…..Charges FG to sit-up to its responsibility
By Daud Adebayo
The Ulama Forum of Nigeria has expressed concern and called for an end to the incessant killings in the country.
The forum of Muslim scholars made this known recently through a press release issued in response to the worsening state of security in the country.
The Ulama Forum tasked the Federal Government of Nigeria to rise up to the occasion and perform its duty of protecting the lives and property of Nigerians.
The group of Muslim scholars bemoaned the way bandits and terrorists are wreaking havoc in the country without being checked by the government and its security agencies.
The Ulama Forum, which noted that terrorists have lost their faith and humanity, urged government at all levels to look into their earlier recommendation on dealing with the insecurity problem in the Northern part of the country.
The group also charged the Federal Government to review its security spending and approaches, and prayed for divine intervention against banditry, insurgency and its sponsors.
The statement reads in part, “The Ulama Forum in Nigeria is greatly concerned and saddened over the perpetual killings of innocent lives going on unabated in Nigeria, especially in the North West of the country in recent times. In particular, our hearts bleed over the dastardly and inhuman act of burning alive of 23 passengers in Sokoto state.
“Other equally sad losses of lives that were witnessed in Niger, Kaduna, Zamfara and Katsina states over the last one week are heart touching, frustrating and to say the least unpardonable. It is highly inconceivable how bandits and terrorists move about freely in the land, committing heinous acts and atrocities unchecked by the power of government and its security agencies.
“The terrorists have desecrated all religious, human and universal values and indeed, they have lost their faith and humanity; they must be confronted head-on with might and power. We most strongly urge the Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN) to sit up to its responsibility of protecting the lives of Nigerian citizens.
“It would be recalled that in the year 2020, out of similar concern over the deteriorating trend of insecurity, the Ulama Forum had advanced nearly a dozen suggestions to the governments at all levels so as to curb the Boko Haram menace, banditry and other security challenges facing the Northern region. It is sad to note that most of our suggestions were ignored and security situation in the country has been moving from bad to worse.
“Based on the foregoing, we would like to once more urge the FGN to re-asses its security strategies and spending with a view to unfolding a more holistic and all-inclusive approach. We believe that Divine intervention is a most potent weapon against the bandits, insurgents and their collaborators.”
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