The leadership of the National Association of Nigerian Students NANS, Joint Campus Committee (JCC) South West Zone, has condemned the killings going on in the South West region and the increasing rate of banditry, herdsmen attacks, kidnappings and attacks on security formations as well as killing of security men across the nation.
The students’ leaders, while expressing their displeasure, called on President Muhammadu Buhari to, as a matter of urgency, declare a state of emergency on the nation’s security situation.
“It is ridiculous, disheartening and disappointing that President Muhammadu Buhari, the Chief Security Officer of Nigeria and a retired Army General, who has also served this country as a Head of State, cannot handle and tackle the myriads of security challenges currently plaguing the country.
“We make bold to say that Mr. President has failed in his responsibility to protect the lives and property of Nigerians.
“In this regard, we call on the President to do the needful to secure Nigerians and our property as our right to live is a fundamental one as enshrined in Nigeria constitution,” the NANS South West representatives said.
A statement jointly signed by Damilola Kehinde (Ogun), Akinteye Babatunde (Oyo) and Opakunle Mayowa (Ondo) was made available to DAILY POST in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital on Sunday by the state NANS Chairman.
The statement reads in part: “If the serving service chiefs and other heads of all the nation’s security and intelligence agencies cannot handle the situation, then Mr. President should do the needful by sacking them and replacing them with more active heads, who have the solutions to the problems.
“Mr. President should also rejig and overhaul the entire security architecture of the country to bring about the desired changes Nigerians are clamouring for.
“We are no more safe as Nigerians because the rate of series of attack where many innocent souls are wasted on daily basis across the country really call for concern of all Nigerians.
“Most worrisome is the incidences of kidnapping, most especially students in their hundreds and our government will be comfortable negotiating with criminals for ransom to free the victims.
“The Federal Government of Nigeria has failed Nigerians in all ramifications. Today, we cannot travel from one state or the other without the fear of attack or kidnap by the dreaded herdsmen or bandits or unknown gunmen.
“What is wrong with intelligence gathering? What is the duty of our security agencies whose constitutional duty is to protect Nigeria against internal and external aggressions? How did we get to this point? Mr. President, save Nigerians from further attacks now!”
DAILY POST
