John Shiklam in Kaduna
Worried by the worsening insecurity in the country, the Coalition of North-central Elders (CNCE), has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to restructure the country’s security architecture by sacking service chiefs with immediate effect.
The group noted that sacking the Service Chiefs was the way out in the wake of the unfolding fact that it is the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), that was issuing security alert, describing it as the first of such development in the history of Nigeria.
The National Chairman of the group, Mr. Usman Bida, and its National Secretary, Mr. Moses Okudu, in a statement issued yesterday in Abuja, expressed disappointment in the assurances and rhetoric of President Buhari to tackle the problem, which they said was no longer appealing.
The group noted that alert on the presence Boko Haram elements in Abuja, Federal Capital Territory (FCT), by NCS, was as a result of ‘intelligence failure’ on the part of security agencies.
According to group, “we join other well-meaning Nigerians to call on Mr. President to immediately restructure the current security architecture in the country with the sacking of the service chiefs as the first steps.
“Nigerians are tired of rhetorics and promises of the security situation getting better.
“We are saddened that there is no state in the North Central that is free from terrorists’ attacks or that has not had its own fair share of the mindless killing of innocent citizens one time or the other, a region that was the most peaceful in the entire North.
“When we were about to recover from the arrest of over 400 terrorists with dangerous weapons in Toto Local Government of Nasarawa State by the military, which was quite commendable, we are taken aback by the recent intelligence reports released by Nigeria Customs Service of the presence of Boko Haram elements in Federal Capital Territory, Abuja and some local government areas in Nasarawa and Niger states. This is a complete failure of intelligence.
“As it stands today, the well-meaning citizens of North Central and Nigeria are frightened by this information.
“Some parts of Nasarawa, Niger and Kogi States are no-go areas because of the activities of these terrorists that kill, kidnap, and rob people at will as if we are in a Banana republic.
“In Niger State, people are killed on a daily basis, women are raped and children killed by this terrorist group.
“We voted for President Buhari because of his vast experience in security and integrity and we expect the best from him.
“Mr. President, we are with you and will always be, but we feel your continued retention of the service chiefs for the last five years running is totally against the wishes of Nigerian people given that it is causing a lot low morale and bad work zeal in the entire Armed Forces. We appeal that you act now.
“Mr. President, sir, four officers cannot be more experienced than thousands of the officers we have in the armed forces. It is on this note that we appeal to you to, as a matter of urgency and national importance, sack them from office.”
