FCT: Declare state of emergency on security – Onitiri tells FG

Following the various cases of security breaches across the country especially in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), the Federal Government has been urged to as a matter of urgency, declare a state of emergency on insecurity.

Socio-political activist and critic, Chief Adesunbo Onitiri, made this call in Lagos, adding that a state of emergency on insecurity is important in view of the current precarious and devastating incidents of kidnapping, banditry and other criminal activities in the country.

According to him, insecurity is a critical problem which has claimed thousands of lives and destroyed properties worth billions of naira and it needs drastic solutions and attention.

He said that while taking this action, the government should wage total war on kidnappers as well as bandits and also go after their sponsors and make the information public no matter their status or how highly placed they are in society.

He pointed out that the state of insecurity in the country has reached a devastating peak which calls for major concern as no one is safe anywhere in the country.

“Kidnapping and other criminal activities are no longer the preserved occurrences in the northern part of the country. It’s daily creeping gradually into the south. The recent bomb blast in the heart of Ibadan city also calls for major national concern, and attention, ” the social critic declared.

Onitiri added that for Nigeria to develop and prosper economically and technologically, there is a desperate need for unity, peace, tranquillity and foreign investments which can only be assured in a society that has adequate security.

He implored the president to revoke all solid minerals licences and scrutinise processes as illegal mining leads to insecurity, calling for stiffer penalties for offences like kidnapping, banditry and other criminal activities.