INSECURITY: The Nigerian state has collapsed, can’t guarantee security of its citizens —Falana

Human Rights Lawyer, Femi Falana (SAN), has described Nigeria as a failed state, lamenting that the government of the country cannot guarantee the security of its citizens.

“The Nigerian state has collapsed. The Nigerian state has proven over and over again incapable to guarantee the security of lives and property,” he lamented.

He stated this on Tuesday when he spoke on Channels Television Sunrise Daily programme, where he accused politicians of being responsible for rampant killings and kidnappings across the country.

He said, “The increase in the wave of killings and kidnappings and banditry in recent times has to do with the just concluded elections. The thugs that were armed by politicians were not disarmed,” Falana said.

“They were very busy during the elections attacking people and killing political opponents now they are back in business. Nothing was done to disarm them after the elections. They have been dumped by politicians and they have to look for means of survival of livelihood and that is why we are witnessing this increase.

“What we are witnessing is a reign of impunity. It is a regular phenomenon. Once an election has just been concluded, you have phenomenal increase in violence all over the country.

“The Nigerian state has collapsed. The Nigerian state has proven over and over again incapable to guarantee the security of lives and property.”

The human rights lawyer also accused the National Assembly of toying with Nigeria’s security, and lambasted the lawmakers for not creating state police.

He said, “With profound respect, the members of the National Assembly are toying with the security of our country.

“How can the Senate in this stage and time be passing resolution asking for state police? Or the House of Representatives requesting the President to come and address the members of the National Assembly on the security situation in the country.”

According to Falana, the creation of state police would go a long way to address the growing issues of threats in the country.

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“Why have they (the lawmakers) not moved the motion for the creation of state police?” He said, lamenting that the security issue has persisted despite the empowerment of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) to bear arms in addressing security challenges by the then government of President Olusegun Obasanjo.

Falana was reacting to the increasing level of attacks and security threats in several parts of the country, especially the activities of bandits in some North West states, as well as kidnapping for ransom across the country.

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