Lagos lawyer and human rights activist, Mr. Femi Falana (SAN) has called on President Goodluck Jonathan to review his strategy for tackling the Boko Haram insurgency in the country.
Falana, in a statement on Sunday, argued that the emergency rule imposed in some parts of the country had not made any meaningful impact in the affected states.
He said, “Notwithstanding the imposition of emergency rule and the militarisation of the North East region for over six months the reckless killings of unarmed people by the dreaded Boko Haram sect have become a regular phenomenon.
“Last Sunday, hundreds of worshippers were butchered in a church in the Chibok area in Borno State.
“It is embarrassing that such mayhem is being unleashed on defenceless citizens unabated. Yet, the Federal Government has continued to assure the Nigerian people of the safety of their lives and property. In spite of such assurances, the killings are likely to continue as the members of the
Joint Task Force are said to be ill-equipped, ill-motivated and ill-prepared to confront the superior weapons of the Boko Haram troops.
“It is high time that the prosecution of the war on terror was reviewed by the Goodluck Jonathan’s Administration”.
He also tasked the security agencies on the need to embark on the enlightenment of the members of the public with respect to the adoption of security measures.
He said, “In particular, the people of the North East region should be mobilised to defend themselves as the local JTF has, on several occasions, repelled the invading Boko Haram troops and foiled many attacks”.
Falana noted that the admission by foreign security experts invited to help in the search and rescue of the abducted Chibok girls that they lacked the capacity to do so, leaves the Federal Government with no choice but to fight terror in collaboration with the Nigerian people.
“Now that the foreign troops have admitted they lack the capacity to rescue the abducted Chibok girls the Federal Government should appreciate that the war on terror has to be waged by the armed forces in collaboration with the Nigerian people.
“Accordingly, the Federal Government ought to acquire the much needed equipment and provide other logistics for the JTF. Having deployed 36,790 armed soldiers, police and civil defence personnel to maintain ‘law and order’ during the recently concluded governorship election in Ekiti State the Federal Government has no justification for under policing the North East region”, Falana stated.
