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The federal and state governments have been called upon to wake up quickly to the security challenge facing the nation.
The call was made by the National Association of Public Affairs Analysts (NAPAA) in a press release signed by its President, Prince Seun Adelore and General Secretary, Comrade Jare Ajayi.
According to the body, the spate of insecurity in various parts of the country “calls for serious concern.”
“We heard unpleasant reports of killings in Sokoto, Plateau, Benue, Ondo States among others. Most of which were traceable to Fulani herdsmen. Reports from Igbeti and some other parts of Oke ogun and Ibarapa areas in Oyo State also indicated attacks by Fulani herdsmen.”
NAPAA expressed serious concern over the allegation that suspected Fulani herdsmen killed three people in Arimogija community in Ose Local Government Area of Ondo State.
“While the news of such attacks is not new – condemnable as it is – what made the present one totally unacceptable and very worrisome was the allegation that a helicopter came to drop weapons for the attackers and that the police did not do anything when they were called upon.”
Recalling that the development was said to have compelled residents of the town to flee as the Fulani herdsmen allegedly invaded the town, the public affairs analysts challenged the federal government, the security agencies and the Ministry of Interior as well as Ondo State government not to sweep the matter under the carpet “as we no longer seem to be safe.”
The association stated that the above “are besides various kidnapping incidents and attacks by Boko Haram insurgents still taking place especially in the North Eastern part of the country.”
The release disclosed that the lockdown and restriction in movements have led to new spate of banditry and security breaches “as seen in invasion of houses, vehicular attacks and the like.”
They cited the examples of some residential areas in Ibadan, Oyo State, such as Orogun, Ojoo Road, Olororo, Olomi, Samonda, Bodija etc “that were summarily invaded by buglers.
Meanwhile, the analysts also urged the Inspector General of Police and the Chief of Army Staff to prevail on security agencies not to trample on the fundamental human rights of the people in the process of enforcing the lockdown ordered by the government. They made this call against the backdrop of the reports of various abuses to which people are being subjected to by police and soldiers who are to enforce the stay-at-home order made by governments in some states of the federation.
Finally, the analysts called on the government to wake up more to its responsibility of securing lives and properties. Besides basic security that must be provided, “there is also the need for the governments to roll out palliative measures for hapless Nigerians who are forced to stay at home in these days of corona virus pandemic.”
National Association of Public Affairs Analysts called on the governments of the south west “to hasten action on the much-vaunted Amotekun security apparatus.”