Victor EzejaPresidential Candidate of the Labour Party in the February 25 election, Mr Peter Obi, has called on security agencies to take quick necessary steps in tackling insecurity ravaging the country, particularly in South East, Benue, and Plateau states in the North Central region.
Obi made the call in a statement posted on his verified Twitter handle on Thursday morning.
While citing the Mass Atrocities Casualty Tracking Report which revealed that over 1,230 Nigerians were killed in the 1st Quarter of 2023, Obi lamented that the rising insecurity in North Central states of Benue and Plateau, and the continued disruption of socio-economic activities in the South East have become very worrisome and needs urgent measures.
According to the Casualty Tracking Report, 79 of those killed were security operatives, while over 600 abductions were recorded in the first quarter of this year alone.
The former Anambra State governor condemned the recent violent attacks in Benue and Plateau states which led to killings, abductions, and destruction of properties.
He also described the ongoing enforcement of sit-at-home orders by a group purported to be a faction of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) in the Southeast as a criminal activity and should be addressed drastically.
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He stated that the blood of innocent Nigerians must not continue to be spilled on the altar of insecurity in the country.
“With what has been happening in the North Central and Zamfara State lately the figure as of today will be mind-boggling even far more than the deaths recorded in Russia/Ukraine ongoing carnage.
“It’s unacceptable that hundreds of innocent lives will continue to be wasted in Nigeria needlessly through communal clashes, bandits, and kidnapping activities. The situation in the Mangu Local Government Area of Plateau states has raised a lot of anxiety because of the number of lives and properties lost with very little resistance from security operatives,” Obi stated.
Continuing, he said: “Also disturbing is the continued disruption of business and social activities in the South East region over the Sit-at-Home directive purported to be coming from the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra, IPOB, when the body has publicly denied issuing such directive. What is going on in the South East therefore is essentially a criminal activity that must be nipped in the bud, with all hands being on deck, security agencies, and the people alike.”
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Obi commended the efforts of Southeast governors in addressing the instability in the region and advised that they should devise a “more strategic and intelligence-driven approach to reducing the suffering of innocent people.”
“Security agencies should take necessary and quick steps to arrest the ugly incidents because the country cannot just be spilling the blood of innocent citizens. We as a people through our various governments should up our value for human lives in the way and manner we respond to issues that touch lives. The implications of an insecure environment for development are far-reaching because no investor will consider going to an area where their resources will not be safe and secured.”
He also urged traditional, Muslim, and Christian leaders to continue preaching for peace among their people in the way and manner they conduct themselves to promote stability.
“The various governments at all levels should also take deliberate steps to address the issue of poverty and youth unemployment because the provision of stomach infrastructure is the surer way to tackle insecurity.
“Also, urgent steps should be taken consciously and intentionally to ameliorate the hardship of the people,” he stated.
Victor Ezeja is a passionate journalist with six years of experience writing on economy, politics and energy. He holds a Masters degree in Mass Communication.
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