The Nation Newspaper

Tag: war against terrorism

  • Ex-minister: why war against terrorism is protracted

    Former Minister of Power and Steel Prof Iyorwuese Hagher has blamed the inability to defeat Boko Haram and other militia groups on what he called highly politicised military and weak judiciary.

    Hagher said the killings in the Northeast and North Central, particularly Benue, would continue if the military is not strengthened to perform its duty in line with global best practices in counter terrorism.

    Delivering a lecture entitled: The Insecurity factor in Nigeria’s stunted metamorphose to greatness at the Afe Babalola University, Ado Ekiti, Hagher urged the Federal Government to procure  equipment for the military and accord the judiciary the freedom to try suspected terrorist without interference.

    The lecture was part of the Law Week of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Ado Ekiti Branch.

    The presidential candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), urged Nigerians to view the 2019 general elections as a year  revolution must occur in the country, adding that the revolution he was suggesting was not that of bloodshed or one that required brandishing of dangerous weapons, but one that would be accomplished via electoral struggle.

    The former ABUAD Pro Chancellor and Chairman of Council, described bad leadership and corruption as the real cause of insecurity.

    He said: “The biggest threat to national greatness is insecurity. In Nigeria, there is an unprecedented scale of killings and kidnapping, illegal bunkering, job racketeering, abductions, human trafficking, internally displaced persons, armed robberies, communal fights and crimes against humanity and a glaring execution of genocide against hated groups by well-protected herdsmen terrorists.

    “Insecurity is  detrimental to the wellbeing of society. It lowers life expectancy and leads to death. Nigeria’s life expectancy is 54 years, this is unfavourably compared to the global average which is 71 years. Those who are living in Nigeria live a low quality life.

    “Insecurity destroys the economy because without peace it is difficult for economic activities to thrive. Insecurity destroys businesses, infrastructure, properties and equipment, and businesses relocate to more secure countries or other secure locations.

    ‘Oil companies in the Southsouth relocated away from the region and some even out of the country. In the same way companies operating in the Northeastern Nigeria had to relocate outside the zone, schools and hospitals were closed down as some doctors and teachers were killed and the remaining fled.

    “Insecurity creates political instability, migration, internally displaced people, capital flight, brain drain, reduction of foreign direct investment and underdevelopment. Many people in the Diaspora today left Nigeria due to crime and insecurity, as a direct result of an assault or a robbery or death of a relation or a friend from violence.”

    Espousing further reasons why Nigeria military should be professionalised,  Hagher said it took a strong and virile military for Zimbabwe to get out of political mess and slavery under the dictatorship of President Robert Mugabe.

    He said since the return to full  democracy in 1999, the Nigerian leaders have cared very little about the common person.

    Hagher regretted that bad leaders have been hiding under religion, which he said had become a deadly virus  that divides the nation.

    “The nation is terminally ill as the executive, legislature and the judiciary have continued to deny Nigeria the greatness it deserves. The Nigerian leaders compromise with criminals and deny citizens the means by which their grievances could be addressed.

    “The security agencies lack the appropriate skills and expertise to secure peace, safety and happiness of the people. Sadly, the Nigerian leaders, who negotiate and do business with criminals have weakened government’s ability to fight insurgency, banditry and other crimes. In many states in the country some governors have criminals on their payroll.

    “Money meant for education, health and infrastructure is diverted to fight insecurity. Doctors, nurses and teachers flee from conflict zones. Economic activities are stalled while the ordinary citizens  become victims of rape, kidnappings abductions and invalids from bomb blasts.

    “Nigerians look forward to a bleak and uncertain future as the general elections of 2019 draw near. The 2019 presidential election is set against the backdrop: as the authorisation of greater insecurity by voting President Buhari for four more years of more of the same collective insecurity, corruption and escalation of genocide.”

  • Alaafin seeks China’s support for war against terrorism

    Alaafin seeks China’s support for war against terrorism

    The Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi 111, has urged the People’s Republic of China to give logistics support to President Muhahamadu Buhari in fighting war against terrorism.

    The monarch gave the admonition yesterday at a colourful reception for Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria, Zhou Pingjian, and his entourage who were on a courtesy visit to the paramount ruler in his ancient Oyo palace.

    He said wanton destruction of lives and properties by the Boko Haram sect and other groups engaged in terror acts have not only reached an intolerable level, Nigerians are becoming more apprehensive and worried about the state of insecurity, especially flagrant disregard for human lives.

    He said, “The country is going through serious security challenges and perhaps the most difficult trouble after the end of the civil war in 1970. What is more disturbing  is that  these Boko Haram insurgents and their allies cannot have such sophisticated and destructive weapons  to terrorise without receiving backings from somewhere.”

    The Alaafin noted that the People’s Republic of China as the second largest economy in the world can assist and mobilize other allied nations to come to the aid of Nigerian government in curbing terrorism, adding, “Threats to human lives are not only serious acts of terrorism but indeed an abomination. This is why every well meaning Nigerians and good friends of the country must see the current war against dreaded Boko Haram and other subversive elements as a welcomed development.”

    Describing the visit of the Ambassador and his entourage as ‘uniquely historic’, and attestation of China’s sincere concern for the preservation of cultural heritage, the royal father pointed out that the visit was a melting pot of human culture, and a testing ground for human ability  to co-habit, relate and work together for mutual relationship.

    Ambassador Pingjian who was excited at the reception and honour, said he was in school when he first learnt about the history of Oyo Empire, Oduduwa and Oranyan.

