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Tag: insurgency

  • Insurgency: don’t blame us, North’s governors tell Fed Govt

    Insurgency: don’t blame us, North’s governors tell Fed Govt

    The Chairman Northern States’ Governors’ Forum (NSGF) and Niger State Governor Babangida Aliyu hit back yesterday at the Federal Government over the allegation that the region’s governors were not doing enough to fight insurgency.

    The governor said such a statement was “uncharitable and unfortunate”.

    Reacting to the allegation by Information Minister Labaran Maku that the 19 North’s governors were not doing enough to curb insecurity in the region, Aliyu said the “blame game must stop”.

    The governor expressed disappointment about the allegation.

    He said: “If it was his (minister’s) view, it was unfortunate. If it is the view of the Federal Government, it is very uncharitable. It is more than unfortunate.

    “I think it’s part of the hypocrisy because no governor, as so far as I know, can be accused of not doing enough. As the chairman of Northern States’ Governors’ Forum, I can say that no governor can be accused of not doing enough, particularly with the circumstances that we find ourselves.

    “I am not aware of any governor invited by the National Security Adviser (NSA) and told of what to do and he did not do it. I am not aware of that.”

    Aliyu noted that instead of accusing the governors, the Federal Government ought to be criticised for delaying efforts at checking the security challenges in the land.

    He said: “…Some people believed that it was a deliberate plan to stop some other people and, therefore, the action that should have been taken to nip it in the bud was delayed.

    “Why would we be accused of not doing enough when even the children that were kidnapped, some people are trying to make it look as if nothing happened?”

  • Nda-Isaiah blames insurgency on govt ineptitude

    Nda-Isaiah blames insurgency on govt ineptitude

    An All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential aspirant and former chairman of Leadership newspapers group, Mr Sam Nda-Isaiah, has expressed displeasure over Federal Government’s ineffectiveness to rescue the schoolgirls abducted in Chibok, Borno State, about a month ago.

    The newspaper proprietor said the present administration needed to wake up to its responsibility of protecting Nigerians instead of embarrassing the country with its seeming helplessness.

    The girls were adducted on April 14 by the Boko Haram members from their dormitory at the Government Girls’ Secondary School, Chibok, and have since remained in the custody of their abductors.

    In a statement in Abuja, Nda-Isaiah sympathised with the families of the abducted schoolgirls.

    The entrepreneur urged them to find solace in the fact that the mercy of God and the global outcry would aid the release of their daughters.

    The publisher, who has been critical of the Goodluck Jonathan administration’s lackadaisical approach to the security of life and property, also queried the government’s effort on similar cases, such as  the abduction of about 40 children four months ago and when 100 pupils were burnt alive at the Federal Government Boys’ High School, Buni Yadi, among others.

    He said: “I am still in shock about how this horrendous evil could have happened, the second major attack on a school in four months. Yet, my shock and distress can hardly compare to the anxiety, grief and pain borne by the families of the missing Chibok girls. It could only have been their dreams, hopes and aspirations for a better Nigeria that inspired them to stay in school, defying the odds…”

  • Youth employment’ll end insurgency, says Aregbesola

    Youth employment’ll end insurgency, says Aregbesola

    •Utomi: Nigeria needs strong institutions

    Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola has said the only way to stop insurgency is to create jobs for youths.

    He spoke at the weekend in Ilesa while receiving the BusinessWorld’s Most Innovative Governor Award.

    Aregbesola urged those in authority to create jobs for youths, adding that power is meaningful only when it is used to better people’s lives.

    Explaining that power is nothing but responsibility, he said: “A sure way out of our national instability is the provision of jobs for youths, such as the Osun Youth Empowerment Scheme (OYES).

    “Engaging alienated youths as we did in Osun will end the insecurity and terror unleashed on the nation by Boko Haram. This is why we made education our number one priority in Osun, as this is our passport to a secure future.”

    He hailed BusinessWorld for monitoring his administration’s programmes, adding that the award will motivate him to do more.

