Insecurity: Coalition insists on sack of service chiefs, review of Nigeria’s security system

 *Northern Elders say mothers, fathers and children are now at the mercy of terrorists and bandits, who kill, harass and destroy property without being confronted by security operatives in many instances

Emmanuel Akosile |

In regard to the current spate of widespread insecurity across the country, a group of Northern Elders under the aegis of Coalition of Northern Elders for Peace Development in Nigeria, have commended Alhaji Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar III, Sultan of Sokoto, for demonstrating the courage to speak on the deplorable security situation, especially in the region.

Mr. Zana Goni, National Coordinator of the coalition, and Hajia Mario Bichi, National Women Leader, in a statement reflecting Sultan of Sokoto’s position said that he vindicated their consistent alarm on the state of insecurity in Northern Nigeria.

Sultan’s position, according to the group, appropriately captured a true reflection of the state of insecurity in the North which they maintain is largely responsible for the food crisis the country is currently experiencing.

It is recalled that the Sultan of Sokoto at a recent meeting of the Nigerian Inter-Religious Council (NIREC), had expressed a grave concern over the precarious security situation in the North.

Reflecting on the activities of bandits in the North-West, the Sultan said: “People leave foodstuffs in their houses for bandits.”

Alhaji Abubakar, who is the spiritual leader of Muslims in the country, stated that the “security situation in Northern Nigeria has assumed a worrisome situation.”

The Northern Elders, in proffering a lasting solution to the security challenges, however, called for the immediate removal of the security Service Chiefs as part of the restructuring of the security architecture of the country.

The statement said: “More importantly, they reiterated their call on President Muhammadu to rejig and restructure the security architecture in the country, in order to cause meaningful change in status quo.

“We most respectfully commend the Sultan of Sokoto, our father, for stating the true position of things in the North, as it concerns insecurity.

“We had said it over and over again, that the state of insecurity had reached a point where our farmers can hardly access their farms, even as travellers on busy highways can no longer guarantee their safe arrival without being kidnapped.

“Our mothers, fathers and children are now at the mercy of terrorists and bandits, who kill, harass and destroy property without being confronted, in many instances, by our security operatives.

The group further stated that “as patriotic elders, we think the position of the Sultan is a Clarion call to our dear President, His Excellency Muhammadu Buhari, to restructure the security architecture in the country without further delay.

“We applaud our President for ensuring huge budgetary allocation to the military and security sectors, thereby demonstrating his interest in securing lives and property.

“We, however, regret that our Security Chiefs have not shown commensurate commitment to tackling these security challenges, owing to what we see as lethargy and spent ideas.”

They submitted “accordingly, we call on President Muhammadu Buhari to sack the Service Chiefs without further delay, and appoint younger senior officers that will bring fresh perspectives and ideas to bear in addressing the deteriorating security situation in the North in particular, and the country in general.”

They also urged other prominent Northern leaders to join their voices in projecting the true position of things in the region, with the view to drawing the attention of relevant authorities.