A northern group, Arewa Development Forum for Peace and Justice, has tasked President Muhammadu Buhari and northern leaders to end the nefarious activities of bandits terrorising the region before the people get frustrated and resort to self-help.
This formed part of the groups resolution at a meeting convened to deliberate on insecurity in Kaduna State and the North-West region, yesterday.
Recall that a few days ago, terrorists invaded a mining site in Shiroro local government area of Niger State killing several people, including soldiers, police and local vigilantes, and abducting four Chinese expatriates. This occurred a few days after reports of alleged attacks and kidnap of scores of people in some villages in Kaduna, Kebbi, Niger, Katsina, Zamfara and Sokoto States.
In an issued press statement signed by the group’s Chairman, Zubairu Mustafa, the group bemoaned the continuous attacks and killings of Nigerians without any serious strategies by security operatives to end the trend. It also backed the call by Zamfara State Governor, Bello Matawalle, that people in his State should be allowed to legally acquire and use weapons to protect themselves against terrorist attacks in their communities.
The group condemned those who opposed the governors recommendation, especially the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Lucky Irabor and the elites, who they accused of being economical with the realities of kidnapping, killings and attacks on communities in the North-West region and environs by bandit-terrorists.
This multi-faceted crime against the Nigerian state and Nigerians has continued to thrive without any serious strategies in place to end the challenge by the security operatives, but, instead, we are awash with news from some higher-ranking officers in the security echelons and elites that they are not in support of the public bearing arms for protection”.
“Our leaders must act now or we continue to be a target of elimination by minority marauders going about with weapons against the majority. If the government refuses to act now, they should know that when people are frustrated, they will look for the best option for themselves which is to arm themselves, the group stated.
