APA – Lagos (Nigeria)
Nigeria’s Centre for Social Justice (CSJ) has said that the Nigerian government has abandoned, failed, refused and neglected to enforce its primary and constitutional duty of guaranteeing the security of Nigerians and residents in the West African country.
Reacting to the current security situation in Nigeria, the group stated in a statement signed by Mr. Eze Onyekpere, Lead Director of the CSJ, noted that the new reality is exemplified by the late December 2023 killings in Plateau State, incessant killings in Katsina State, 45 passengers kidnapped as gunmen attacked transporters along Otukpo-Enugu Road and the ongoing kidnap and murder of innocent Nigerians in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory.
It explained that although the situation has degenerated so much, Nigerians are yet to hear any concrete and reassuring words from the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces or high-level officers of state on the way forward.
It stated that security in the last 10 years had enjoyed the highest allocation in federal budgets to cater for the various security agencies maintained at the tax payers’ expense. Budgetary allocations have been proposed and spent on personnel, arms and ammunition, aircrafts and vessels, vehicles, equipment, including intelligence gadgets, yet when these crimes have been committed, the security agencies have been unable to investigate, arrest and bring the perpetrators to justice.
“We are worried at the seeming cluelessness and inability of the security agencies to deploy intelligence to prevent and nip in the bud the insensitive acts of criminal elements that have no regard for human lives. We are further worried that
“In FCT, the minister in charge, instead of addressing the challenge seems more interested in continued fueling of a political crisis in his home state, Rivers State,” it added
The CSJ, therefore called on President Bola Tinubu to urgently tackle the upsurge of insecurity in the country by expeditiously amending the 1999 Constitution and the enactment of new laws for the establishment and activation of State Police, mainstreaming and prioritizing intelligence in policing and security work.
The group also suggested the activation and routine deployment of the SIM GSM database and inventory for investigations and tracking of criminals is long overdue, while liberalising the processing of gun licenses for responsible law-abiding tax paying citizens for the purpose of self defence.
“Nigerians need to be reassured through concrete security action on the ability of the state to protect lives and property,” the group added.
GIK/APA
Centre for Social Justice calls for urgent action against rising insecurity
