ABUJA, Nigeria – Nigeria is grappling with dire insecurity, highlighted by a spate of kidnappings, terrorist activities, and violence across the country.
In response, a coalition of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), under the Civil Society Joint Action Group, has issued a strong call to President Bola Tinubu to declare a state of emergency regarding the current security crisis.
The group’s plea comes in the wake of alarming statistics showing that 2,423 people have been killed and 1,872 abducted within the first eight months of Tinubu’s administration.
At a press conference in Abuja on Monday, January 29, 2024, the Executive Director of the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC), Auwal Musa Rafsanjani, representing the coalition, emphasised the urgent need for a comprehensive strategy to address the multifaceted security challenges.
The coalition highlighted the staggering loss of life and the widespread abductions, noting a worrying increase in such incidents in January 2024 alone.
The deteriorating security situation has been attributed to various violent phenomena, including terrorist activities in the northern region, banditry in the North-west, farmer-herder conflicts in the Middle Belt, secessionist movements in the South-east, piracy along the southern coast, and inter-communal and political violence.
The widespread nature of these threats underscores the complexity and urgency of the situation.
Rafsanjani criticized the government for failing to uphold its constitutional duty to ensure the security and welfare of all citizens.
The coalition has proposed 12 measures for the government to implement, focusing on safeguarding lives and addressing kidnapping and terrorism.
In a related development, Apostle Emmanuel Nuhu Kure, a Kaduna-based cleric, echoed the call for a state of emergency on crime and terrorism.
He urged the federal government to issue directives to the military and other security agencies to combat the activities of criminals, highlighting the need for better-equipped security forces.
The situation is further exacerbated by recent incidents, including an IED attack by Boko Haram terrorists in Borno State, which resulted in civilian casualties, and separate attacks in Imo State that claimed the lives of police officers and civilians.
In response to these challenges, Southwest state governors have initiated discussions with President Tinubu regarding the arming of the Amotekun corps, a regional security outfit, to better combat the rising insecurity.
