By Augustine Ehikioya
A lecturer at the Federal University, Lokoja, Dr. Mike Micah, has called on the Federal Government to match its word with action concerning the 97 persons wanted for terrorism and other crimes in the country.
According to him, no sentiment should be attached and everyone of them should be made to face the law when caught.
Recall that the Defence Headquarters had recently declared 97 persons wanted for terrorism and other crimes.
Dr. Micah was a guest with a former Deputy National President, Nigerian Guild of Editors, Suleiman Gaya, during Security Watch Africa (SWA) programme on African Independent Television (AIT).
The topic of the discussion anchored by the President/CEO of SWA, Mr. Patrick Agbambu, was ‘Enhancing Cordial Civil – Military Relationship.’
Dr. Micah, who noted that the disclosure of the 97 names was a step in the right direction, said no issue should be swept under the carpet.
He said “No matter whose horse is gored, this is no time for sentiment. Regardless who is involved, the law of the land should take its course.”
Stressing that Nigeria is not at war, he said that the citizens should be able to feel free and the security agencies working hard to keep the unity of the country should be able to have relief.
“Let it be that this is the first time that the government will match words with action and keep sentiments aside regardless who is involved, whether directly or indirectly.” he stated.
On the question of why some Nigerians prefer to support criminals rather than security agencies, he said, no right sensible person in his own sense will fraternize with somebody who has come to harm him.
“The best thing is that you should be at the vanguard of exposing them. We should always have more trust on our security agencies. Any evil you support will always come back to you” he said.
He called for support for the security agencies and upscaling of their budgetary provisions.
Speaking on the killings of soldiers in Delta State, the former Deputy National President, Nigerian Guild of Editors, Suleiman Gaya, said it represented one of the darkest days in Nigeria history.
He condoled with Nigerians, President Bola Tinubu, the Chief of Defence Staff, the entire security structure, and the National Security Adviser.
“It is a really sad day for Nigeria and we pray it doesn’t happen again,” he said.
On why Nigerians don’t have too much confidence in the security agencies, he said “We, as citizens, whether in uniform or not, have a responsibility to help the security agencies to get it right in terms of their ability to tame criminals
“That is our responsibility, this people are not doing the job for themselves, they are doing it for our own security, our own safety.
“Nonchalant attitude has to change, everybody must wake up, unless we don’t want them to get it right. And doing that will also affect us.”
He called on the National Orientation Agency (NOA) to upscale its statutory responsibility of enlightening Nigerians on the need to support their security agencies.
To support the security agencies, he said the media also has a bigger role to play on the issue.
“We really need to galvanize support for the entire security sector. It is in our interest to do so,” he stated.
