… Says efforts will help tackle security challenges, stabilise country
From Noah Ebije, Kaduna
A group, Coalition for Peace and National Unity (CPNU) has said the recent proactive measures taken to neutralise bandits leaders and rescue kidnapped students by the National Security Adviser , Mal.Nuhu Ribadu and other security agencies are worthy of commendation.
The group said these efforts will no doubt improve security situation in the country, especially the north compared to what used to be obtainable in the past when daredevil Boko Haram insurgents and bandits had field day operating unhindered.
The Coalition for Peace and National Unity,which made the commendation in a press statement made available to journalists in Kaduna stated,” We are highly impressed with the timely actions taken to rescue the 15 Tsangaya students kidnapped at a Qur’anic school in Sokoto State; students of the Federal University Gusau from terrorists that invaded the students off campus accommodation and that of the 137 Kuriga pupils abducted more than three weeks ago from their school in Kaduna.”
The statement signed by Secretary General of the group,Dr. Abdullahi Musa Ringim said if the measures are sustained ,it will evidently help to tackle insecurity challenges and stabilise the country over time.
The group however said though, there are still works to do on issues of security challenges, especially in the north, the actions taken recently has yielded positive results with hope that the fight against banditry and Boko Haram insurgents will soon be history.
While urging the office of NSA and security agencies to be more proactive in the fight against all forms of criminalities across the country, especially banditry and insurgency, it stated, “At this juncture, and from our comparative analysis as well as records obtained by our research unit,we are left with no option than to commend Federal government for efforts taken so far to tackle prolonged security challenges in country with the last 10 months of Tinubu’s administration”.
According to the group, survey carried out recently did reveal that the security situation has tremendously improved in northern Nigeria compared to what used to be obtained in the past during the days former President Goodluck Jonathan and former President Muhammadu Buhari .
“The bandit groups existed across the north-west region and Niger State. These groups were economically driven. When they are not kidnapping for ransom, they exploit the lack of state presence to impose taxes and protection levies on rural communities.
“But noted that across the 19 Northerns according to research conducted by the group, in states like Kaduna; Sokoto , Zamfara, Katsina, the nefarious activities and attacks by bandits must be contained without any consideration.
“It is no longer news that as a country ,we have witnessed unprecedented security challenges such as Boko Haram Terrorists attacks, militancy, armed robbery, banditry, kidnapping for ransom, Fulani-herders/ farmers clashes, cultism among other social vices, but now that federal government has demonstrated a high sense of commitment to ensuring that Nigerians can go to bed with their two eyes closed, we should support the government to succeed.
“In fact, the recent release of hostages kidnapped by bandits ,the hard work and tirelessly efforts put to ensure the release of the school pupils and other kidnapped victims within good time is a enough reasons for our total support”. The statement said.