Civil rights advocacy group, Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria, on Wednesday, condemned the killings of scores of innocent Nigerians in Plateau and Benue States, describing it as unbecoming.
HURIWA, in a statement by its National Coordinator, Emmanuel Onwubiko, also backed Benue State governor, Samuel Ortom’s umpteenth call for people of the Middle Belt to carry weapons and defend themselves against rampaging marauders who have no sanctity for human lives.
The group said the need for self-defence is pertinent in the face of the failure of the Federal Government and the security agencies led by an inactive retired major general and the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd), to live up to its utmost constitutional responsibility of protection of lives and properties.
HURIWA expressed consternation that the President only issue statements and did not back his “rhetorics” up with actionable legal sanctions strong enough to deter the killers.
It also added that Governor Simon Lalong of Plateau State has not demonstrated enough leadership to protect the lives of people in the state.
The PUNCH had earlier reported that more than 6,000 persons displaced due to attacks carried out by suspected terrorists in Kanam Local Government Area of Plateau State are currently taking refuge in markets and primary schools.
The suspected terrorists had invaded about seven communities in Kanam LGA on Sunday and shot at anyone they saw, which led to the killing of over 70 persons. Several persons were also abducted by the terrorists, who also set their houses ablaze.
Also, killer herdsmen invaded several communities in three local government areas of Benue State on Monday night and killed 25 people, including a traditional ruler.
Ortom, in a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Nathaniel Ikyur, had stated, “We are law-abiding citizens. We have cried for help against these invaders but nothing is forthcoming. We are left alone and it looks like it is a deliberate strategy. Now, we have only one option; to defend ourselves or be extinct. This is a case for our survival.”
Reacting, HURIWA’s Onwubiko said, “The attacks and loss of lives in Plateau and Benue states are condemnable. The security agencies and the regime of President Muhammadu Buhari again failed Nigerians because it has consistently shied away from its major constitutional responsibility according to Section 14(2)(b) of Nigeria’s 1999 Constitution which states, “The security and welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose of government” because according to section 17(2)(b) of the same constitution, “the sanctity of the human person shall be recognized”.
“HURIWA, therefore, backs Governor Samuel Ortom’s call for self-defence because Section 33(2)(a) makes self-defence lawful when undertaken in “defence of any person from unlawful violence or for the defence of property.”
“HURIWA adds that the security challenges of the country have apparently overwhelmed the Buhari regime as said by ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo. The security agencies are also obviously inundated. Helpless Nigerians have no option but to rise up and defend themselves like the people of Ukraine.
“It is the responsibility of government to decisively crush terrorists and criminal gangs by strengthening the security architectures of the state and by setting up formidably armed vigilante well-trained by the Army just like the Civilian JTF of Borno State to withstand the invasions of their communities.
“The state House of Assemblies should borrow from the doctrine of necessity as was adopted by the National Assembly when Goodluck Jonathan became President in 2015 so the lives and property of citizens are safeguarded by every means possible. This measure must be adopted by states facing invasions of mass killers. This must be done with immediate effect.”
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