…describes attack on military as wicked
Sequel to the recent clash between the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN) and the Nigerian Army in Kaduna Civil Society Organisations have continued to raise concerns in the manner of operations of the sect which they have largely blamed for the recent confrontation.
Lending its voice to this occurrence, the Centre for Social Justice, Equity and Transparency (CESJET) has condemned the attack by members of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN) on a military checkpoint and innocent civillians in Zuba area of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) on Saturday describing it as “wicked and totally unacceptable”.
According to them, the attack was an attempt by the outlawed group to invade the nation’s capital with thugs and militants terming the act as “new variant of lawlessness that must not be allowed in any part of the country, least of all in the nation’s capital territory”.
CESJET who also reminded Nigerians of the last time the group entered the nation’s capital and the mayhem they experienced as a result, accused the movement of attempting to infiltrate Abuja in order to carry out their initial threat to cause chaos in the city.
“the manner of projectiles and other weapons unleashed on the personnel manning the checkpoint is a clear indication that members of the sect were using the so called ‘Arbaeen Symbolic Trek’ as cover to infiltrate Abuja to begin carrying out attacks as they had previously threatened. The last time members of this outlawed group entered Abuja under the cover of a religious gathering led to weeks of confrontation with security operatives during which they destroyed vehicles parked on the streets and attacked anyone perceived to be unsympathetic to their cause”. the statemant said in part.
In the statement signed by it Executive Director, Joyce Ogwu, CESJET described the attack the army as wicked, unwarranted and unprovoked while regretting the fact that the sect has been in the tradition of such irresponsible conduct.
“Even if the soldiers manning the check points acted not to allow armed persons free assess into Abuja it does not call for the kind of unwarranted and unprovoked attack unleashed on them by the militant wing of IMN. It is most unfortunate that this is not the first time of deploying violence against an institution of state as they had in the past killed military personnel at will and shoot at anyone that dares to rein them in when they engage in improper conduct” . CESJET alluded.
They called on the Federal Government to immediately arrest and investigate those that attacked the military checkpoint, the nature of response on the part of the soldiers they attacked and any other aspect that will help prevent the kind of provocation that caused the crisis in Zuba.
However CESJET has commended the army for its role in ensuring safety in the city as according to them even as it acknowledged that the shack points mounted at the city entrance were not meant for the Shiites but to ensure those transporting bombs are not allowed into Abuja.
The group further called on the Armed Forces and all other security agencies to be vigilant suspecting that IMN would likely activate its sleeper cells in the nation’s capital to begin carrying out attacks on innocent citizens in the guise of protesting Saturday’s incident. If its antecedents are anything to go by, the group will attempt to shut down business activities in key parts of the city while attacking security personnel.
This is even as it has warned residents of Abuja to be vigilant and report any suspicious persons to the appropriate authorities especially since IMN has vowed to bring down hell on the nation’s capital in pursuit of its extremist agenda.
100 billion naira ransom: Coalition wants UN, US to urgently rescue abducted Leah Sharibu
An anti terror group, the Coalition Against Terrorism (CATE) has urged the United Nations as well as the United States government to assist in the rescue of Leah Sharibu, the remaining Dapchi school girl abducted by Boko Haram
The group said it had learned that Boko Haram is demanding N100 billion for the release of the Christian school girl, Leah Sharibu.
In a statement made available to journalists in Abuja, the group said the demand, if proven true, is a confirmation that Boko Haram is material deprived and is desperately looking to raise operational cash by pawning its hostage to the highest bidder.
In the statement signed by its national coordinator, Gabriel Onoja, the CATE explained that the situation places Nigeria’s decision makers in a quandary as they must make choices between safeguarding the wellbeing of Leah and preventing Boko Haram from gaining resources that places the entire 194 million citizens of Nigeria at risk.
Onoja therefore urged international community to put pressure on the Nigerian Authorities to not succumb to Boko Haram’s demand, stressing that a financially vulnerable Boko Haram is a weakened target for a coalition of the willing to effectively take out once and for all.
Besides, he said it is also a time when the Nigerian state can use all the help it can get to stamp out the insurgency, now that it has been weakened.
He said, “We therefore call on the United States’ government to intervene and demand the unconditional release of Leah and other hostages being held by Boko Haram without any further delay. There should be a way for the United States to identify, isolate and sanction those that have continued to promote the violence through their tacit support of Boko Haram.
“The imperative right now is for the United States to act to save the rights of women and children all over the world. It would have failed in this mission if Leah’s has to be bought like a common commodity from the terrorists that are holding her against her will.
“Should any entity pay up the amount that the terrorists are asking for then no girl child in the region will be safe again as the terrorists will embark on an orgy of abduction each time they are in need of money to finance their evil operations. A decision on whether or not to pay the ransom demanded by these terrorists must therefore be assessed from the viewpoint of the long term impact of acceding to the demands of the terrorists.”
