A group of 41 eminent Nigerians, under the auspices of Concerned Nigerians, has demanded the immediate sack of the nation’s security heads over the deteriorating insecurity in the country.
Our correspondent reports that there have been calls on President Muhammadu Buhari to sack the country’s service chiefs over their inability to tackle the insecurity challenge. The eminent Nigerians, in a statement they jointly signed, lamented that Nigerians are being killed daily by Boko Haram and armed bandits.
According to them, Nigerians now live in a state of anomie, amidst the country’s unsuccessful 11-year-old war against Boko Haram and that life has become tenuous across the country, especially in the North.
“People are killed daily, women are raped regularly, kidnapping is rife and many farmers cannot go to their farms. We are concerned that over the past five years, in particular, public safety and security have been in steady decline throughout the country.
“Everyone is asking, where is the State? Underscoring the message of many notable Nigerians, the Sultan of Sokoto declared last week, that no one is safe anywhere in Nigeria.
“What we see, like others, is incompetence in governance demonstrated by a lack of ideas on how to tackle insecurity; a poor understanding of the situation and a clear failure in the pursuit of government engagement to address these problems.
“The Zabarmari (Borno State farmers’ killings) incident is a grave indictment of the government. At the minimum, what we should have seen is the honourable exit of the persons responsible for the defence and security of our country,” they said.
The signatories are Dr. Olisa Agbakoba, SAN; Prof. Jibrin Ibrahim, Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah, Prof. Attahiru Muhammadu Jega, Funke Adekoya, SAN; Prof. Joy Ngozi Ezeilo, Mr. Femi Falana, SAN; Rev Prof. Koyinsola Ajayi, SAN; Prof. Auwalu H. Yadudu, Mal. Yusuf Ali, SAN; and Dr. Chris Kwaja.
Also are Mr Chino Edmund Obiagwu, SAN; Father George Ehusani, Mr John Odah, Prof. Mohammed Tabiu, SAN; Mallam Kabiru Yusuf; Comrade Salisu Nuhu Mohammed, Mr. Ledum Mitee. Ms. Ngozi Iwere, Ene Obi, Ms. Amina Salisu, Dr. Hakeem Baba Ahmed, Dayo Olaide, Danlami Nmodu, Dr. Udo Jude, Mallam Hamza Ibrahim, Prof. Ukachukwu A. Awuzie, Dr, Peter Ozo-Eson and Dr. Dipo Fashina.
Others are Ms. Idayat Hassan, Abubakar Sokoto Mohammed, Prof. G.G. Darah, Prof. Adele Jinadu, Prof. Rufai Alkali, Hon. Rima Shawulu, Dr. Innocent Chukwuma, Dr. Kole Shettima, Adeyemi Candide-Johnson, SAN; Mal. Y.Z. Yau, Prof. Pat Utomi, A. B. Mahmoud, SAN; and Dr Usman Bugaje.
