The Muslim Rights Concern, MURIC, has raised an alarm about the growing spate of terrorist attacks and kidnappings portend a clear signal that the Nigerian project is seriously endangered.
MURIC, in a statement signed by its director, Professor Ishaq Akintola, the bombing of the Nyanya motorpark, killings and kidnapping of about 100 school children within a space of one week, are indicative of the fact that the security agencies seem to have been engaging in sheer propaganda regarding the war against Boko Haram.
“We find it quite disturbing that the Boko Haram phenomenon is escalating especially during the month of April which the new army chief promised to end this social cankerworm.
“While we condemn the ruthless bombing at Nyanya, the heartless killing of JAMB candidates and the ruthless abduction of school girls, we believe that the Federal Government has not done enough to protect ordinary Nigerians. The spate of bombings and killings also proves that the emergency rule imposed by the Federal Government is not working,” it said.
MURIC condemns the concentration of the security paraphernalia around ministers, high-ranking politicians and other influential people and expressed regrets that those who can afford to employ private security details are feeding fat on the poor masses thereby exposing them to great danger.
“It is nauseating that a tiny cabal monopolises the insufficient number of policemen and other security agents. This robs the rest of the Nigerian society of adequate policing and the few security agents who are left are overwhelmed by the pressure of work.”
MURIC reminds the Federal Government that the United Nations recommends one policeman for 488 civilians. The Nigeria Police has about 310,177 officers and men while the State Security Services (SSS) has about 33,000 personnel. These figures, MURIC said, reflect numerical deficiency because for Nigeria’s population of about 167 million Nigeria needs at least 577,608 policemen. Our police-civilian population ratio today stands at 1.538.
“This is grossly inadequate. But the last nail in the coffin of security concerns in this country is the concentration of security apparatus around top government officials and powerful politicians. This is our Achille’s heel and the earlier the Federal Government plugs this yawning lacuna the better.
It however advises the Federal Government not to extend the emergency rule, stressing that the action has only succeeded in impoverishing innocent civilians.
“In fact, emergency rules are becoming anachronistic around the world. What FG needs to do is to be more proactive. The security agents should focus more on intelligence gathering. More policemen and SSS should be recruited and their welfare should be improved.
“FG must also spend more money on the army and acquire better weapons. More importantly, the excess security men around the capitalist compradore bourgeoisie should be drastically reduced.
It said that in view of the fact that security is an all-comers responsibility, MURIC urged Nigerians to be extra-vigilant. “Unattended or abandoned bags inside airports, markets and public buildings, strange faces, suspicious behaviours, etc should be reported to security agencies,” it warned.
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