A group, Coalition for Peace and National Unity, has called on the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, and other security agencies to sustain ongoing military actions against terrorists and insurgents terrorising the country.
According to the group, the recent proactive measures taken to neutralise terrorist leaders and rescue kidnapped students are worthy of commendation.
In a statement signed by its Secretary General, Dr Abdullahi Musa Ringim, it said if the measures were sustained, it would help to tackle security challenges and stabilise the country over time.
The group said, “We are highly impressed with the timely actions taken to rescue the 15 Tsangaya students kidnapped at a Qur’anic school in Sokoto State, students of the Federal University Gusau from terrorists that invaded the students campus accommodation and that of the 137 Kuriga pupils abducted more than three weeks ago from their school in Kaduna.”
The group, however, said there was still more work to do, especially in the North.
While urging the office of the NSA and security agencies to be more proactive in the fight against all forms of criminalities across the country, especially banditry and Insurgency, it added, “At this juncture, and from our comparative analysis as well as records obtained by our research unit, we are left with no option than to commend the Federal Government for efforts taken so far to tackle prolonged security challenges in country within the last 10 months of (President Bola) Tinubu’s administration”.
The statement further read, “The bandit groups existed across the North-West region and Niger State. These groups were economically driven. When they are not kidnapping for ransom, they exploit the lack of state presence to impose taxes and protection levies on rural communities.
“But noted that across the 19 northern (states) according to research conducted by the group, in states like Kaduna, Sokoto, Zamfara, and Katsina, the nefarious activities and attacks by bandits must be contained without any consideration.
“It is no longer news that as a country, we have witnessed unprecedented security challenges such as Boko Haram terrorists attacks, militancy, armed robbery, banditry, kidnapping for ransom, Fulani herder-farmer clashes, and cultism, among other social vices, but now that Federal Government has demonstrated a high sense of commitment to ensuring that Nigerians can go to bed with their two eyes closed, we should support the government to succeed.
“The recent release of hostages kidnapped by bandits, the hard work and tireless efforts put in to ensure the release of the school pupils and other kidnapped victims within good time are enough reasons for our total support.”
