The Northern Elders Forum (NEF) says in spite of assurances
from the federal government that it will end banditry and kidnapping, the lives
of Nigerians are becoming more endangered by the day.
The forum was reacting to the recent cases of kidnapping,
particularly the abduction of 317 schoolchildren from Government Girls
Secondary School, Jangebe, Talata-Mafara local government area, in Zamfara
state.
In a statement by Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, its director of
publicity and advocacy, the forum said Nigerians have “lost faith that
government will reverse the successes of the criminal against defenceless
citizens”.
The elders called on state governors, particularly from the northern region, to explore constitutional options of establishing policing structures.
They also asked governors to explore and resolve issues that
aid the spread of banditry at local and community levels.
“It has become painfully obvious that the federal government
is unable to muster the will or the capacity to limit exposure of Nigerians to
violent criminals,” the forum said.
“In spite of assurances from the federal government that it
will end banditry and kidnappings, the life of the Nigerian is becoming more
endangered by the day, and citizens have lost faith that governments will
reverse the successes of the criminal against defenceless citizens.
“The forum advises particularly Northern governors to
explore all lawful avenues to improve the security of citizens.
“While they should improve their support to the military,
the police and security agencies, they should also explore avenues which give
them more powers to secure citizens
within the confines of the constitution which gives states powers to
establish policing structures, including those with specialization such as
forest rangers should now be pursued as a matter of national priority.
“Bandits who refuse to submit to mediation and cessation of
criminal activities should be treated in accordance with the laws of the
country.”
The forum also said it is saddened by the negative effect of
the abductions on education.
It asked parents not to be discouraged from sending their
children to school while calling on governments at all levels to take firmer
measures to secure schools.
“Apart from the likelihood of similar abductions
re-occurring as bandits engage in copycat crimes in a region that is basically
unprotected, these abductions will severely damage the poor state of education
in the North, particularly girl-child education,” it said.
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