‘Condemnation not enough’, Falana-led coalition slams Nigerian govt over rising insurgency

The series of insurgent and bandit attacks especially across the Northern region has elicited a response from the Alliance for Surviving COVID-19 and Beyond (ASCAB), a coalition of labour and civil society organisations.

According to the ASCAB, it is time for the federal governemnt to move beyond empty promises and condemnations while working towards eliminating this scourge.

This came in the wake of gunmen attacks on the Greenfield University community which culminated in the abduction of some students.

Three of the abducted students were later found dead on Friday in Kwanan Bature village, a location close to the university.

In reaction, President Muhammadu Buhari condemned the “barbaric” killings while expressing his condolences with families of the victims.

However, in a statement issued on Sunday, Femi Falana, the ASCAB interim chairman, explained that official condemnation is not sufficient to address the lingering security crisis in the country.

READ ALSO: Falana urges JUSUN to ensure budgets ‘are not under control of judges’

He said urgent steps are needed to ensure the rescue of students abducted from Greenfield University, Government Girls Secondary School, Chibok, Borno state, and Government Girls’ Science Technical College, Dapchi, Yobe state.

“Our hearts go to the parents and family members of the students who have been brutally murdered by one of the several gangs of bandits operating without any serious challenge in many states in the North West Zone,” he said.

“As usual, both the federal government and the Kaduna state government have perfunctorily condemned the reckless killing of the students. The official condemnation is not enough.

“The governments must take urgent steps to rescue the remaining students of the Greenfield University and other abducted students who are currently languishing in the illegal custody of bandits and terrorists, including the Chibok and Dapchi girls.”

Join the conversation

Opinions

Support Ripples Nigeria, hold up solutions journalism

Balanced, fearless journalism driven by data comes at huge financial costs.

As a media platform, we hold leadership accountable and will not trade the right to press freedom and free speech for a piece of cake.

If you like what we do, and are ready to uphold solutions journalism, kindly donate to the Ripples Nigeria cause.

Your support would help to ensure that citizens and institutions continue to have free access to credible and reliable information for societal development.

Donate Now