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Insecurity: Don’t grant amnesty, negotiate with terrorists, CAN to FG
The Christian Association of Nigeria has warned the Federal Government against negotiating with bandits and terrorists and granting them amnesty, saying it should stop playing politics.
CAN said if the Nigerian state was so helpless and could not fight terrorism, it should look for help elsewhere.
While describing them as enemies of the state, the Christian body said banditry and kidnapping had become big business while the government had allowed it to continue for a long time.
CAN Secretary, North-West Zone, Sunday Oibe, issued the warning in an interview with Newsmen on Sunday.
According to him, the FG should be careful with the so-called negotiators who have seen an opportunity to “make more money.”
He was reacting to recent reports that some officials of the FG were negotiating with bandits in Zamfara State, although the state government has kicked against it.
Oibe was also asked if CAN would support such discussions or amnesty for bandits and if such measures would stop banditry.
He said, “It’s shameful and disgusting for the Nigerian state to keep doing this to us as a people. We have been hearing the expression, ‘unknown gunmen’ did this and that over and over again. Suddenly, the unknown gunmen are now known to the point that the federal might is even allowing some of its officials to enter into negotiation with the bandits.
“As long as we keep living in denial, this problem shall remain unsolved. There’s nothing like bandits or unknown gunmen. This is an organised crime against the rest of us that are helpless. The successive governments know them, hire them, empower them and are using them against the rest of us.
“Are we saying that the Nigerian state is so helpless to win the war against these enemies of the state? If we as a nation have become so helpless, let us stomach our pride by seeking help elsewhere. This war must stop and the time is now. Personally, I don’t subscribe to the idea of negotiating with criminals and the enemies of the state. The government knows what to do and should stop playing games.
“There was a governor of APC extraction who told the entire world how they had paid this same group of people under the last administration of Muhammadu Buhari. The question is, why didn’t they stop harassing innocent citizens? After collecting money as alleged by the said governor at a time and they refused to stop causing pain to innocent citizens, why didn’t the Nigerian state go after them?
“Lastly, we want to know who are these alleged government officials that know these bandits and are willing to enter into negotiation with them. Banditry and kidnapping have become a big business and the government has allowed this nonsense for long. Do you know how many families have been plundered into emotional and financial penury because of these evil non-state actors?”
The secretary added, “Negotiation is not the answer but rather, demonstration of political will to root out these criminals from the very root is the solution. The DSS, NIA, Police, etc know the source (s) and are willing to work if given the free hand to do so. Nigerian soldiers who were used to dancing the piton dance elsewhere are capable of rooting out those evil people if given the right motivation and go ahead.
“How do you justify going into negotiation with those that killed your country’s security personnel with impunity leaving their wives as widows and children as orphans? The Federal Government should be careful with the so-called negotiators who have seen the opportunity to make more money.”
Punch
Liverpool and Manchester City are reportedly interested in Nottingham Forest defender Ola Aina.
Aina is in the final months of his contract with Nottingham Forest.
The Nigerian international is yet to sign an extension and could leave on a free transfer this summer.
Liverpool and Manchester City are closely monitoring his situation at Forest, according to TBR Football.
The 28-year-old has established himself as one of the best full-backs in the Premier League since arriving at the club on a free transfer two years ago.
Ola Aina made his 50th Premier League appearance for Nuno Espirito Santo’s side in the 1-0 victory over Manchester City last weekend.
Liverpool are considering him as a replacement for Trent Alexander-Arnold, who could leave for Real Madrid this summer.
Also, City want him to take the place of Kyle Walker, who is expected to move to AC Milan on a permanent deal in the summer.
…set to establish counter terrorism brigade to combat terrorists
A 3-day meeting of Chiefs of Defence Staff((CDS), from the Economic Countries of West African States(ECOWAS), has ended in Abuja with a promise to establish the ECOWAS Standby Force, ECOWAS Counter-Terrorism Brigade, and the strategic rotation of peace support officers.
Chiefs of Defence Staff(CDS), General Christopher Musa, gave the assurance at the closing ceremony of the
43rd Ordinary Meeting of the ECOWAS Committee of chiefs of Defence staff in Abuja.
Gen. Musa, who is also the chairman of ECOWAS committee of chiefs of Defence staff, said the three-day meeting deliberated on fostering security cooperation and forging a unified front against insecurity bedeviling the peace and stability of the region.
The CDS, while noting that the meeting identified some critical vulnerabilities to regional security and demonstrated their firm resolve towards addressing these threats, said the meeting also covered the deployment of the ECOWAS Standby Force, the consideration of an ECOWAS Counter-Terrorism Brigade, and the strategic rotation of peace support officers.
The CDS, said, “As we wrap up the 43rd Ordinary Meeting of the ECOWAS Committee of the Chiefs of Defence Staff, I am delighted to note that this meeting has been most rewarding. Deliberations have been sincere and forthright, with our collective security being accorded the desired priority.
“In the course of our deliberations, we identified critical vulnerabilities to regional security and demonstrated our firm resolve towards addressing these threats. As expected, there were areas of concern between members, but more importantly, there was a firm resolve on the need for collective action.
“This is the spirit of this gathering, which is firmly rooted in a resolute commitment to meeting our primary obligation as members of the armed and defence forces of our respective countries, which is to defend and protect our peoples from harm and insecurities.”
He noted that over the past days, they have deliberated on critical security concerns in the West African subregion.
“Some of these areas include the review of pledges for the ECOWAS Standby Force, consideration of pledges for the ECOWAS Counter-Terrorist Brigade, and the rotation of Staff Officers of Peace Support Operation Divisions and the ECOWAS Standby Force.
“Others were the presentation on the outcome of the Governmental Experts Meeting on the ECOWAS Logistics Concept and Standing Operating Procedures for the ECOWAS Logistics Depot in Lungi. The meeting also provided an opportunity to review the report of the last ECOWAS Committee of Chiefs of Naval Staff Meeting”.
“It is with great pleasure and honour that I stand before you all to deliver these closing remarks on the occasion of the closing of the 43rd Ordinary Meeting of the ECOWAS Committee of the Chiefs of Defence Staff. Our gathering over the past three days has been geared towards promoting regional security and cooperation within the ECOWAS Community and forging a common front in addressing our security challenges.
“I wish to thank the Chairman of ECOWAS Heads of States and Government, President Ahmed Bola Tinubu, for his leadership and support in making this meeting a reality. I also wish to thank the Minister of Defence for his presence and support for this meeting.
“I am indeed grateful to all the ECOWAS Chiefs of Defence Staff from Benin Republic, Cape Verde, La Côte d’Ivoire, The Gambia, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Senegal, and Togo who took time out of their busy schedules to grace this meeting. The task ahead of us is daunting, but with our collective resolve, we shall overcome”.
The 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Peter Obi and Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State held a closed-door meeting on Thursday.
The purpose of the meeting, which took place at the Ramat House in Bauchi State, could not be immediately ascertained.
However, the meeting between the LP and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) stalwarts is believed to be connected to political permutations ahead of the 2027 general election.
Obi and Mohammed are expected to address journalists after the meeting.
Obi secured 6,101,533 votes to emerge third in the 2023 presidential election.
Since the presidential election, the former governor has held meetings with former President Olusegun Obasanjo, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and other political heavyweights.
There have been calls for uniting the opposition ahead of the 2027 election.
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