Benue, Gombe killings: NAWOJ tells government to be proactive on security issues

Following the military invasion of Ishagieve Tieve Community in Konshisha Local Government Area of Benue State on retaliatory mission that led to loss of innocent lives, the Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ), FCT Chapter, has condemned the action of military officers.

The Association, in a communiqué at the end of its April Congress, signed by the Chairperson, Comrade Annah I. Daniel and the Secretary, Comrade Nkeiru Nnoli-Okeke, Sunday in Abuja, also condemned in very strong terms the destruction of property and killing of 15 people in communal clash in Nyuwar and Jessu in Balanga local government area of Gombe State.

The Association charged the federal and state governments on the rehabilitation of those displaced by the communal clashes, noting that the protection of lives and property of Nigerians was the primary responsibility of government, hence government must device proactive measures to immediately nip the ugly incidence of insecurity ravaging the nation.

While decrying the spate of kidnapping in almost all parts of the country, the women of the pen profession called on the federal government to urgently seek ways to rescue and
release one of the Chibok girls, Leah Shaibu, who has been in the captivity of the Boko Haram insurgents in the last seven years.

The women group also raised concerns over the reintroduction of the ‘Pack and Pay’ policy in the FCT despite an existing Court Judgment to the contrary, pointing out that the policy would further affect the citizenry who are already over burdened due to the economic melt down.

The Association expressed displeasure over astronomical increase in food prices in the country and therefore urged the federal government to, as matter of urgency, look into the issue of food insecurity.

Similarly, NAWOJ FCT decried the prevalence of gender-based violence against women and girls across the country which has led to morbidity and deaths, noting that parents should take responsibility of educating their boy and girl children.

In the same vein, the women group congratulated Dr. Hajo Sani on her appointment as the new UNESCO Permanent Representative; Hon. Asabe Villita Bashir, the new Director General of National Centre for Women Development (NCWD) and Ms Ene Obi, who recently emerged as Convener, Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room.

NAWOJ FCT also commended the FCT Minister, Mallam Mohammed Bello and the Chairman Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), FCT Council, Comrade Emmanuel Ogbeche, for the Covid-19 vaccination of journalists in Abuja.

The group also appealed for extension of the exercise in the NUJ council to enable some journalists who have not been able to take the vaccine partake of it.