FG promises to address causes of Insecurity in Nigeria
Federal government Tuesday said it was working unearth the root causes of insurgency and agitation in parts of the country with a view to addressing them, The Nation reports.
The Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN) gave this assurance Tuesday while addressing aggrieved lawyers, who were in his office to protest what they termed the menace of Boko Haram.
Malami said the Fed Government was considering constituting a judicial commission of inquiry to investigate how insurgency found its way into the country.
About 100 lawyers under the umbrella body of Lawyers United for Equality and Human Rights Advocacy (LUEHRA) protested to the office of the AGF to demand the investigation and prosecution of person found to have been sponsoring insurgency in the country.
Malami was represented by the Director in charge of General Services in the Ministry, Mrs. Lola Uket. She assured the protesting lawyers that the minister will act on their demands.
“You have made your demands and I am sure the minister will act and act very fast to meet your demands. All will be addressed. I believe you gave a time frame in your demand and I am sure they will all be met.
“Your demands have not been met before now not because of negligence on the part of the minister but because of certain circumstances.
“Let us be patient with them because they are also learned men like you. Let us give them the benefit of the doubt that something will be done,”she said.
The lawyers in their position paper asked the minister to ensure the investigation and prosecution of sponsors of the Islamic Terrorist group, Boko Haram and ensure their prosecution at the International Criminal Court (ICC).
In the paper, addressed to the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Abubakar Malami, a senior advocate, the lawyers asked the FG to avoid the grave mistake of government in the past that led to the intermittent resurrection of Niger Delta militancy.
The group’s leader, Samson Esekhaigbe and Publicity Secretary, Nnena Okereke said recent frightening developments in the country were capable of causing serious political upheavals.
Esekhaigbe said the developments were pointers to the fact that the top politicians in Borno State who created Boko Haram are still in touch with their “foot soldiers”.
“We are afraid that the senseless killings by this animalistic bunch will not stop unless their sponsors are identified, tried in our local courts or dragged to the International Criminal Court at The Hague and accordingly imprisoned for facilitating heinous crimes against humanity. This is the only way that enduring peace would return to the North and Nigeria in general.
“A situation whereby no less than 10,000 persons have been killed in various brutal activities spearheaded by the group is alarming”.
The lawyers said it is their duty as a group of refined legal minds to fight and preserve Nigeria- the country that gave every Nigerian a home and heritage.
The group condoled with those who lost their loved ones to insurgencies and insisted that the time to end Boko Haram is now otherwise the innocent blood spilt over the years will hunt us.
The group is an umbrella body of pro-democracy, concerned and patriotic Nigerian lawyers committed to true democratic principles bringing to cognizance equity, fairness and respect for human rights and the rule of law in line with the change mantra of the present administration.
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