Killings: Group calls for resignation of police IG

The convener of the National Intervention Group of Nigeria, Segun Akinloye, has urged the inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, to resign for his inability to tackle the “consistent danger” and the wanton killings perpetrated by herdsmen, bandits and militias in some parts of the country.
Akinloye stated this on Tuesday at a press conference on the state of the nation at Abuja where he stressed on the need for the urgency of the government to ensure the protection of lives and properties of Nigerians as it is stated in the constitution.
He stated that it is regrettable that the worth of the life of a Nigerian is no longer sacrosanct as citizens continue to get killed in their homes, farms, churches and mosques and it is terribly painful that inspite of all these gruesome killings, the police appear to be powerless.
He further lamented  that Southern Kaduna is no longer safe and people in Benue, Taraba, Kogi, Plateau and  Zamfara are been attacked and killed daily while government continue to be unruffled by their plight.
Akinloye also regretted the continuous abduction of Leah Sharibu, the Dapchi girl, who is still been held captive by the insurgents.
He said: “We cannot also forget the Dapchi girls kidnap and all drama that surrounded it; Some of those girls have since been returned in rather controversial turn of events andmanner, but till today, the whole nation still awaits the rescue or return of Leah Sharibu, who is alleged to still be in custody of the abductors as a hostage, simply because she refused to renounce her Christian faith. We have been fed severally with uncoordinated promises and announcements about her return, yet our Leah is nowhere near home to celebrate her 15th birthday.”
Akinloye posited that the “high toll of deaths” recorded so far is crying out in high decibels and as such; there is need for an overhaul of the nation’s security.
He said: “Some weeks ago, a list of recorded killings was released by the Senate President’s office and just between May 1st to 15th, no fewer than 220 violent deaths arising from non-traditional and non-communal strife related violence have been recorded in Nigeria. This is a huge concern for many of us, hence our being here today. On Sunday, 13th of May 2018, news filtered in that 87 citizen were abducted along Birnin-Gwari Road in Kaduna State by the people we now know as  bandits ambushed  over 15 vehicles conveying them.
“The horrible high toll of deaths recorded apart from terrorism or traditional crimes epecially in the Central and Northern parts of Nigeria in 2018 only are enough for overhaul of our nation’s security. A total reported and recorded number of 934 Nigerians have been gruesomely murdered.”
He listed the villages where these gruesome murders have taken place to include: Logo, Guma, Tse Akombo, Tse Vii and Tse Agul, Markurdi, Okpokwu, Ukum, Gwer West, Gwer East and Agatu in Benue State;  Awe, Keana and Obi in Nasarawa State; Wukari, Gassol, Lau, Sardauna, Ibi, Ussa, Takum and Dobga in Taraba State; Birnin Gwari, Gwaska,Jema’a, Kajuru and Chikun in Kaduna State; and Bassa,  Barking Ladi, Bokkos and Jos South in Plateau State to mention a few.
Akinloye further posited that to prevent life in Nigerian from turning into an Hobbesian state, there is need for adequate measures to be put in place and if Idris do not resign his position as the Inspector General of Police, he should be relieved of his positon by President Buhari.
He also enjoined President Buhari to show considerable goodwill to those affected by these killings and as the “father of the nation”, the president should create a framework to ensure that these killings are stopped.
Akinloye also tasked all tiers of government to be on hand to bring the issue to a panacea and urged President Muhammmadu Buhari to try as much as possible to make amends and ensure that the security of lives is paramount in his agenda.