Following the renewed attacks by the Boko Haram insurgency, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has advised the Federal Government and security agencies to adopt new strategies to tackle insecurity and terrorism.

The organized labour stated that the insecurity in the country is assuming a more dangerous trend by the day.

President of the NLC, Comrade Ayuba Wabba, in a statement made available to newsmen yesterday in Abuja, noted that Boko Haram’s recent attack on Auno town along Maiduguri–Damaturu road, which left more than 30 persons dead, scores of women and children abducted and 18 vehicles burnt, was aimed at “undermining” the efforts of the Borno State Governor, Prof. Babagana Zulum and security operatives in tackling insurgency in the state.

Condemning the insurgents’ attacks on the commuters who were forced to camp at Auno town, about 24 kilometres from Maiduguri metropolis due to inability to beat the curfew at the gate to the metropolis, NLC expressed fears that the insurgents could be nursing an agenda to isolate Maiduguri from the rest of the country.

Wabba said: “This is the umpteenth time that insurgents would be attacking innocent commuters and villagers along this very important road artery in North Eastern Nigeria.

“This attack is clearly aimed at undermining the good efforts that your administration and our security forces are making to bring the current wave of terrorism and insurgency in the North-East to an end and to restore the peace.

“At this rate, we have a duty to urge the government and our security services not to be discouraged. It is also important for government and our security forces to seriously consider adopting an entirely new approach to the fight against terrorism and insurgency, especially in a manner that would break the spinal cord of those bent on unleashing mayhem on our people, their livelihoods and our collective sanity.

“It has now become totally unacceptable to allow blood sucking marauders to operate for an uninterrupted period of up to four hours without repulsion by our security forces. We must now draw the line!”

The NLC called on President Buhari to adopt a new security strategy in order to end the carnage.

“The adoption of a new security strategy to the anti-terrorism fight has become acutely necessary given the grave danger that a much more prolonged insurgency portends for the socio-economic survival of our people. There are already fears that the recent upscale in violence along the Maiduguri-Damaturu corridor could be geared at cutting off this critical transportation artery and thus isolating Maiduguri from the rest of the country. The humanitarian impact in terms of the supply of food and other basic life supporting amenities can only be imagined.

“Your Excellency, while we salute your efforts in supporting our security forces to end this carnage, and bring peace cum accelerated development to the good people of Borno State, we call for increased vigilance, resilience, grit, discipline, patriotic commitment and innovative solutions by the Federal Government, security agencies and citizens to bring this reign of madness and impunity in North-East Nigeria to a conclusive end,” Wabba said.

Meanwhile, the NLC has called on the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice and the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) to see to the release of Agba Jalingo, a journalist incarcerated at the Calabar Correctional Facility since 22nd August, 2019.

A letter signed by Wabba and addressed to the AGF, Abubakar Malami (SAN) on 10th February 2020, noted that the “unusual and controversial” trial Jalingo has been subjected to at the Federal High Court in Calabar, Cross River State, was giving Nigeria a bad name in the international arena.

The letter, entitled: ‘Our Concerns on the Prolonged Incarceration and Controversial Trial of Mr. Agba Jalingo,’ raised concerns that Jalingo who was standing trial on alleged cybercrimes and terrorism after publishing what was described as a “damning report” about the State Governor, has been denied bail on two different occasions.

The letter reads: “We write to express our concerns on the case of Mr. Agba Jalingo, a journalist and the publisher of Cross River Watch who has been arbitrarily incarcerated at the Calabar Correctional Facility since August 22, 2019 by the agents of Cross River State government. Citizen Agba Jalingo has also been subjected to a very unusual and controversial trial at the Federal High Court in Calabar, Cross River State.

“…Without going into the merits or otherwise of the case, it is important to note that Agba Jalingo’s case is giving Nigeria a very bad reputation in the international arena as it has been construed that our government has scant respect for the fundamental right to freedom of speech, especially of the media. It is important to correct the perception of persecution by putting in place both judicial and administrative processes of ensuring the release of Mr. Agba Jalingo from detention.

“Our concern is that the government should demonstrate that it is only interested in the lawful prosecution and not persecution of Mr. Agba Jalingo. We, therefore, request that the Honourable Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation should use his good offices and secure the release of Mr. Agba Jalingo as quickly as possible.” (New Telegraph)

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