsanjani  said that it  had been eight  months since President Bola Tinubu took his over and yet, things were yet to improve.

He said the coalition’s tracking showed that at least 2,423 people had been killed in mass atrocities-related incidents and at least 1,872 persons abducted since the beginning of Tinubu’s administration on May 29.

“We are particularly concerned about the upsurge in abductions, noting that at least 230 incidents, in most of which multiple victims were involved, occurred within the first two weeks of January 2024 alone.

“Several communities across the country, including the FCT which is the seat of government itself, are under siege, with entire families and in some cases, communities taken hostage.

“Residents are being forced to flee due to repeated attacks by terrorists, kidnappers and other organised criminal groups. Kidnapping for ransom has become a disturbing norm, without appropriate response from the authorities,” he said.

Rafsanjani cited instances of attacks in  Tashar Nagule village of Batsarinin. Katsina, abduction of 23 people in Kawu community in Bwari, FCT. Other were attack on Magizawa community in Kaura Namoda Local Government Area of Zamfara and the Mangu massacre in Plateau.

He said that road ambushes had made interstate travel more perilous and some political leaders and politically exposed persons publicly support ransom payments; a stance emboldening perpetuates.

He said there was need for the government to keep to its primary obligation of ensuring the security and welfare of all citizens as mandated in Section 14(2)(b) of the Constitution.

”It is also the government obligation to enforce and fulfill its citizens’ right to life, according to Section 33 of the Constitution,” he said.

Ms Lois Auta, the Founder and Executive Director of Cedar Seed Foundation, said following the concerns raised, the coalition called on Tinubu as the lead agent of government to fulfill the constitutional imperative of safeguarding the lives of citizens.

Auta said there was need to also enhance the country’s security infrastructure by conducting an audit of the responsibility matrix within security agencies and departments of government.

She said there was need to   bolster their capabilities and deployment of technology to effectively address the evolving security challenge.

“Promptly prosecute the 400 sponsors of terrorism arrested under the Buhari regime. Uncover and prosecute those responsible for the misappropriation of the 460 million dollars   earmarked for the provision of CCTV cameras in the Federal Capital Territory.

“Implement more decisive measures to promptly secure the release of all abducted victims and create a register of victims of abductions and other forms of mass atrocities.’’

Auta also stressed the need to recognise and address the floundering economy, corruption and human rights violations as   exacerbating factors of Nigeria’s insecurity.

She called on the government to engage citizens on best practices for ending insecurity, including disincentivising the payment of ransoms.

She added that it was imperative to provide holistic psychosocial support for abduction survivors and their families and promptly investigate and decisively prosecute all individuals implicated in fueling   insecurity.

She said the coalition believed that there was need to investigate the financial flow of organised criminal groups and identify the sponsors and   beneficiaries.

The CSOs included: African Centre for Media & Information Literacy (AFRICMIL), Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC), Yiaga Africa, Kukah Centre, Women Advocate Research & Documentation Centre (WARDC), Amnesty International Nigeria (AIN), among others

 

Military airstrikes killed 30 terrorists in Kaduna –NAF

 

Meanwhile,  military air component of Operation Whirl Punch has killed 30 terrorists on motorcycles in the Birnin Gwari Local Government Area of Kaduna state.

The air strikes were ordered by the military following an intelligence report which disclosed the movement of the terrorists in the area.

A statement on Monday by the Director of Public Relations and Information, Air Vice Marshal Edward Gabkwet, said the eliminated terrorists were responsible for the ambush on troops at Kwanan Mutuwa recently as well as several attacks and abduction of innocent civilians in the LGA.

The statement read, “In its relentless campaign to rid the Northwest and Northcentral region of Nigeria of the menace of terrorism and Kidnapping, the Air Component of Operation Whirl Punch has eliminated a syndicate of terrorists in Kaduna State.

“The strike followed an intelligence report of the movement of the syndicate along the Kwiga-Kampamin Doka axis in Birnin Gwari LGA of Kaduna State.

“The intelligence also revealed that the same syndicate was responsible for the ambush on troops at Kwanan Mutuwa on January 27, 2024, as well as several attacks and abduction of innocent civilians in Birnin Gwari.”

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He added that when the troops arrived at the location, two armed terrorists were sighted on 15 motorcycles.

Gabkwet noted that a precision strike was conducted which eliminated the

He said “On arrival at the suspected location, a deliberate and detailed scan revealed a trail of terrorists sighted moving in a convoy of about 15 motorcycles, each with at least two armed terrorists.

“Accordingly, the terrorists were trailed to a location where they converged before they were engaged and neutralized in a precision strike. The aftermath of the air strike revealed that several of the terrorists were eliminated as a result of the strike.”

The Birin Gwari area of Kaduna is one of the areas ravaged by insecurity, resulting in the death and abductions of residents.

 

.As Wike’s men raid tunnels, green areas, arrest three

 

Also, waging a war against insecurity, officials of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA )on Monday burst drainage tunnels, under bridges, green areas and parks within the city centre.

The Director, FCT Department of Development Control, Mukhtar Galadima who led the joint task force said the raid had become necessary following complaints from resident over misuse of subways and under bridges by criminals who attack and dispossess innocent residents of their belongings at will.

He explained that the FCT minister, Barr. Nyesom Wike had directed the JTF to take necessary action to rid the territory of these criminal elements and ensure the safety of residents.

“We have received complains  from residents in the city regarding the misuse and abuse of the subways and under bridges. So, the Hon. FCT Minister directed that we should take necessary action, and today we are a fact-finding mission, to know what is really happening under the bridges and subways.

“From today, we can come out with our plan of action on the next step to be taken. With what we have seen today, it is really unfortunate that these things are happening in the city, where informal activities are taken place under the bridges and subways, as well as people of questionable characters are living there.

“We have to step up our action on combing  and monitoring these facilities and activities taken place there”, he said.

On  his part, the Secretary, Command and Control, FCT Security Services Department, Peter Olumuji said the team were disturbed by the enormity of the threat the challenge poses to not only  residents, but the entire city as a whole if not immediately addressed.

According to him: “That is why we have decided to come and profile the canals  and bridges within the capital cities and what we have seen is so disturbing.

“Residents of the capital city have been raising concern on how whenever they transverse these locations especially where you have bridges, they complain about how criminal elements coming out from the bushes, snatching their phone and bags, robbing them of their valuables even in their cars when they don’t wind up.

“Immediately they do this, they run into the bridges to hibernate. Naturally you don’t expect the victims to run after them because you don’t know what you will see in the tunnels. That is why we have decided to come and profile the canals and bridges within the capital cities and what we have seen is so disturbing.

“We made three arrest under the bridges today and these arrests concerns more of drug related issues and we have handed them over to the NDLEA for further investigation and profiling”.

The operation which lasted over five hours, witnessed some arrests of criminals who specialised in drug peddling as well as attacking and robbing residents of their valuables in some notorious flash-points which include the Yar’adua Centre/National Mosque triangle.

The task force team raided the stretch between Finance to Women Affairs tunnels around Court of Appeal as well as all tunnels in the Millennium Park.

It also combed tunnels and Green areas beside Abia House connecting to River Plate Park through to National Mosque and Yar’Adua Center.

Other areas are Chescon Park, Maitama and Scavengers den behind Abia House.

While three were arrested, many of the criminals, took to their heels to escape arrest on sighting officials of the joint task force who raided every suspected hideouts in the green areas.