    Economist and Founder of the Centre for Values in Leadership Prof. Pat Utomi said Nigeria needs strong institutions, rather than strong personalities.

    Utomi, who was the guest speaker, said only strong institutions can ensure good governance.

    In his speech, titled: “Innovation in Governance: Regarding Good Government”, he said until a government serves the interest of the common man, it is not a good government.

    Utomi said the country needs the kind of governance delivered by the Aregbesola administration, adding: “What Africa and, indeed, Nigeria need are strong institutions and not strong men. A strong institution has the capacity to provide good governance for the people. Lack of strong institutions is contributing to the stagnation of the nation’s fortune, both politically and economically.

    “Therefore, our country is in bad shape because our leaders are not told the truth about their performance. Government has a primary duty of creating an enabling environment for the realisation of people’s dreams. A government that fails in this regard has no business being in power and does not deserve to be honoured.”

    He described Aregbesola as a leader with a strong commitment to serve his people, hence his people-centred policies.

    Utomi identified the introduction of the e-learning device, Opon Imo, as a solution to poor teaching.

    He said: “We are impressed enough by Osun’s work to draw a Delta State development plan called ‘Aregbe x20’. If there are only two things a government must do, it will be education and health.”

    The All Progressives Congress’ (APC’s) Interim National Chairman and Chairman of the occasion, Chief Bisi Akande, said: “This award does not surprise me because you deserve it. I am only waiting to come to Osogbo for the celebration of your victory at the August 9 election. Your work is a clear testimony that your victory is certain. It is an election we have won before the contest.”

    BusinessWorld’s Chairman Daisi Omidiji said 12 states were considered in the Innovation Award Initiative, adding that two states in each of the six geo-political zones were closely examined for three months.

    On how Osun emerged the overall winner, Omidiji said: “We came to this conclusion because of the turn-around projects embarked upon by the Aregbesola administration, which represent a tremendous improvement on what he met on ground about four years ago.”

  • How to end insurgency in Northeast, by Shetima

    How to end insurgency in Northeast, by Shetima

    Borno State Governor Kashim Shetima spoke with ADEOLA OLADELE-FAYEHUN in Washington DC, United States, on the insurgency in the Northeast and how to tackle the menace.

    Why are you in Washington DC?

    We are here at the invitation of the United States Institute of Peace for a three-day symposium specially organised for governors of the 19 Northern states. Because of the snow, it commenced yesterday and we’re going to round it off today.

    What exactly is being discussed?

    I believe that the whole programme is on how to come in and assist the Northern states regarding the creping insurgency, the underdevelopment that has enveloped us, and actually, it’s a very proper discussion. We cross-pollinated our ideas with the American establishments, and this morning, we’re going to meet with the USAID and some other development partners to chart a new course for the North.

    We are glad that there’s a renewed interest in the North by the American government, and we’re going to key into it for the benefit of our people.

    Has the U.S disclosed its area of intervention?

    Well, most of our submissions are really on education, healthcare delivery, on issues of infrastructural development, on job creation, and they’re very keen on rendering a helping hand. We met actually on Sunday; myself and Governor Yuguda; with a team from the Gates Foundation. We implored them to really extend a helping hand to us in the area of agriculture.

    They’re doing a ‘Nitrogen to Africa’ programme in some Northern states, and we said, let them give a helping hand to the states in the Northeast because we’re conspicuously absent on the new scheme of things on that programme.

    What is the situation on ground in Borno?

    I am an eternal optimist. I believe that the worst is over, as per the crisis in Borno. There’s a renewed effort by the Federal Government, to see that the insurgency is nipped in the bud. And I can assure you once the current momentum is sustained, we shall have an enduring peace in the not too distant future.

    What is your reaction to the statement by Mr. President that he could pull out troops from Borno?

    Well, my own take on that is that I believe he said it half jokingly, he did not meant it, it is a constitutional responsibility to protect the lives and properties of the citizenry, he just said it half jokingly, and I believe he is fully committed towards establishing peace in the Northeast.

