Insecurity: Stop Issuing Statements And Do The Needful, Barr Katung Pleads With Govt
BY SEGUN ADEBAYO, ABUJA – The Kaduna State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) deputy governorship candidate in the 2019 polls, Barr. Sunday Marshall Katung, has called on the Federal Government to stop incessant issuance of press releases and do the needful by arresting the frightening insecurity ripping across the country.
Barr. Katung, who represented Zangon Kataf/Jaba Federal Constituency in the House of Representative from 2015 to 2019, said, “the Federal Government must go beyond issuing occasional press releases devoid of action and do the needful to arrest this speedy descent into a Hobbesian state where life is short, nasty and brutish. My sincere thoughts, prayers and solidarity go to the grieving parents and relations of the five murdered Greenfield University Students and staff, as well as to parents, friends and relations whose wards are in captivity.
In a statement he personally signed on Wednesday and made available to Forefront, the former lawmaker noted that the “abductions and killing of innocent citizens across communities have become a regular feature. Even the lives of our children and young adults who go to school to seek education have been cheapened. It has been almost 50days since students of the Federal College of Forestry Mechanization were abducted. As though that isn’t hard enough, students of Greenfield University were ferried off by Kidnappers, six of whom have been killed including a staff of the university.
“Dr Zakariah Dogo Yaro, two nurses of the General Hospital Idon and over 60 people from Kajuru local government are among the many that are now trapped in the enclave of terrorist bandits.
“Thousands of citizens have in the same vein been forced to flee their farms, giving rise to a monumental humanitarian crisis, with an increasing number of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) across the State.”
Calling on Governor Nasir Ahmad el-Rufai of Kaduna state to assist in the rescue of students and other Nigerians kidnapped by criminals in various parts of the state, the former lawmaker declared: “The present trend poses an existential threat to us all. I appeal to the Governor of Kaduna State to explore all options to bring our students and other kidnapped victims to safety. I also crave the indulgence of the government to rally all human and security assets that will not only assist in the safe rescue of all kidnapped victims, but forestall a future occurrence.
“This is not the time for playing politics when human lives are involved. Granted, those in leadership positions today made ridiculous statements against the previous administration while seeking power, but we cannot afford to pursue the same path that has only led to a dead end. Hence, the only reasonable and honourable thing to do is to jettison political cleavages and support this administration in fighting and surmounting this evil.”
Barr. Katung called on el-Rufai to seek outside help in order to assist in combating criminals, adding, “It is obvious that the Government of Nasir Ahmed El-Rufai in Kaduna state needs help and support to navigate the already overwhelming security situation. I urge Mr. Governor to see help as a sign of strength and not weakness.
“I, accordingly, invite Non-Governmental Organizations, private companies and good spirited individuals to assist the State in providing relief materials to victims of these banditry who are currently living in different IDP camps across the State.”
