The Coalition of Northern Groups (CNG) has called on the federal government to intensify ongoing action to disband all militias and armed groups in the Sorth East and other parts of Nigeria.
CNG spokesperson Abdul-Azeez Suleiman in press release issued on Saturday, urged government to resort to the use of force if needs be, to ensure that no group has the capacity to challenge the state in its prerogative to maintain law and order, and protect citizens’ lives and properties.
He said they have taken stock of events unfolding in Nigeria, especially, the unrelenting disturbances created by certain interest groups in the South-East.
CNG has carefully watched and studied these events and actions being perpetrated against the Nigerian state, against Nigerians collectively, and against northerners in particular, with considerable restraint and maturity.
According to him, with the brutal enforcement of a week-long illegal stay-at-home order and the renewed resolve by Igbo leaders and elders to secure the unconditional release of IPOB leader Nnamdi Kanu have reached a point silence has become complicity and inaction no longer an option.
“The Igbo’s nefarious objective manifested when they hijacked the lear and legitimate #EndSARS protests, incited the violence and destruction that followed in its wake, resulting in mass killings of security personnel, unprovoked evictions, attacks and killings of people of other regions particularly the North, and near breakdown of law and order in the South East and mostly Lagos in the South West.
“Supported morally and politically by the pliant and affrighted Igbo elites, politicians, business persons, traditional and religious leaders and the vast majority of the Igbo ethnic group with a long held agenda, Kanu called for carnage, killings and violence on Nigerian citizens and national security infrastructure.
“In the South-East and parts of South-South, several police personnel and innocent citizens were massacred, prisons vandalised and inmates set free.
“Not less than 22 policemen, seven soldiers and 59 innocen civilians were killed in October 2020 according to the toll announced by the then President Muhammadu Buhari during an emergency meeting with former Nigerian leaders.
“According to the IG at that time, 205 critical national security assets, corporate facilities and private property were attacked, burnt or vandalised with 10 firearms including eight AK 47 rifles stolen.
“In Lagos coordinated attacks, IPOB hoodlums in Lagos State incited by Kanu started their activities by attacking peaceful #EndSARS protesters and innocent citizens and destroying assets resulting in burning of assets belonging to the current President, Tinubu specifically mentioned by Kanu including the headquarters of Television Continental (TVC) , while the office of The Nation newspaper was torched.
“Burning of 17 police stations including the Idimu, Igando, Layeni, Denton, Ilenbe Hausa, Ajah, Amukoko, Ilasa, Cele Outpost under Ijesha, disbanded SARS office under Ajegunle, Ebute-Ero, Mushin (Olosan), Ojo, Ajegunle, Ikotun, and Ojodu and properties within their premises including vehicles destroyed, weapons carted away.
“Burning of the oldest court in Nigeria, the Federal High Court at Igbosere, case files burnt in the fire, others carted away. The palace of the Oba of Lagos, Rilwan Akiolu was also attacked, staff of office and other valuables stolen and Oba Akiolu forced to escape,” he said.