    What about death toll?

    During the last crisis on Friday, miraculously quite a number of the insurgents were killed. But, we also recorded five casualties from the innocent bystanders. Even, five is a huge number. As the late Dele Giwa said, let’s not talk about numbers. One life lost in cold blood is gruesome as millions lost in a pogrom. But, it’s gratifying that only five people lost their lives, including a soldier.

    A lot of people believe Boko Haram was started by Northern political leaders. I’ve heard people say it’s possible that your predecessor knows about it. What is your reaction when people say this?

    Well, it is amazing because I believe it’s irrational and outrightly preposterous for anybody to insinuate that Northern political leaders are behind Boko Haram. Why should they be the forces behind the Boko Haram? Do they have the intent to decimate their own population? To pauperize their own brothers and sisters? It doesn’t hold water. And I believe that the federal government and the international communities have the apparatuses to dig down to the root of the matter.

    Without hauling bricks on my predecessor, I can tell you that the Boko Haram predates his coming to power. The Boko Haram insurgency actually originated in Kanamma village in Yobe State in 2001, when a group of young men went and carve out a territory for themselves and called it an Islamic territory. But, I don’t want to dwell so much, because I do not have the authority to speak on the sources and origins of the Boko Haram. But most importantly, I always emphasise on the linkage and the very high level of correlation between poverty and insurgency.

    And I believe that there is a lot of correlation between the poverty that has engulfed the North Eastern Region of Nigeria and the Boko Haram insurgency. Because the World Bank described the Northeast portion of Nigeria, the Republic of Chad, the Republic of Niger, and the Darfur Region of Sudan as one of the poorest places on earth. Hence, the emergency of militant organisations like the Janjaweed militia and the Boko Haram in the Northeastern Region. And I believe that, once we engage the youths, once we create jobs, this madness, this nihilism will evaporate.

    How are you able to do your duties as governor in the face of this insurgency?

    Well, we have a mandate from the people, and leadership entails some elements of risk and courage. As the saying goes, if you can’t withstand the heat, get out of the kitchen. We have a mandate to work for the people, and we will work till the last drop of our blood to see that we have enhanced the quality of lives of our people.

    How exactly can citizens asist in curbing Boko Haram?

    People like you, especially those of you in the diaspora, can assist us in terms of linkages as per education and as per healthcare delivery. With regards to agriculture, from here, we’re going to Nebraska to visit some key places and irrigation sites, I believe the wealth of knowledge and opportunities and possibilities at your disposal will come in handy in assisting us towards overcoming the current challenges we’re facing.

    Is it true that Boko Haram is actually coming from Chad?

    You cannot rule out the possibility that the crisis in Chad, the crisis in Mali and, of course, the crisis in Libya might have cascaded down to our own part of the world. Maiduguri is very close to some of the hottest spots in Africa. Though the roads are bad, with a good car and some little determination, if you leave Maiduguri in the morning, by night probably, you can reach South Sudan. So, definitely because of our proximity to some of the troubled spots, Bangui, Central Africa, Libya, only Niger separates us from Libya. So, I believe there’s a proliferation of wild arms and ammunitions and it has affected us negatively. No doubt about it.

    Do you believe Boko Haram members are being sponsored?

    You cannot rule out the possibility of some hands behind the whole crisis. But, I am strongly of the opinion that the Boko Haram, which has degenerated more into a cult, because I believe it’s an insult, I am a Muslim, it’s a insult to the religion of Islam to categorise them as Muslims. So, they have degenerated into some sorts of cults, resorting into extortions, kidnappings, and I believe they are funding much of their activities through those barbarous activities.

    You cannot rule out even their involvement in drugs because they’re into anything. They have veered off course; they’re more of a gang of criminals, nihilist, of lunatics, hell bent on inflicting pain and destruction on the people. They have been kidnapping people and extorting money.

    Would you say they have sponsors in Nigeria?

