Coalition of Civil Society Organisations in Nigeria have charged the federal government to consider the constitution of state police to enhance security at the subnational level.
This charge is in reaction to the reoccurring incidences of attacks and wanton killing of innocent individuals in different parts of the country. The recent, is the attack of Abuja-Kaduna bound train and the Gidan train station.
The Coalition consists of fifty Civil Societies in Nigeria.
Addressing a press conference on Friday in Abuja, Executive Director, African Centre for Leadership, Strategy and Development, Monday Osasah said the current structure of security agencies cannot handle the security issues as they (security agencies) are already overwhelmed.
While emphasizing the need to treat issues of insecurity with urgency, Osasah urged government to declare a state of emergency.
He also advised that President Mohammadu Buhari declare these kidnappers and killers as terrorists.
On his part, the Executive Director of Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC), Auwal Ibrahim Musa (Rafsanjani) expressed disappointment that despite continued assurance by the presidency and the nation’s security chiefs that the country had technically defeated terrorists, reality shows a different story.
He said “Nigerians are increasingly living in constant fear and are apprehensive of becoming victims of mass atrocities both in public and private spaces. They can no longer sleep at home in peace or travel without fear of being abducted or killed. Parents are choosing to keep their children away from schools for fear of them being abducted. No one feels safe.
“While we commend the National Assembly for items proactive steps to summon the heads of security agencies who are directly saddled with the responsibility of securing Nigerians we note their timidity in assertively demanding that the presidency and service chief be accountable.
“We strongly condemn the failure of the service chiefs to honour the National Assembly as it underscores their lack of accountability to the people that have sworn to protect, and the level of priority they attach to their duty of securing our lives as Nigerians”, he said.
Resfanjani also expressed displeasure over government’s failure to honour victims of the Abuja-Kaduna train attack but instead shut down offices at 1pm, a day after the attack for the world cup qualifying match.
“We note with a sense of deep sadness, the government’s failure to guage the mood of the nation, when right after the Abuja-Kaduna bombing, it focused its energy on mobilizing supporters for the World Cup Qualifying match, shutting down government offices by 1pm on the day of the match and providing free buses to supporters with great fanfare. Worst still, failing to honour our recently departed compatriots by a simple act of mandating players officials to wear black armbands in their honour”, The Executive Director added.
The Executive Director, Global Right, Ms Abiodun Baiyewu call on government to account for the abducted, missing and the dead in the Abuja-Kaduna train bombing.
She also urged government to take actions that will lead to the safe return of those abducted.
Other recommendations were for government to “conduct and independent inquire into the immediate and remote circumstances that enabled the successful bombing of the train; and in particular, to investigate claim by the Minister of Transportation, Hon Rotimi Amaechi to the effect that some persons frustrated his efforts towards providing critical surveillance infrastructure for the rail track with a view to identifying the people that are deliberately sabotaging government efforts.
“Take deliberate action through responsible leadership in addressing the immediate and remote circumstances that are festering terrorism and other forms of mass atrocities across the country”.
