The All Progressives Congress (APC) in the South-West geopolitical zone has urged all stakeholders to urgently develop plans and take decisive actions to address the country’s growing security challenges.
In a statement made available to newsmen on Friday in Ibadan, Oyo State, the South-West Zonal Publicity Secretary, Mr Ayobami Afolabi, linked the rising insecurity to “enemies who do not wish the nation well.”
He referenced recent violent incidents, including the simultaneous abduction of schoolgirls in Kebbi and Niger states, and the killing of worshippers inside the Christ Apostolic Church in Eruku, Ekiti Local Government Area of Kwara State, where bandits abducted 38 worshippers. Afolabi noted that all victims have since been rescued and are under government care.
He commended the federal and state governments for their swift response, stating: “In recent times, there has been an increase in cases of violent attacks against some innocent citizens, especially in the northern part of the country, and the patterns of these reported incidents were similar. This validated the opinion of many pundits who had established the fact that cases of terrorism, banditry and related crimes in Nigeria were being sponsored from within and outside for political and economic interests.”
Afolabi called on every citizen to rise to the challenge, saying: “There is no economic or political status desired by any individual or groups that is worth the lives of innocent people who fall victim to violent attacks, as the situation calls for collaborative efforts and decisive actions from those in power and the rest of the citizenry.”
The Zonal APC also urged state governors to empower community-based security outfits to complement federal efforts while appealing to residents to assist with intelligence gathering.
He added: “Undoubtedly, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is poised to deliver his administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda to benefit all parts of the country as well as every citizen and resident of Nigeria, we should not play into the hands of those who do not wish our country well.”
‘With the latest declaration of state of emergency on security and the directive on mass recruitment into the Army and Police Force by the president, sponsors of insecurity and their agents should have a rethink as all saboteurs would have themselves to blame.”