    I do not want to pass judgment on who their sponsors are or where they hail from. But, the only thing I can tell you is that, they are largely a set of sustaining entity. They extort money from people; they’re kidnapping people for ransom, and largely sponsor their activities through the proceeds of such illicit activities. And you cannot even dismiss their involvement in drugs. That’s my own perception and honestly, I don’t want to dwell on issues that I don’t have an authority or pass judgment on people or say that X, Y, Z, are the sponsors of Boko Haram.

    What practical things will you put in place after this meeting in the US?

    Certainly, we hope that, with the renewed attention the United States on Nigeria, especially on Northern Nigeria, I believe a lot of goodies will come out of this visit.

  • Military offensive against insurgency yielding result – Olukolade

    Military offensive against insurgency yielding result – Olukolade

    The Defence Headquarters said on Thursday that the current military offensive against Boko Haram insurgents in the North-East had yielded successes.

    Maj.-Gen. Chris Olukolade, Director, Defence Information (DDI), stated this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Maiduguri.

    He was speaking when he accompanied the Chief of Army Staff, Lt-Gen. Kenneth Minimah, and the Chief of Air Staff, Air Vice-Marshal Adesola Amosu, on a routine visit to Maiduguri.

    “The military is operating in the Sambisa forest, in hills and other forests around.

    “The idea is to make sure that the insurgents do not have a camp where they can organise their crime like before.

    “Unlike some months back, the insurgents are now on the run,’’ he said.

    Olukolade said that the attempted attack on Giwa Barracks, Maiduguri, by the insurgents was a sign of weakness.

    “You will observe that they have stopped soft spot attacks for some time now.

    “Most of the attacks now are daring, like the attempted barrack attacks, because they know that there time was up,’’ he said.

    Olukolade said that the visit was to assess the troops’ operations in the campaign against insurgency.

    “The visit is to assess the operation of troops on the ground. They have always visited to see things on ground,” he said.

    On a date to end insurgency, Olukolade said: “we cannot set a target on ending terrorism in Nigeria, because terrorism has a unique character.’’

    “Terrorism is like armed robbery, prostitution and other crimes, which have been on for long time.

    “These cannot be wiped out completely in the society, but you can bring them down to the lowest level where they cannot affect social and economic life.

    “Our aim is to reduce terrorism to the lowest level where it will not be able to disrupt social and economic lives of the people.’’

    Olukolade also faulted claims that some military commanders had failed to act on urgent information due to non-approval by their high command.

    “It is not true that commanders will have to wait for permission before acting on urgent information on terrorist attacks or movements.

    “Certainly, our operation does not require seeking permission from outside.

    “Officers have some latitude to operate in such kind of situation.

    “Each officer has been briefed on the rules of engagement in any operation; it is left for him to act immediately he receives information on terrorist attack or movement.

    “If we receive complaint on officers refusing to act on urgent information, such officers will be reprimanded,’’ Olukolade said.

  • Why insurgency persists, by Abidoye

    The Spiritual Head and Chairman of Cherubim and Seraphim Movement Church Worldwide, Most Reverend Samuel Abidoye, has expressed concerns over the inability of government to curtail the Boko Haram insurgency in the north.

    Abidoye blamed the situation on the absence of quality leadership across the nation.

    According to him: “The continuous existence of the Boko Haram and the Niger-Delta crisis, among others, is because our leaders are not doing what they are supposed to do. Our government needs to be more careful.”

    He pointed out that “many people are afraid of the coming elections especially those in the north because the elections have never been successful.”

    He urged Nigerians to pray for the elections to be peaceful.

    Abidoye lamented that many modern Christians are after money, instead of God.

    “Nobody is behaving like a Christian. You find pastors caught in robbery and doing lots of bad things.

    “Christ is coming back very soon and all Christians must be prepared.”

  • Insurgency: Steer clear of politics, Maku tells military

    Insurgency: Steer clear of politics, Maku tells military

    Minister of Information, Mr. Labaran Maku has told members of the Armed Forces to resist the temptation of staging incursion into politics, despite the growing security challenges thrown up by the Boko Haram insurgency.

