A
pressure group, Coalition of Concerned Nigerian Students (CCNS), has
urged Nigerians to support and cooperate with security agencies in their
efforts towards tackling insecurity across the country.
The group, made up of students drawn from various tertiary institutions across the nation, made the call at a news conference Thursday in Abuja.
Comrade
Omoba Michael, President of the CCNS, who spoke on behalf of the group,
noted that lasting peace and security of lives and properties would
remain elusive if Nigerians did not support security agencies.
“Security
is everybody’s business, and all hands must be on deck to ensure that
criminals have no safe spaces to operate within the borders of Nigeria.
“We
urge Nigerians never to hesitate in providing useful information to aid
security agencies in protecting lives and properties.
“Everybody,
irrespective of political and ethnic differences, is affected by
insecurity because no meaningful development can take place in a chaotic
society,” he said.
Michael, therefore commiserate with victims of insurgency and herdsmen/ farmers clashes in some parts of the country.
He
however warned against revenge and reprisal attacks, adding that such
tendencies would only make the task of keeping the peace difficult for
security agents.
“We have followed the current security situation in
the country, especially in parts of the middle belt region, leading to
the death of our compatriots.
“We express our heartfelt sympathies to
those who have lost their loved ones and urge all Nigerians to embrace
the peaceful coexistence that has been the hallmark of our country over
the years.
“While anger at this time may be understandable, we must not allow emotions to becloud our sense of judgement.
“The
Federal Government is tirelessly working to ensure that these killings
are brought to an end, citizens should therefore should cooperate with
security agencies to bring lasting peace to these troubled spots,” he
said.
Michael warned against playing politics with the situation,
urging that leaders at all levels should be more concerned with their
constitutional mandate of safeguarding lives and properties.
He added
that there was urgent need to strengthen all security apparatus across
the country, especially the Nigerian Police, for them to effectively
check security challenges in modern times.
“We have observed with
dismay the attempts by some vested interests to politicise what
ordinarily ought to be a national disaster on the singular note that
they are in search of cheap political points.
“All politicians
should, in the interest of the average Nigerians, support the work of
the security agencies and give backing to the Inspector General of
Police (IGP) and his team.
“We call on the IGP to continue with the
onerous task of policing a multidimensional society such as Nigeria, and
avoid any form of distractions from any quarter and sectional
interests,” he added.