By George Mgbeleke <\/p>\n
The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has issued a seven-working-days ultimatum to the Federal Government of Nigeria to immediately arrest and prosecute terrorists allegedly known to authorities, following explosive claims by Islamic cleric Ahmad Gumi that the government possesses the names and locations of every terrorist operating in the country.<\/p>\n
The civil rights group warned that failure by the administration of Bola Ahmed Tinubu to act decisively within the stipulated time would compel it to escalate the matter internationally, including filing formal petitions to Donald Trump, the United States Congress, and the International Criminal Court, seeking an investigation into what it described as the Nigerian government\u2019s \u201capparent tolerance or protection of terrorists responsible for mass killings across the country.\u201d<\/p>\n
In a strongly worded statement issued in Abuja on Wednesday, HURIWA said Gumi\u2019s recent televised remarks had raised grave national security and legal questions that the federal authorities must urgently address.<\/p>\n
The group recalled that during an interview on DRTV, the Kaduna-based cleric publicly declared that the Nigerian government knows the identity and exact location of every terrorist operating within the country. Gumi also insisted that his controversial visits to bandit camps were not done secretly but with the knowledge and presence of security agencies.<\/p>\n
According to Gumi, \u201cthe government knows everyvv terrorist by name and location,\u201d adding that when he engages with armed groups, he does not go alone but in the company of the police, military, and other security agencies.<\/p>\n
Reacting to the development, HURIWA said the claim, if true, would amount to one of the most shocking admissions of state failure in Nigeria\u2019s ongoing war against terrorism.<\/p>\n
\u201cHURIWA finds the statement credited to Sheikh Ahmad Gumi extremely disturbing. If indeed the Federal Government knows every terrorist by name and location as claimed, then Nigerians deserve to know why these criminals continue to roam freely, kidnapping schoolchildren, murdering farmers, attacking communities and destabilising the nation,\u201d the group said.<\/p>\n
The organisation insisted that if the government already possesses actionable intelligence identifying terrorists and their hideouts, there can be no justification for the continued bloodshed across several states.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are therefore giving the Federal Government of Nigeria seven working days to arrest the terrorists whose identities and locations are allegedly known to the authorities and to immediately commence their prosecution in accordance with Nigerian law,\u201d the statement added.<\/p>\n
HURIWA further argued that the continued freedom of the cleric himself, despite his admitted interactions with terrorist groups, raises troubling questions about the seriousness of Nigeria\u2019s counter-terrorism policy.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf Sheikh Gumi truly has extensive knowledge of the identities and locations of terrorists, why have security agencies not invited him for comprehensive questioning or investigation? His freedom without scrutiny lends credibility to his assertion that the government is already aware of these terrorists and yet has failed to act,\u201d the group said.<\/p>\n
The rights organisation warned that if no concrete action is taken within seven working days, it will initiate international legal advocacy to hold Nigeria\u2019s leadership accountable for what it described as crimes against humanity arising from persistent terrorist attacks.<\/p>\n
\u201cHURIWA will formally petition the United States Congress, the administration of President Donald Trump, and the International Criminal Court to demand a global inquiry into the Nigerian government\u2019s handling of terrorism, including the possibility that state negligence or complicity is enabling these atrocities,\u201d it stated.<\/p>\n
The group argued that persistent massacres, kidnappings, and attacks on civilians in Nigeria meet the threshold of crimes against humanity under international law if authorities knowingly fail to prevent them.<\/p>\n
HURIWA also cited several legal authorities establishing that individuals who possess knowledge of serious crimes and fail to report or act upon such knowledge may themselves face criminal liability.<\/p>\n
The organisation referenced Section 10 of the Terrorism (Prevention) Act, which criminalises knowingly assisting, facilitating, or failing to disclose information relating to terrorist activities.<\/p>\n
The group also pointed to provisions of the Criminal Code Act, which recognise the offence of being an accessory after the fact where a person knowingly aids offenders to evade justice.<\/p>\n
HURIWA further cited the landmark case of R v. Sykes, which established that a person who knowingly assists offenders or shields them from prosecution becomes criminally liable.<\/p>\n
Another relevant authority, the Nigerian Supreme Court decision in FRN v. Osahon, reaffirmed the duty of citizens and law enforcement institutions to cooperate in bringing offenders to justice and preventing impunity.<\/p>\n
According to the rights group, these legal precedents reinforce the principle that possessing credible knowledge of criminal activities without taking steps to report or stop them may amount to complicity.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe law is clear that silence or inaction in the face of known criminal activity can amount to aiding and abetting crime. This is why the Federal Government must urgently clarify whether Sheikh Gumi\u2019s claims are accurate and, if they are, immediately move to neutralise these terrorists,\u201d HURIWA said.<\/p>\n
The organisation stressed that the ultimatum is intended to compel transparency and decisive action at a time when millions of Nigerians are living under constant threat of terrorist attacks.<\/p>\n
\u201cHURIWA will not stand idly by while Nigerians are slaughtered daily. If the government knows these terrorists and their locations, then the time for excuses has expired. The time for arrests and prosecution is now,\u201d the group declared.
\n[11\/03, 15:00] Jonas-Champion: Defection: 3 PDP Reps Defect to APC.<\/p>\n
1 Moves to Accord Party As Another LP House Member Joins APC<\/p>\n
Jonas Ezieke, Abuja <\/p>\n
Following the defection of many state governors.elected under the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party PDP to the ruling All Progressives Congress APC, the party has lost three of its members to the APC in the House of Representatives.<\/p>\n
The federal lawmakers who defected to the ruling APC are Hon.Inuwa Garba representing Yamaltu\/Deba Federal Constituency of Gombe State, Hon Hon.Abdullahi El-Rasheed representing Dukku\/Nafada Federal Constituency of Gombe State and Hon.Muhammed Audu representing Karim Lamido\/Lau\/ Ardo-Kola Federal Constituency of Taraba State <\/p>\n
Others are Hon.Adewale Adebayo representing Olorunda\/Osogbo\/ Irepodun\/Orolu Federal Constituency of Osun State who joined the Accord Party and Hon.Joshua Chinedu Obika representing Abuja Municipal Area Council AMAC and Bwari Federal Constituency who defeated to the APC form the Labour Party LP.<\/p>\n
The decampee lawmakers defection was conveyed to the green chamber in separate letters read on the floor of the House by the Speaker Rt.Hon.Tajudeen Abbas on Wednesday in Abuja<\/p>\n
Wheras the estwhile Peoples Democratic Party former members cited irreconcilable division in the party and inability of the leaders of the party to bring the warring factions to the negotiation table, their colleague elected under the banner of the Labour Party LP said it was due to inability of the party to succeefuly field-in a candidate for the last Area Council election in the nation’s capital.<\/p>\n
Some of the the decampee lawmakers also said that their decision on the defection was followed by prior extensive consultation with their constituents who elected them into the House.<\/p>\n
The Speaker Rt Hon Tajudeen Abbas welcomed the lawmakers into the ruling party and expressed optimism that their decision to join the party will enhance their contributions to legislative duties in the parliament.<\/p>\n
End<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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