    The minister warned that any military intervention at this point in the nation’s history would spell disaster for the country, stressing that past military incursions into politics did not help the development of the country.

    Maku, sounded the warning yesterday while handing over the Defence portfolio to the newly appointed Minister of Defence, Lt. Gen. Aliyu Gusau.

    He charged the Armed Forces to steer clear of partisan politics and to remain loyal to the democratically constituted civilian authority at all times.

    Maku was the supervising Minister for Defence, a position he held since September 2013, but relinquished to Gusau on Friday.

    According to him, conflicts are inevitable among politicians in any political system, stressing that it is the nature of politicians to disagree over a number of national issues and to resolve their differences through democratic means.

    “Past military interventions did not help the country. Any military intervention at this point in our history would be a disaster. There will always be crisis among politicians but that should not be a reason for military intervention”, the minister emphasised.

    He cited the case of past political turbulence in India, where crisis among the country’s politicians led to the assassination of a Prime Minister (Indra Gandhi) and yet, the country’s military did not intervene.

    The minister admitted the enormity of the challenges confronting the nation, citing the Boko Haram insurgency in the Northeastern part of the country and bloody communal clashes in places like Benue, Plateau, Nasarawa and others.

    He however, expressed the optimism that the country would overcome the challenges in no distant future.

    Maku flayed what he described as “indiscrete comments” by some public office holders on the Boko Haram insurgency and the seeming inability of the military might to quash the insurgency despite the huge security funding.

    According to him, much is being done by the government to curtail the activities of the insurgents, even though not all the efforts were being revealed to the public.

    The minister assured that the 2015 general elections will be more credible than the 2011 polls.

    Shortly after he took over the Defence portfolio, Gen. Gusau said the security challenges were daunting, but surmountable.

    He promised to look into the military and civilian components of the Defence structure, with the view to tackling the various structural challenges that could hamper the smooth operations in the ministry.

    The new Defence minister charged both the military and civilian personnel to brace up for the challenges ahead, saying “we will surely get to our destination”.

  • Army working hard to tackle insurgency – CDS

    Army working hard to tackle insurgency – CDS

    The Chief of Defence Staff, Air Marshall Alex Badeh, on Monday said the Armed Forces and other stakeholders were working round the clock to tackle insurgency.

    Badeh, represented by the Chief of Training and Operation, Defence Headquarters, Maj.-Gen. Eboiwei Awala, made the statement during the 2014 symposium for Senior Course 36 at the Armed Forces Command and Staff College, (AFCSC, ) Jaji, Kaduna.

    The theme for the three-day symposium is “Repositioning the Nigerian Armed Forces to Meet Contemporary National Security Challenges’’.

    “Our dear country, like most countries in the world, is having her share of terrorism and other contemporary security challenges,’’ he said.

    He stressed the need for the students of Senior Course 36 to prepare adequately for the tasks ahead of them in the field.

    “You must listen to all critiques, observations and suggestions that would be made after your presentations and use them not to just improve your papers.

    “But more importantly to prepare your minds on the challenges you would be facing in the field after your course,” he advised.

    Also, the Commandant, AFCSC, Air Vice-Marshal Chris Ifemeje, said the aim of the symposium was to challenge middle cadre officers to generate ideas from  intuition.

    “Such ideas could assist the services find solutions to some of the extant and emerging threats being faced by the country.”

    Ifemeje said the theme of the symposium was apt and that the discussion would aid the army “contain the terrorist activities of the Boko Haram sect in the North-east in addition to tackling other challenges in other parts of the country”.

    He urged the participants to contribute their knowledge toward solving some of the contemporary security challenges threatening the country.

     

  • ‘Military option can’t win Boko Haram insurgency’

    ‘Military option can’t win Boko Haram insurgency’

    Military approach cannot curb Boko Haram attacks, the Editor-in-Chief of Turkish Review, Mr Kerim Balci, has said.

    He urged the Federal Government to stop the use of violence to curtail the escalating violence, adding that the military option would only breed more terrorists.

