* Urges Govt To Flush Out Trouble Makers And Outlaws
By Celestine Okafor (Editor-in-Chief)@CeleOkaf11
The Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) has called on the Federal Government to stop the perennial and senseless killing of Nigerians across the country, through violent acts of insurgency, banditry, Kidnapping and Armed Robbery, etc.
IPAC said that these acts of bloodletting and violence have become too worrisome, a great embarrassment to the country, and therefore a thing of concern to all well-meaning Nigerians and the international community alike.
IPAC''s National Chairman, Dr. Leonard Nzenwa, made the exhortation to the government in a statement on Thursday. He stated that the continued waste of lives of helpless Nigerians by anarchists and bloodthirsty elements whose preoccupation is to destroy the country should no longer be condoned.
While demanding an end to this reign of terror in the country, IPAC called on the Federal Government to effectively tackle the security challenge that has claimed over 40,000 lives, displaced over 2.5 million persons, and destroyed billions of naira worth of properties in the last ten years.
IPAC said: "The insecurity challenge has brought the country to ridicule in the comity of nations as it ingloriously made the country the third most terrorized country in the world for a sixth consecutive year, after Afghanistan, and Iraq, according to the 2020 global terrorism Index released recently by the Institute for Economics and Peace (IEP).
"IPAC is alarmed that insecurity in the country has assumed a frightening dimension as no part of the nation is safe anymore. Life has become so cheap that people are killed, butchered, slaughtered, and even publicly roasted and eaten by fellow compatriots as witnessed in the recent #EndSARS# protests hijacked by hoodlums.
"Nobody is safe including security agents, past and present public office holders, politicians, farmers, and students.
"The Federal Government should approach the fight against these outlaws and renegades with the mindset of “Enough of bloodshed and destruction in the country”, as the gruesome massacre of innocent Nigerians should be stopped forthwith.
"IPAC is saddened that over 40,000 Nigerians have been killed by terrorists in the past decade and over 2.5 million others displaced, and the gory of killings continues daily as if there is no government in place which primary responsibility is to secure lives and property of the citizenry in tandem with Section 14(2)b of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 as amended which provides that, "the security and welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose of government."
IPAC however charges President Muhammadu Buhari and the nation's security agencies to sit up and take the security challenge seriously, stating that "the days of buck-passing and fighting terrorism with kid's glove are over".
IPAC however advised that "Mr. President should personally lead the war on terrorism, banditry, and kidnapping from the front as the commander-in-chief of the armed forces whose administration will be judged on how secured the lives of the masses were, a promise he made in his presidential campaign".
The coalition body of all registered Nigerian Political parties also called for the injection of fresh blood, ideas and tactics in combating this prolonged war on terror, insisting that there was a need to rejig the nation's security architecture.
"Council IPAC) considers it the first step in motivating and raising the morale of the armed forces. Efforts should be made to procure modern military equipment and strengthen the military intelligence gathering units in collaboration with foreign military powers, the same way the United States recently rescued her citizen abducted in the Niger Republic and held in Nigeria.
"It is worrisome that foreign powers refused to sell military hardware to Nigeria due to the perceived lackadaisical approach of some government and military officers in prosecuting the war on terror. Mr. President should be decisive in arresting and prosecuting anybody found wanting in his or her duty in this crucial war against terrorism, insurgency, banditry, and kidnapping, to serve as a deterrent to those who may attempt to sabotage the nation's security and territorial integrity.
While paying tribute to the gallant Nigerian soldiers, police, DSS, and paramilitary personnel who paid the supreme sacrifice in the task of protecting the nation, IPAC admonishes that it is time to boost the morale of our armed forces, rebuild their confidence in protecting and securing their fatherland and win the war against terrorism. IPAC reiterates that It is a collective responsibility of all Nigerians to protect our fatherland.
"As the umbrella body of the 18 registered political parties, IPAC will always support the country's security agents in their onerous task of building and securing our great nation. We are all in it together", the statement said. NNL.
