By Sunday Okobi
A non-for-profit social justice organisation in Nigeria, NALT Club, International, has expressed deep concerned about the general insecurity and uprising in the various parts of the country and the ensuing attack and counter attacks on civilians, security operatives, as well as the destruction of government and citizens properties.
It urged the federal government to adequately train and equip the Nigerian Police to enable them handle law enforcement in Nigeria so that the armed forces can focus on external threat to the country’s sovereignty.
NALT, in a statement made available to THISDAY yesterday by its National and International Communication Directors, Nwaeze, Okeoma and Okenna Nnamchi respectively, lamented the present situation in Nigeria and its implication for national unity, development, and stability.
The group expressed its condolences to the families of those that have lost loved ones and their valuable property to the violent clashes in the country.
The statement noted that NALT is deeply concerned about the ripple effects the violent situation has generated across Nigeria, and its implication for the 2023 political transition.
It therefore used this medium to call on the Federal Government of Nigeria to immediately take steps to ensure that the civil law enforcement agencies perform their statutory duties of protecting lives and property of Nigerians within the national and international laws of engagement, “have due respect for human rights and sanctity of human lives while pursuing dialogue with aggrieved parties.”
The group noted that in line with its fundamental principles of social justice and human dignity through non-violence, “strongly condemns all the killings of human beings and destruction of property going on in the country, and calls on the government, security forces, ethnic groupings, secessionists and agitation groups and indeed all citizens to be law-abiding and seek peaceful resolution of all issues.
“We express shock at the level of violence going on in Nigeria, the silence of the international communities, the international media, and the nonchalant attitude of other non-state actors in the country.
“NALT also calls for immediate cessation of hostilities and commencement of a facilitated dialogue by willing partners in the spirit of solidarity and humanity; and
The setting up of independent investigation into the cause of the killings, destruction of property, and disregard for human dignity,” adding that those found responsible should be brought to book.”
According to the group, “All sides to the conflict, including the federal and state governments and the representatives of various interest groups should embrace dialogue in finding a lasting solution to the ongoing violence in the country to prevent further loss of lives.
The federal government should immediately restructure the federal character of Nigeria with a view to ensuring equity, fairness and the development of all spheres of the country and providing gainful employment for the youths.”