    Balci spoke at an interactive session with reporters in Lagos. In his presentation titled , “Current Developments in Turkey and Middle East: Implication for Sub-Saharan Africa,” at the weekend, he explained how Turkish government reduced terrorism to a bearable minimum, adding that the military option has never helped to reduce terrorism but rather helpedto fuel insurgence.

    “I don’t know what can be done to stop Boko Haram, but I know what must not be done. Military forces cannot win insurgencies. I will advise the government of Nigeria not to go to Boko Haram with violence. Violence has never solved any insurgency or terrorism. The military option will not end terrorism in Nigeria. You kill one terrorist; there will be two others more. Fighting terrorism needs holistic approach. No study has clearly linked poverty with terrorism or unemployment with terrorism,” Balci said.

    Drawing from his deep understanding of peace and security issues in the Middle East and what all this portends for Sub-Saharan Africa, the editor-in-chief, who works with one of the most successful print media in Turkey, revealed that if the violence approach continues, sponsors and leadership of terrorist organisations would continue to provide leaning to new recruits on the basis of selective teaching of the Quran.

    He said while the killings and executions of terrorists continue, terrorists would continue to portray the world and countries as nations of infidels who do not deserve to live and anyone who kills them will have a good reward from God.

    Balci said: “In the Nigerian case, they can say because you are not ruling with laws of Islam, so kill anyone who has subjected himself to the laws. They promote this ignorance about Quran to the uneducated, the unemployed and the poor people. The reading of the Holy Quran is selective among them. They only read two verses. One, kill the infidels where you find them, even if it’s in Khaba. Secondly, they say whoever rules with laws other than the laws of God are infidels.

    “So, for the fact that Nigerian government is not ruling with their laws, the country is believed to be country of the infidels, hence, the continued resurgence.”

    Balci advised the government to invest in education in insurgency-prone areas in order to their recruits who do not have education, and who are not employed.

    “I’m not saying education will totally solve the whole problem but it will prevent the terrorists from getting more people to recruit from the streets,” he affirmed. The erudite journalist noted further that though he understands that the Federal Government is investing in education in the North but he condemned the part-time education schedule being adopted.

    According to him, when people are on part-time education, especially the Islamic school mode, they would have more free time on streets where terrorists can easily recruit them.

    “The part-time schooling option cannot help. In a situation where people go to school in the morning and close early, they will have more time roaming the streets where terrorists can recruit them. However, in addition to having part-time, government can also include vocational training after school to keep people busy, to make them see life from another dimension. These are things that helped Turkey reduce terrorism” he said.

    Balci also advised the government to engage civil society groups to speak up on terrorism issues in the Middle East and join the global debate at international summits, form relationship with countries where terrorists get sponsors and forget the propositions that Nigeria’s heterogeneous culture is the reason why there is terrorism. According to him, the country’s multi-ethnic diversity should be the country’s source of strength, urging the government to change a violence tactic approach to fight Boko Haram.

     

  • Emergency… end to insurgency in the North?

    Emergency… end to insurgency in the North?

    The Federal Government claims the war on terror is being won with the state of emergency in Yobe, Adama was and Borno states. What happens after emergency? Dada Ahmed of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) examines government’s tactics against insurgents.

    Before the Federal Government declared a state of emergency in Yobe, Borno and Adamawa states last May 14, many believed the cup of Boko Haram had beconme full, especially because of its activities in Borno.

    Observers believe that the killing of people and other attacks of the group are some of the had traumatic effect on the citizenry.

    More than 185 people were reportedly killed in Baga, Kukawa Local Government Area of Borno on April 16 in a skirmish between the Multinational Joint Task Force and the sect.

    In several cases, lives and property worth millions of naira were destroyed in the protracted violence.

    In the Baga incident, for instance, apart from those killed, hundreds of people were also wounded, while over 2,000 houses were razed.

    Irked by the rising wave of bloodshed, President Good luck Jonathan, in a nationwide broadcast, announced the declaration of a state of emergency in Bornu, Yobe and Adamawa states.

