. . . Says Abuja must not fall like Kabul

Prominent civil rights advocacy group, Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA), on Friday, called for the sacking of all Nigeria’s service chiefs and the National Security Adviser as American and British nationals flee Abuja over imminent attacks by terrorists.

HURIWA's National Coordinator, Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko, in a statement, said the service chiefs have shown themselves to be ineffective, incompetent just as it is suspected that they are simply reeling out bogus records of achievement despite the continued offensive launched by insurgents.

The group also faulted the inability of the service chiefs and their agencies to re-arrest fighters of the Boko Haram and Islamic State in West Africa Province (ISWAP) sects who escaped from the Kuje prison in July during an unprecedented jailbreak.

Following its notice of a possible terror attack, the United States Mission and the British High Commission suspended consular services in Abuja and began the evacuation of their citizens from Nigeria’s Federal Capital Territory.

“However, the Federal Government through the Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, continues to live in self-denial of the existential threats of terrorists in Abuja by saying the regime of President Muhammadu Buhari won’t be stampeded. What a shallow way to address a critical situation!” HURIWA’s Onwubiko exclaimed.

Continuing, Onwubiko said, “To lend credence to the terror alerts by the US and the UK, a joint operation launched by the Department of State Services, the National Intelligence Agency, the police and some American soldiers this week reportedly arrested five ISWAP commanders and 30 fighters in phase 3, Trademore Estate in Abuja.

“The detained fighters reportedly masqueraded as artisans, cart pushers and security guards in Abuja and they are all from a particular tribe known to have terrorist affiliation!”

Onwubiko further highlighted that heightened tension in the nation’s capital has made the popular Jabi Lake Mall to shut its doors to shoppers and visitors yet the Federal Government is grandstanding emptily and releasing Boko Haram members in detention all in the name of deradicalization.

“Shockingly, the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Lucky Irabor recently said 101 convicted terrorists and those awaiting trial have been moved from prisons to a deradicalisation camp for reintegration into the society. Should the government even have contemplated that? Shouldn’t terrorists be summarily executed after conviction?

“Where are the Boko Haram terrorists that escaped from Kuje prison in July when it was attacked and hundreds of inmates freed? Where are all the tthousands of terrorists that escaped from the over 10 jailbreaks in Nigeria in the last two years?” he asked.

Onwubiko added, “HURIWA calls for comprehensive investigation by the National Assembly on all the claims by the military heads of successes against terrorists because if terrorists can constitute such a huge threat to Abuja and even threatening to take over Abuja imminently, this shows that there is something fishy with the information the military dishes out to Nigerians claiming successes against insurgents. These stories might be empty propaganda because these claims aren't backed up with authentic photographic evidence!

“Also, why is the Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola still on seat? Why are the non performing service chiefs been rewarded with further stay by the government when the terrorists are still able to threaten Nigeria and the world is running away from Abuja? Why is this government made up of deceivers and liars? Pathetic! Abuja must not fall like Kabul in Afghanistan!”

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