By Rabilu Abubakar, Gombe
The Advocacy Centre for Development (AC4D), a non-governmental organization, has raised an alarm over incessant killings, kidnappings for ransom, and other forms of atrocities across the country.
Ibrahim Yusuf, Team Lead of the Centre who disclosed this in a chat with our correspondent explained that twenty thousand, four hundred thirty-one (20,431) Nigerians were killed between 2019 to 2023 including security personnel.
According to him, of the figure, two thousand five hundred forty-five (2,545) were security personnel and seventeen thousand eight hundred and eighty-six (17, 886) were civilians.
Yusuf added that within the period about fifteen thousand five hundred and ninety-seven (15,597) people were abducted due to lack of good leadership in the country that will bring to an end various atrocities witnessed across the six geo-political zones.
“Atrocities against women, children, People with disability, students, teachers, vulnerable persons, schools, and institutions of learning are devastating, and the government has not come out with a clear policy aimed at curbing the trend to protect lives and safeguard properties of the citizens.
“The deployment of soldiers for maintenance of internal security is retrenching the constitutional role of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF).
“The rising fatalities of military personnel involved in internal security operations across the 36 states of Nigeria shows that the military is over-stretched, and this cannot continue,” he said.
The Team Lead, however, appreciated the efforts of Gombe state Governor Muhammad Inuwa Yahaya, for the establishment of a Security outfit code-named “Operation Hattara,” GOSTEC and the Ministry of Internal Security and Home Affairs which will go a long way in restoring peace and stability in the state.
“As Nigerians bleed, maintenance of security has become a collective responsibility of all, communities should provide timely and accurate information to security operatives that would aid them in performing their roles.
“Roles of traditional rulers who are closer to the people should be restored, this will assist towards the maintenance of internal security, as each traditional ruler from ward head will ensure that people with questionable characters have no place to reside in his domain,” he said.
Commenting on Farmer/harder clashes in some communities of Gombe state, the Team lead called on the Government and the Traditional institutions to do the needful that end the feud between the two parties that become a yearly occurrence, particularly during rainy season.
Yusuf also advised the government to establish more skills acquisition centres to enable youths to learn various trades of their choice and become self-reliant, thereby contributing to the development of the country.
He then called for the reintroduction of Educational Marshals in schools across Gombe State that prevent youths from drug abuse, restiveness, and other social vices that will retard the progress of any community.
