Following Monday’s train attack in Kaduna State, the Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA) has urged the federal government to evolve new policies to secure the lives and properties of Nigerians.
CAPPA Executive Director, Akinbode Oluwafemi, made the call on Thursday in a statement.
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He also decried the level of insecurity plaguing the nation, blaming the Federal Government and the security forces for failing to anticipate and preempt the terrorist attack on the Kaduna Airport and the horrific attack on a Kaduna-bound train on the night of Monday, 29.
While mourning the dead, condoning with the injured and those kidnapped, he suggested that the national flag be flown at half-mast as a sign of the nation’s grief.
He lamented that in the last four years Nigerians have become prey and easy targets for insurgents who could be easily crushed by the military but unfortunately are allowed free rein to perpetrate violence across the land.
He said that the dilly dallies by the government on the actual number of the dead, the kidnapped and the actual number of people on the train is a trivialization of simple security measures by those Nigerians have entrusted their destinies upon.
“It is sad that as we speak the number of the dead keep rising while the government is yet to ascertain the number kidnapped and talk more of where they are being held. Where in the world does that happen?”
“As far as we are concerned, this is one tragedy too many. We place the responsibility and blame for this misfortune on the shoulders of the Federal Government whose monumental failure, cluelessness and lack of tact have continued to cause Nigerians to die like flies!
“The buck stops on the table of Mr. President. The daily occurrence of tragedy and frightening collapse of security infrastructure across all areas of the country is no longer acceptable,” Oluwafemi said.
He also urged that adequate support and compensation be provided to all victims of this incident and their families, including free and adequate medical attention to all the injured and spirited actions to rescue those reported kidnapped.
He said, “It is a testimony of monumental failure that these tragic incidents happened in Kaduna despite the heavy presence of military infrastructure in the state. There are no fewer than six military formations in Kaduna.
“They include Jaji Military Cantonment; Division Headquarters, Nigerian Army Kaduna; New Barracks, otherwise known as Kotoko Barracks; Old Site of the Nigerian Defense Academy, Kaduna; Kalanpazi Barracks (Artillery Regiment) and the Nigerian Airforce Base. Insecurity and living conditions have worsened across the country since the Buhari government mounted the saddle of governance.
“In all these, we also note with disappointment, the many insensitive and unverifiable statements of the Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed who less than 48 hours before the incidents, claimed that Nigerians now enjoy peace as they travel across the country.
“Nigerians are tired of the scripted response of the government and the security agencies whenever these incidents occur. What Nigerians need is genuine leadership that will take on these challenges headlong and with sincere commitment.”
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