    Jonathan said the action became imperative because the insurgency and terrorism had led to “the needless loss of lives and property of many innocent Nigerians; including members of our security forces’’.

    Analysts have commended the government for declaring a state of emergency in the troubled states, saying that the measure would aid efforts to check the insurgency and preserve the people’s lives and property.

    Mr Bayo Onanuga, a journalist, said that with the declaration, the Federal Government would be able correct some negative impressions about Nigeria with regard to terrorism.

    Onanuga noted that the Boko Haram insurgency had advertised Nigeria to the world as a country that was slipping into a state of anarchy, where regard for human life was fading out.

    Mr Jaye Gaskia, a commentator, said that the presidency had done the right thing by declaring a state of emergency in the three states, adding that it would aid efforts to protect the people’s lives and property.

    He said the exercise might not totally eliminate acts of violence unless a pragmatic approach was adopted to address the root causes of the insurgency.

    Gaskia underscored the need for the government to embark on a focused and strategic intervention to address issues relating to the region’s underdevelopment and youth development concerns.

    He called for the evolution of civil-military relationship frameworks, involving representatives of the local communities, organisations and elected public officers.

    “This, coupled with community policing initiatives, will ensure the monitoring of security operations for effectiveness. It will also aid intelligence gathering, build and restore public trust and confidence; while isolating the insurgents and extremists as well as their supporters,’’ he said.

    However, Mr Mohammed Musa, the Chairman of the Lokoja chapter of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), said that injustice was part of the factors which caused disaffection and conflicts among the people.

    He advised the stakeholders to uphold justice and fairness, saying that the elite and the traditional institutions should be directly involved in efforts to check injustice in the society.

    Musa particularly urged the government to ensure the autonomy of the judiciary to enable it to carry out its functions without any fear or favour.

    “The constitutional provision of autonomous power granted the judiciary must be allowed to take root, not on paper but in practical terms, so as to boost the fight against corruption and insurgency.

    “The declaration of a state of emergency in the states is appropriate in the current efforts to curb insurgency but those who unleashed violence on others must be made to face justice, as this would serve as deterrent to others,’’ he noted.

    Besides, Musa called on the government to make politics and political offices less attractive by slashing the remunerations of political office holders so as to discourage people from seeing politics as a shortcut to amass wealth and power.

    He also urged the government to create an enabling environment for investors to set up businesses that could give meaningful employment to many of the jobless youth roaming the streets.

    “When youths are gainfully employed, they will not get involved in anti-social activities and the nation will grow,’’ he said.

    Sharing similar sentiments, Miss Antonia Alabi, an unemployed university graduate, said that the alarming level of poverty in the society had forced some people to engage in unwholesome activities.

    “Human life is one of the priceless gifts of nature which should guarded jealously but in Nigeria, it has become a very cheap commodity because of the poverty level and injustice in the country,’’ she said.

    Nevertheless, Malam Ishaq Ali, a Lokoja-based Muslim cleric, underscored the need for parents to give more attention to their children’s upbringing, adding that they should also instill the fear of God in their children.

    He said children who were given sound training in moral and social values would never engage in wicked and anti-social acts.

    “We are to serve as light to the youth through our exemplary lifestyles; we owe the society a patriotic duty to give our children good moral education for them to be responsible.

    “When we do this, the children will refuse to be used by some unscrupulous politicians who often capitalise on the prevailing unemployment situation to recruit them for ungodly activities.

    “Besides, parents need to revisit the cherished family values of the past, where the love for one another formed the bedrock of a stable society. We need to check the type of friends our children keep as well,’’ he said.

    The declaration of a state of emergency in the three states notwithstanding, the U.S. government has consistently advised Nigeria to adopt a socio-economic approach in tackling the menace of terrorism.

    In a recent media interview, Deborah MacLean, the Information Officer at the U.S. Embassy in Nigeria, urged the Federal Government to step up efforts to tackle the root causes of the Boko Haram insurgency and insecurity across the country.