Jonathan: FG, States must Design Different Approach to Fight Kidnapping, Terrorism

Jonathan: FG, States must Design Different Approach to Fight Kidnapping, Terrorism

By James Sowole in Akure

Former President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan has said the federal government must work with state governments and design a different approach to fight kidnapping and terrorism in Nigeria.

Jonathan made the recommendation Tuesday while speaking with journalists in Akure, Ondo State, during his condolence visit to the Leader of the pan Yoruba socio-political group, Afenifere, Chief Reuben Fasoranti on the death of his daughter, Mrs Funke Olakunrin.

Mrs Olakunrin, 50, was shot dead last Friday at Kajola on the Ore-Sagamu Road while returning to Lagos from Akure, Ondo State.

The former president said President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration must design a new method to control the spate of insecurity in the country.

He said: “I was there as a president for some time, security challenges were there with me, I also inherited some. But it is getting worse everyday. And we cannot continue to use the same old method.

“As security operatives, the police, the SSS, the armed forces we must deploy technology and I believe if the federal government will need to set up a special unit, just like we set up EFCC and ICPC to handle specific issues of corruption.

“If this is done, they will know that their total responsibility is to manage this issue of kidnapping and terrorist attacks on people going on the road or going to the farm.

“We can’t continue that way, it is not just possible, because we can’t talk about managing the economy of this country if people are not safe. Economy is for the people, they must be alive to enjoy infrastructure. Even if you tar all the roads in the country and people cannot move around, then the roads become meaningless.

“The issue of security must be approached from a different dimension, we cannot continue the old way because it is getting out of hand.”

Jonathan, who said just like every generation of human being faces problems and that generation must find ways of solving the problem, every government faces some unique problems which must be solved in a unique manner.

The former president said a lot of things were discussed at the 2014 national conference organised during his tenure and recommendations were made including those that concerned security.

“The issue of security, state and community policing were discussed. I always believe that government should look at that report, it was not written by me.

“We should not play politics with serious national issues. If we look at that report, there are recommendations that border on security and if there is any area that needs to be expanded because I believe everyday new ideas come, it should be updated.

“There is nothing wrong holding a specific meeting to look at the issue of security. I believe the federal and state governments should device a new approach, deploy technology and deploy more money to protect our people,” Jonathan said.

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