Pro-democracy and civil rights advocacy group HUMAN RIGHTS WRITERS ASSOCIATION OF NIGERIA (HURIWA) has criticised the Nigerian Government for boasting that it thwarted an active military overthrow of the government of the neighboring Benin Republic but the same government has failed to decisively liquidate, decimate, degrade and defeat terrorists unleashing bloodcuddling violence on Nigerians.
Informing the Nigerian government that charity begins at home, HURIWA blasted government for its policy of appeasement and cuddling of terrorists which has again happened with the announcement by government that 100 out of the 265 abducted school children kidnapped from a Catholic Church school in Niger state were rescued even without arresting a single of those hundreds of well-armed kinapping terrorists that carried out the dastardly crimes.
HURIWA recalled that the Nigerian leader, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had on Sunday commended what he termed the gallantry of Nigeria’s military on Sunday for responding swiftly to the request by the Government of Benin Republic to save its 35-year-old democracy from coup plotters who struck at dawn today.
Acting on two separate requests from the Government of Benin, President Tinubu first ordered Nigerian Air Force fighter jets to enter the country and take over the airspace to help dislodge the coup plotters from the National TV and a military camp where they had regrouped.
The Republic of Benin, through its Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in a Note Verbal, requested immediate Nigerian air support “in view of the urgency and seriousness of the situation and to safeguard the constitutional order, protect national institutions and ensure the security of the population.”
In the second request, the authorities in Benin requested the deployment of Nigerian Air Force assets within Beninoise airspace for surveillance and rapid intervention operations under Benin-led coordination.
The Benin government also requested Nigerian ground forces, “strictly for missions approved by the Beninese Command authority in support of the protection of constitutional institutions and the containment of armed Groups.”
HURIWA which said it welcomed the restoration of democracy in Benin Republic however said it is a big shame that Nigerian military can’t decisively destroy the terrorists unleashing devastating violence on Nigerians including school children but the same military was quick to act decisively to defeat the armed coup plotters drawn from the armed forces of the Republic of Benin in their country. “It is now clear that the government of Nigeria lacks the political will and the comprehensive willpower to overwhelm the terrorists threatening the Sovereignty of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“HURIWA is challenging President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to inform Nigerians how come that the Nigerian state reportedly secured the release of 100 out of 265 kidnapped schoolchildren even when there was no indication that those who violently abducted the school children were apprehended so they can face swift justice in line with the rule of law and the due process of the counter terrorism Act. This lacuna leaves us with no option but to conclude that again, just like it happened when some abducted members of Christ Apostolic Church were kidnapped in Kwara state and reportedly released by the so-called intervention of government, it is apparent that the government is doing business with terrorists.”
HURIWA recalled that terrorists abducted 315 pupils and staff last month from St Mary’s school in Niger state as part of spate of kidnappings just as the 100 children said to have been released are set to be handed over to local government officials in Niger state on Monday, according to the United Nations source.
“They are going to be handed over to Niger state government tomorrow,” the source told AFP on Sunday.
Besides, Nigerian media also reported that the release of 100 children had been secured, without offering details on whether it was done through negotiation or military force, nor on the fate on the remaining students and staff thought to still be in the kidnappers’ hands.
The freeing of the 100 children was confirmed to AFP by presidential spokesperson Sunday Dare.
“We have been praying and waiting for their return, if it is true then it is a cheering news,” said Daniel Atori, spokesperson for Bishop Bulus Yohanna of the Kontagora diocese which runs the school.
“However, we are not officially aware and have not been duly notified by the federal government.”
HURIWA maintains that the porous methodology of the current government in dealing with terrorists in a seemingly transactional fashion is not sustainable over the long term because appeasement of terrorists by government can’t possibly stop the menaces of kidnappings of school children by terrorists. We the citizens are worried that the government is surrendering her powers to the terrorists which makes the entire spectrum of governance to appear weak and vulnerable