    While thanking the Alaafin for the opportunity to know more about Oyo Empire, kingdoms, kingships culture and tradition, he said “We are here to explore and understand the culture of the kingdom which is the greatest in Yoruba land, and one of the greatest in West Africa.”

    Ambassador Pingjian added,  “Oyo Empire was the most powerful in West Africa, with distinct and outstanding administration, as it shared the same philosophy with the China, which is people-oriented administration.”

  • Rights group flays Amnesty ‎over human rights report

    Rights group flays Amnesty ‎over human rights report

    A human rights group, Global Amnesty Watch (GAW) has faulted the report by the Amnesty International (AI) which criticized the way the Nigerian military had prosecuted on the war against terrorism especially in the northeast.

    Speaking in Abuja, the President of the group and human rights activist, Philip Agbese said AI had issued several reports in the past which openly lied against Nigeria, the government and critical institutions with the sole intent of undermining them.

    The United Kingdom based group said the report of AI openly sided with terrorists, insurgents and separatists while treating Nigerians as enemies. “As has been the case in the past, while it may have other motives in other countries, the intention in Nigeria is to blackmail the military and security institutions into not being able to discharge their statutory duties,” Agbese said.

    He said the terror groups like Boko Haram and Niger Delta Avengers have at various times carried out unwarranted attacks on peace-loving Nigerians and members of the Nigerian military who get killed while trying to stop terror attacks.

    Agbese: “In the case of this latest report issued by AI, lies have again been packaged as truth, their methodology consists of trawling news report, AI also speaks with so called witnesses that have in the past been proven to be nothing but paid actors, especially when the NGO often speak with them over the phone and therefore unable to properly verify identities.

    “The people it is usually able to speak with a are celebrity activists, protesters or agitators that have vested interest along the lines of the testimony they are willing to give. The combination of all these, makes the so-called annual report, into a solid pack of lies.”

    The GAW said Nigeria is a democracy which operates on the rule of law insisting that no external body can impose “lawlessness on Nigeria in the name of fake compliance with human rights benchmark.” The group also faulted the modus operandi of AI saying it relies on two newspaper stories to write its reports.

    “We therefore unequivocally state that the AI report is biased, unprofessional, lacks merit and does not reflect the realities on ground.   The truth is that the AI report is not only wrong but that the Nigerian military should be commended for doing their best to halt threats to citizens as exemplified by Boko Haram, IPOB, Avengers and other groups complicit in crimes against humanity.

    “Had the military allowed itself to be blackmailed into inaction as AI intended, Boko Haram would have overrun the country by now while the IPOB separatists would have mutated into groups worse than Boko Haram,” Agbese said

    He said that the airline would continue to seek ways to give its loyal customers and other air travelers the best flight experience.

  • Commonwealth joins war against terrorism

    Commonwealth joins war against terrorism

    British Prime Minister David Cameron yesterday announced plans to set up a Commonwealth unit targeting the extremist “scourge.”

    Commonwealth countries have “a vital role to play in broadening international efforts to counter extremism,” Cameron said as he arrived in Malta for the  biennial summit of the Commonwealth.

    He said  that the U.K. would  put 5 million pounds  toward the  unit that will work with smaller countries struggling to combat terrorism.

    “The fight against extremism is something that affects us all,” he said.

    French President Francois Hollande  was due  to address Commonwealth leaders last night ahead of the U.N. climate change conference beginning in Paris next week.

    He was scheduled to hold separate  bilateral meetings with President  Muhammadu Buhari and Pakistan’s Muhammad Nawaz Sharif on the margins of the summit .

    Following Paris’s deadly attack, Hollande is on a mission to tackle global terrorism. The French government has declared readiness to synergise with the Armed Forces to tackle global terrorism.

    France Director of Mili­tary Intelligence, General Christophe Gomer said most terror­ist attacks were not anticipat­ed and the phenomenon of global terrorism was gradu­ally catching up with all na­tions that were napping.

    “It’s something we did not prepare for, including developing countries like Nigeria,” he said. “We have to evolve new ways of tackling them, stamp them out of exis­tence.”

    Maltese Prime Minister Joseph Muscat said the Commonwealth should  become more relevant to the aspirations of its citizens.

    “The Commonwealth must have an agenda with clear priorities, especially in the fight against radicalization and the tackling of the migration phenomenon, which can be challenged through education and employment,” Muscat said.

    “Terrorists are more scared of well-educated girls and boys who manage to get a good job than they will ever be of any army,” he said.

    Declaring the summit open,Queen Elizabeth praised the accomplishments of the 53-nation Commonwealth and her happy associations with Malta.

    “Prince Philip and I first came to live here in Malta in 1949, the year the Commonwealth was founded,” she said, hailing a vast advancement in freedom and human rights in the decades since then. “I have been privileged to witness this transformation and to consider its purpose.”

    The organization appointed its first female secretary-general  yesterday  when leaders chose Dominica-born lawyer Patricia Scotland to take over the running of the 53-country organisation.

    Scotland, a former attorney general to the British government,  takes over from Indian diplomat Kamalesh Sharma on April 1, 2016.

    “I am incredibly proud to be the first woman to hold the post of secretary-general,” Baroness Scotland of Asthal told  reporters.

    “Can I just say what a huge privilege and a pleasure it is for me to be entrusted with one of the most burdensome but wonderful roles that there is in the international world?” the 60-year-old asked rhetorically.

    “There is much to do but I hope all 53 of us will look together at the vision, will look at what we need to do on climate change, on education, on science and technology and we will make this a better world for our children.”