By; PATRICK TITUS, Uyo
A Non–governmental Socio Political group 1001+ plus Voices for Empowerment of People has rekindled the appeal to federal government to take responsibility by securing the lives and property of the defenseless citizens of Nigeria through establishing state and even local government police.
The group which stated this in a statement made available to journalists on Tuesday in Uyo titled: Owo Killings: “One Attack Too Many” and endorsed by Uwem-obong Ankak Executive Secretary stated that the call became necessary to increase the security footprints in the many ungovernable spaces in the country which have been taken over by non-state actors.
According to the group, “These infrequent attacks, we must reiterate, are further pushing Nigeria to the precipice. A stitch in time saves nine!”
The group further stated, “The Owo bombing is surely a metaphor for a failed nation, a country which life and security of its citizens have become so cheap, short and brutish. It defeats the very essence of government which fundamental responsibility is the protection of life and property of its citizens, otherwise there wouldn’t be any need for the citizens to surrender their sovereignty to the government.
They highlighted, “1001+ Voices Initiative for People Empowerment, a good governance advocacy organisation is scandalized by this latest bombing which occurred on Pentecost Sunday. We are tired of the frequent government condemnations and commiseration of citizens when these dastardly acts happen, mostly from government spokesmen.
“We deplore the senselessness of these attacks and warn that the seeming spread of these attacks to southern cities in Nigeria will be catastrophic for the country. Most important, we want the government to track the perpetrators of the Owo bombing, arrest them and bring all of them to justice. It is our considered opinion that the evil men are emboldened by the day because they seem to evade arrest and escape justice,” they reiterated.
The group made passionate appeal to all the security agencies of government to close ranks and nip in the bud, this albatross on the citizen’s neck stressing that Nigerians are aghast over the brazen bombing of St. Francis Catholic Church in the historical town of Owo in Ondo State, by yet-to-be-identified bombers.
“The bombing which left many worshippers dead and others wounded came on the heels of recent bombings, kidnappings and other dastardly murders perpetrated by demented fellows who have turned the once peaceful country into a killing field” they said.
