By George Mgbeleke

Civil rights advocacy group HUMAN RIGHTS WRITERS ASSOCIATION OF NIGERIA (HURIWA) has condemned as despicable and reprehensible, the wave of attacks by terrorists all around the country in the last 24 hours in Imo, Abia, Plateau and Sokoto states just as the Rights group said the security emergency declared by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is turning out to look like a phantom arrangement or a ruse unless government gets hold of the situation immediately.

“Isn’t the president aware that the terrorists have stepped up their attacks against Nigerians since he declared security emergency in Nigeria? Does the president not know that it is a direct challenge that the terrorists have posed to his person and as it is now, the integrity, credibility and any available good reputation of the President is going to be rubbished irretrievably unless the administration wakes up from security slumber and give the terrorists and the different genres of armed non-state actors the unwinnable fight of their underworld career. The ball is in the court of president Tinubu and the governors who have become lightweight chief security officers of their states, should persistently persuade the president and commander-in-chief of the Armed forced of Nigeria to stop sleeping and confront, decimate terrorists and criminals of all types operating freely in the public spaces. Nigeria would seize to exist should government allow these terrorists to gain victory of the largest Army in Africa. This scenario must be avoided by all means.

There was information this morning that terrorists kidnapped a bus load of passengers travelling from Imo state to Aba in Abia state at Ngor Okpala, then terrorists attacked the advanced convoy of the governor of Abia state Mr. Alex Otti on their way headed from Umuahia to the Sam Mbakwe Airport in Owerri, whereas in Plateau State, a score of natives were killed by terrorists just as terrorists imposed a fine of N20 million Naira with a deadline for payment by a farming community in Sokoto or they, the terrorists would strike the community.

Jolted by these incidents of bloodshed, the prominent pro-democracy and civil rights advocacy group HUMAN RIGHTS WRITERS ASSOCIATION OF NIGERIA has asked the president to partner with the governors so effective and efficient proactive security measures and mechanisms are implemented to minimise this high rate of attacks just as the Rights group reminded the president that his government’s remaining reputation is on the line and would be sullied unless the administration buckles up and enforce comprehensive and hard hitting security measures against all manifestations of terrorism including mass abductions and attacks on farming communities. HURIWA challenged the Imo state governor Mr. Hope Uzodinma to wake up and implement security strategy to stop the constant abductions of road travellers from Imo state. HURIWA lamented that these frequent abductions near the Owerri Airport located in Ngor-Okpala LGA could even discourage travellers from flying through Owerri-a situation that would lead to economic collapse of Imo State, HURIWA observed.

HURIWA recalled a media report that at least three people have been killed, and five injured in Chakfem community of Mangu Local Government Area of Plateau State.

According to the National President of Mwaghavul Development Association (MDA), Bulus Dabit, who confirmed the incident on Tuesday, the assailants stormed the community around 3am on Sunday and started shooting sporadically.

The Rights group through a media release by the National Coordinator, Comrade Emmanuel Nnadozie Onwubiko quoted the community source who is the National President of the town union of the affected community who said that those injured were currently receiving treatment at various hospitals.

Dabit described the incident as a pure act of criminality that should not be tolerated anywhere just as he affirmed thus: “Chakfem is a hard-to-reach area because of the terrain, but despite that, the attackers were able to penetrate through a border between Mangu and Qua’an Pan LGA. I see this as a pure act of criminality. They came to rustle cattle in the community, “the National President said.
Dabit further explained that the gunmen rustled over 40 cattle belonging to members of the community.”

HURIWA also lamented that residents of Bakale village in Kilgori district, in Yabo Local Government Area of Sokoto State, have been ordered to pay a N20 million levy to prevent deadly attacks.

In an audio recording obtained by a media reporter which was heard by HURIWA, the leader of the armed group instructed the village head to convene a meeting with residents and communicate the demand.

HURIWA quoted media report as stating that the recording captured the bandit questioning the traditional ruler about an earlier directive as follows: “Did you meet with them? Did they agree to obey your command?” he asked.
After the village head responded in the affirmative, the bandit ordered him to summon the residents again and inform them of the fresh N20 million levy.

“We don’t want to attack you. That is why we decided to impose this levy,” the bandit said. “If you pay, I promise you will continue to live in peace. We will not allow any group to attack your community or kidnap your people. But if you fail to pay, we will attack you, kill you, and abduct your people. This is our message.”

The Rights group said that a community leader, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, confirmed that similar levies had been enforced on several neighbouring settlements even as the affected villages spanning Kilgori and Torankawa districts—include Bazar, Alkalije, Gari, Bakale, Dagel, Adarawa, Kwaidaza, Kilgori Runji, Tudu, Tile, Kibiyare, and Barmadu, among others.

According to the source, the levies range from N3 million to N20 million, depending on the size of each community.
He added that six people were killed in Alkalije and four in Tile during separate attacks two weeks ago. HURIWA wondered if Sokoto has a government that is functional and yet terrorists have seized power in a segment of the state in our very eyes.

HURIWA is calling on the governors of the 36 states and the political authority of the Federal Capital Territory to impress it on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to bring to life the administration’s declaration of security emergency so it doesn’t appear unworkable because as far as the existential situation in Nigeria is, the terrorists are on top of the situation and are expanding their Frontiers of terror attacks without any counter attacks or mechanisms strong enough to combat and defeat the terrorists by the federal government.

“Now that Deputy speaker of Kebbi State House of Assembly was abducted and allegedly released after days and after humongous financial settlement was extended to his attackers, then a state governor’s convoy has just been attacked. Mr. President should not wait for terrorists to attempt to attack his presidential convoy or actually succeed in kidnapping one of the governors or senators before the Nigerian State would realise that these terrorists have declared and are waging relentless war on Nigeria and Nigerians.