Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has expressed its concern over increasing insecurity in the country, calling for a thorough investigation into security activities in the North-Eastern states, where the country is worst hit.
In a statement released on Monday, NLC President, Abdulwahed Omar expressed apprehension over the security challenges, despite the huge resource allocations it has recieved over the past few years. Omar said the challenge has taken a very bad turn with the recent ambush and assassination of the Emir of Gwoza, Idrisa Timta who was in company of two other Emirs on their way to Gombe for the funeral rites of their late colleague, the Emir of Gombe, Alhaji Usman Shehu Abubakar.
“It is worrisome that these attacks are increasing even as the Minister of Finance recently announced that N130billion had been spent on security, especially on the Military that have been saddled with the responsibility of confronting the prevailing armed insurgency in the North East led by the Boko Haram elements,” Omar said.
“The ease and precision with which these attacks are carried out, despite numerous security check points and the number of security personnel deployed in the zone is worrisome and unjustifiable. If high profile traditional rulers could be attacked so casually just as villages and towns are being razed even in broad daylight, what would be the fate of ordinary citizens?”
The NLC president urged the authorities to demonstrate a higher level of commitment to safety of lives and property in the country, especially in the North East, by carrying out deep investigations into the activities of security operatives including military personnel.
“It is already a national embarrassment that the school children who were abducted from the Government Secondary School, Chibok, Borno State more than six weeks ago are yet to be located and rescued even as multinational interests in the rescue operations increases. That these children are yet to be rescued and delivered unharmed to their parents questions the commitment and credibility of those saddled with the search and rescue operation and negatively impacts on our national image,” he continued.
Omar expressed confidence that the country’s security agencies, including the Military can effectively route out the insurgents if well equipped and motivated. He pointed to the achievements of the nation’s military in peace keeping missions around Africa, saying they played decisive roles in ending conflicts in Liberia, Sierra Leone and Mali.
He said the group understands that the current challenge is slightly different from the peace keeping missions, yet it is concerned that these same forces are finding it difficult to confront insurgency in their home front.
“We believe government and indeed, all Nigerians must take interest in what could be the obstacles to our collective resolve and commitment to the war on terror that has all but brought socio-economic activities in parts of the country to a halt,” Omar said.
He charged President Goodluck Jonathan, to institute a full scale, transparent, thorough and unbiased investigation on the activities and challenges of the security forces, especially in the North East.
“We also call on the National Assembly to probe the financial allocations to the military and the utilization of these allocations, for clearly, the murder of the Emir of Gwoza has exposed the soft underbelly of these operations,” Omar added.
“Meanwhile, we extend our deep condolences to the family of the Emir of Gwoza and thousands of other families including the families of our security operatives who are bereaved as a result of this costly war.”
