.NBA tasks Tinubu on security, economy
Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria (CSN) has expressed sadness over the senseless killing of over 150 innocent persons in Barkin Ladi, Mangu and Bokkos local councils of Plateau State on Christmas Eve.
In the same vein, Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has decried the state of insecurity across the country and urged President Bola Tinubu to show demonstrable commitment to prioritising the security of the life and property.
CSN called on the Federal Government to take swift and decisive action to apprehend the perpetrators of the crime and bring them to justice.
In a statement, yesterday, in Abuja, the Director, Church and Society Department of CSN, Fr. Uchechukwu Obodoechina, condemned the continuous killing of innocent citizens in Plateau and called for immediate investigation into the incident.
Obodoechina noted that the incident also raised concerns about Nigeria’s security situation and the government’s effectiveness in protecting its citizen, adding that the victims, who were predominantly Christians celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ, deserve justice in its truest form, as the incident has caused immense pain and suffering to the families and friends of the victims, as well as to the country.
The cleric appealed to the international community to support Nigeria in its efforts to address the security challenges facing it and to hold those responsible for the killings accountable.
He said: “The Church and Society Department condemns this heinous act of violence has left us mourning and praying for the repose of the souls of those who perished in this tragedy, instead of celebrating the Nativity of our Lord, Jesus Christ. This act clearly shows how predatory, vulnerable, and precarious our lives are in Nigeria.
“The Christmas Eve killings have had a devastating impact on the affected communities in Plateau. Hundreds of families have been torn apart, and many have been left without homes or livelihoods.”
He urged government to take decisive action to prevent such violence from happening again, including investing in better security measures, engaging in dialogue with all parties involved in the conflict, and addressing the underlying causes of the violence.
President of NBA, Yakubu Maikyau, described the Christmas Eve killings and other attacks within the period as inexcusable and unacceptable.
He noted: “From the information made available by the military and other security sources, the Tudun-Biri incident is suggestive of the gap in our security architecture – lack of inter-agency synergy and coordination, while the attack in Plateau is clearly indicative of poor intelligence gathering, or a deliberate failure to act despite the intelligence on the impending attacks on the villages, or notice of the attack on the villages by the bandits, as reported by community leaders.”
The NBA president, in his New Year Message, therefore, urged the Tinubu government to show commitment to the security of the life and property of Nigerians.
“Government, through our Armed Forces and other security agencies, must ensure that no square inch of the Nigerian territory is left ungoverned; no part of Nigeria should be left under the control of criminal elements by whatever name so called.
“Government must make deliberate investment in security, of such a scale and magnitude, which will leave Nigerians in no doubt as to the sincerity of the statement made by the President,” he added.
