‘killing of 200 persons, sign of total failure of governance’

Leadership of House of Representatives and United Labour Congress of Nigeria (ULC) have expressed grave concern over the lackadaisical attitude of Federal Government towards ending the killings of innocent citizens, especially in the North East and North Central geopolitical zones of the country.
They expressed the concerns in response to the mindless killings of about 200 people in the Church of Christ In Nations (COCIN) Regional Church Council (RCC) Rop in Barikin Ladi Local Government Area, Plateau State, by suspected armed herdsmen.
Dogara in a statement issued in Abuja, said it was reprehensible that people who gathered to bury their dead would be gruesomely murdered in such manner.
“Our security agencies must rise up to the task of securing the lives of citizens of this country. The attack reportedly lasted from 1:00pm of Friday, and lasted till about 8:00pm on Saturday. Where were the Police and other security agencies that they failed to respond to stop the killings?
“This further strengthens my constant call for an overhaul of the entire security apparatus of this country. It just isn’t working,” he stated.
He maintained that rising level of violence and gruesome killings of innocent and hapless citizens poses serious threat to Nigeria’s democracy and must be stopped.
On his part, Joe Ajaero, ULC president, who expressed the concern via a statement titled: ‘Killings in Nigeria continue unabated: has governance died?’ arguer that the ugly development, signalled a total system failure in governance at all levels in Nigeria and complete collapse of government in Nigeria.
“We have watched with heightened fears as lives and properties of Nigerians are wasted daily in our communities especially in the North East and North Central. We have raised alarm severally but our leaders seem to have become deaf and insensitive to the bloodlettings and the butchering of innocent lives in these communities.
“It is like we have bred a crop of leadership that are inured to the deaths and sufferings of fellow Nigerians to the extent that they have become impervious to the cries of anguish emitting from the mouths untimely buried in the sands of our dear nation.
“The galling reports of the slaughtering of men, women and children and the sacking of whole communities at the early hours of yesterday in Plateau State has left us panting for breathe and wondering whether we still have a group of people whose duty it is to ensure that lives and properties are protected.
“This mindless butchering of about 200 persons is the height of the exacerbated insecurity challenge threatening our nation. It is a clear demonstration of a total system failure in governance at all levels in Nigeria. It shows that Government in Nigeria has collapsed completely. The near helplessness and wringing of hands by those in charge; the buck-passing and the blame game leaves us deeply worried and aghast. A serious sign of a failing state if not a failed state.
“It is mind-boggling to see the entire national security apparatchik lying prostrate in the face of this rabid wantonness. It is unbelievable that the same security agencies to which billions of naira are allocated annually cannot stop the continued extermination of lives of fellow citizens in these numbers.
“It is completely paradoxically that same security operatives, who can swiftly harass, intimidate and arrest sitting Senators and Supreme Court Judges cannot gather enough intelligence to stop these killings that have become a daily occurrence and a signpost of the depth of governance failure and decrepitude in Nigeria”.
“Governments are built on its ability to at least guarantee its citizens the right to life and security of properties. Failure to ensure at least this to the governed amounts to government abdicating its responsibilities to the people thus injects palpable fear within our communities. What we have today is to say the least abysmal and a huge threat to our existence as a nation.
“ULC believes that Governance in Nigeria has gone to the dogs as nobody seems to be in charge. Who is actually in charge of securing the lives and properties of Nigerians? Who ensures that people are not gruesomely murdered in their sleep and who ensures that even when it is done, the perpetrators are arrested and brought to face the wrath of the Law? Who is in charge?
“These apparently organised massacres have been on going and have intensified at each occurrence and the government seems to be looking the other way. We do not know whether this attitude of government is predicated on helplessness or government being complicit which we do not want to believe. It is however befuddling that with all the arrays of weaponry available to our national security agencies; they still cannot perform their most basic duty – the protection of lives.
“We are seriously not amused that our politicians are engrossed in 2019 general elections while lives are being wasted by these evil and wicked Fulani-herdsmen. We wonder who they want to lead in 2019. Are they planning on leading dead men and women in 2019? Are they preparing to become undertakers of Nigeria in 2019 or are they working towards a holocaust?
“Our suggestion is that all political campaigns towards 2019 be halted so that we can address this crucial national existential malaise. Without addressing these issues of insecurity and wanton destruction of lives, 2019 may not be feasible. We consider it an insult to the dead and to the living Nigerians who are waiting to be killed tomorrow if our politicians continue scheming and campaigning for 2019 while our nation is in the throes of anxiety and the citizens live in fear. Democracy cannot thrive in fear”.
“The entire national security architecture must be overhauled. The present heads of these agencies have failed the nation and must voluntarily resign to save the Presidency the pains of sacking them unless the Presidency is responsible for their silence in the face of these killings. Fresh and effective hands must be brought in to run these places to avoid the destruction and total collapse of our nation. These Plateau killings have become one too many.
“This gory tales raises the urgent need for a restructuring of the federation to accommodate the creation of state security apparatchik that would be controlled by the Police. We believe that community policing will reduce mass killings in the country and restore the hope and confidence of the citizenry on the potency of the nation to guarantee their lives and properties.
“It is truly a shame that we still have people who parade as heads of our Local Governments, State Governments and Federal Government! It is a shame that in the midst of this carnage, they can still show their faces on our Televisions and other media outlets. It is indeed a shame that they still claim to be our nation’s leaders and it is completely crass ignominy for them to continue in office receiving salaries from the resources of people that they have decided not to protect”.
“While we await the immediate arrest and prosecution of the individuals involved in this dastardly act (though it may be wishful thinking as usual), we urge Governments at all levels to take positive steps to address and create frameworks that would guarantee the lives of the masses and peoples of Nigeria. That is the least they can do for us as citizens of this nation unless Government has other reasons that are not immediately known to us for allowing this carnage. Our lives matter too!” Ajaero noted.