Displaying items by tag: Terrorism

A former Director of the Department of State Services, Mr Mike Ejiofor on Monday said that Nigeria is in deep crisis.

Speaking as a guest on the Programme The State of the Nation, CityTalks with Reuben Abati.

Mr Ejiofor described the State of the Nigerian Nation as a situation at the verge of war, which he noted that his description is underestimating the challenges we are facing as a nation.

He stated that the notion of public outcry calling for a change of leadership is not the problem.

He cited the instance when there was a clamour to change security heads of agencies and it was done, but after the change was done, the crisis in the country heightened, the records of banditry attacks were more, the level of abduction was escalated.

The security expert admonished the government to change strategy.

The earlier the government changes strategy, the better for us, he said.

Mr Ejiofor identified the problem with security agencies as gross underfunding.

He decried the claims made by the Minister of Finance, Zainab Ahmed concerning the budget to security agencies.

According to him, “how much of that budget is allocated to Security agencies?

“Even if the money is released, the National Assembly will send contractors to carry out the contracts.”

He recommended to the Federal government to look at report from the 2014 National Conference, because he thinks it will solve the endemic challenges we are going through as a nation, particularly, security.

 

The Catholic Bishop of Sokoto, Bishop Matthew Kukah on Sunday expressed disappointment in the current administration because of the way security challenges are handled under President Muhammadu Buhari’s watch.

The Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, expressed concern over the killing of security operatives and the “helplessness” of the citizens, saying: “Taunted by Boko Haram, ravaged by bandits, kidnappers, armed robbers, and other merchants of death across the nation, there is collective fear as to whether Nigeria’s glory is about to depart! Retired military and intelligence officers lament over what has become of their glorious profession as they watch the humiliation of our military personnel.

“Traumatised citizens are tortured daily by bandits. The nation has since become a massive killing field, as both government and the governed look on helplessly.

“A thick and suffocating cloud of desperation, despondency, desolation, gloom, and misery hangs in the hot air. We have no message and have no idea how long this will last. Our people seek solace and protection, but frustration and darkness threaten to drown them. Is their government on AWOL?”

The Bishop recalled in the service today, that “On May 29, 2015, President Muhammadu Buhari, at his swearing-in as President of Nigeria, said: Boko Haram is a typical case of small fires causing large fires.”

According to him, “Now, before his watch, the fires are consuming the nation, and in many instances, they indeed start small.

“In all, Nigeria’s troubles are growing by the day, but our hands must remain stretched out in supplication.”

Kukah also blamed those in power for the increasing cases of banditry, kidnapping, terrorism and armed robbery in the country, noting that insecurity keeps deteriorating because the ruling class pays more attention to rehabilitating bandits and kidnappers than the victims.