…FG reject calls for self-defense, says Masari entitled to his opinion
A group, under the auspices of the coalition of Northern Elders for Peace and Development, (CNEPD), has attributed yesterday morning’s attack on the Nigerian Defence Academy, (NDA), Kaduna, by bandits leaving two military officers dead and an officer abducted, to the failure of Nigeria’s intelligence network.
Recall that the Nigerian Army confirmed the killing of two of its officers and the abduction of an NDA senior officer in Kaduna.
The group, while reacting to the attack said the development was an indication that no Nigerian, no matter his or her status was safe in the country, therefore, demanded immediate sack of the National Security Adviser, NSA, Maj-Gen. Babagana Monguno (rtd).
In an issued statement yesterday, the Northern elders also sought an in-depth review of the entire security architecture, as according to them, the entire security chiefs must bear the blame.
In the statement condemning the attack, the National Coordinator of the Group, Engr. Zana Goni, blamed Buhari for leaving Monguno behind at the time he replaced the Service Chiefs.
It, however, expressed unflinching support to the President and his party, the ruling All Progressives Congress, (APC), noting that their position was based on patriotism to the country.
The elders insisted that it was time for the President to do away with Monguno following the worsening insecurity in the country.
The deteriorating security situation, according to the Coalition, is a sign that Monguno, who manages the nation’s security was not on top of his game.
The statement berated stakeholders in the region over what the group described as ‘their long silence in the face of unbearable criminal acts by armed herdsmen and insecurity across the country, thereby giving a bad image of the region”.
However, the Federal Government has dismissed the calls of Governor Aminu Masari of Katsina State, his Benue State counterpart, Samuel Ortom, some individuals and organisations, that people should defend themselves against bandits.
The Minister of Police Affairs, Muhammed Dingyadi, during the 2nd annual media briefing at Force headquarters in Abuja, said the government was not in support of citizen self-defense as proposed, saying Masari and others are entitled to their opinions.
He, however, justified the calls if it is based on community policing strategies in order to improve the security of the communities.
Dingyadi also stressed that the challenges presented by the bandits was the guerilla warfare strategy of hit-and-run which the armed forces were determined to contain.
According to him, the government and the Armed Forces needed the support of the citizenry as the government was “equal to the task”.
