Nigerians living in the United Kingdom have condemned the spate of killings in Nigeria.
They described the killings as senseless, adding that it had attracted the attention of the civilised world to Nigeria.
The Nigerians, operating under the aegis of the Central Association of Nigerians in the United Kingdom, said the time had come for the killings to be checked.
The statement, signed by Bimbo Roberts Folayan, Chairman; Chima Olugh, Vice Chair; and Dr. Biodun Fakokunde, General Secretary, reads in full: “The Central Association of Nigerians in the United Kingdom notes with alarm, the upsurge of senseless killings in Nigeria. The killing spree in different parts of Nigeria has turned the attention of the rest of the civilised world on our country for the wrong reasons.
“Only recently, four University students were killed by a mob in Aluu, Rivers State for reasons that have not been clearly specified. The manner of this particular killing has portrayed us as uncivilised and primitive people in the eyes of the international community. On independence day, just a couple of weeks ago, over 30 Nigerian university students were brutally murdered in Mubi, Adamawa State and news have just reached us that about 14 people have just been massacred in Riyom Local Government Area of Plateau State amongst several others too numerous to mention. We hope all of the victims of these killings will get justice. It will be a big shame indeed if the perpetrators of these crimes are allowed to go unpunished. The eye of the rest of the world is on us.
“We commiserate with those that have lost loved ones and property in the course of these senseless killings of defenceless citizens and call on the government of Nigeria to do more to provide security for lives and property. If urgent steps are not taken, Nigeria will become a land where ‘anything goes’.
“As noted in our previous Statements, there are deep rooted issues of corruption, poverty, policing, law and order, unemployment and crime that is leading to the complete breakdown of the social fabric of the Nigerian society. These problems need to be tackled head on, in order to bring order back to our country.
“The Central Association of Nigerians in the United Kingdom is the umbrella body representing the interests of about three million Nigerians, and Nigeria-related organisations in the United Kingdom that has been in the forefront of polishing Nigerian image and attracting investors into the Nigerian economy. The news from Nigeria is very discouraging and negates the image our organization seeks to paint to the international community. No serious investor will like to invest in an unstable environment characterised by strife and mob actions.
“While we condemn the senseless, criminal, disgraceful and mindless killings of human beings in Nigeria in the strongest possible terms, we also call on the government at all levels; Local and State governments, Houses of Assemblies, House of Representatives, the Senate and the Federal government to wake up to their responsibilities and boldly confront the social issues that lead to anger, mob action and anti social behaviour.
“We repeat, as mentioned by the Chairman of CANUK, Bimbo Roberts Folayan in previous Statements, Nigerians in the UK, through some of CANUK member associations and specially trained experts are available as a ready resource to advise and to help government in Nigeria find solutions to the numerous problems confronting us as a nation. These UK based Nigerians already do the same in the UK and there will be no reason why they cannot do this for their original motherland.”
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