The Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) has called on the Federal Government to halt the killing of innocent people by the dreaded Boko Haram, saying enough is enough!
Reacting to the Nyanya bomb explosion that claimed no fewer than 71 people on Monday and left over 124 injured, the TUC leadership was appalled at the recent incidents of massacre of many innocent souls by members of the faceless Boko Haram insurgent group.
The TUC President and Secretary, Comrade Bobboi Bala Kaigama and Comrade Musa Lawal respectively, in a statement said, “It is unfortunate that this incident happened at all, worse still that it happened while the nation was still trying to come to terms with the reported killing of over 210 other people in Gwoza, Dikwa, Kala Balge, and Gambulga towns last Friday and Saturday, and another 60 in Kaigamari and Ngoshe villages, all in Borno State.
“Also grievous is the case of scores of students who were gruesomely killed by the insurgents as they travelled to Borno State to write their Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).
“The Congress wonders when this spate of wanton killings would end. When will the culprits be apprehended and made to dance to the music of the law? How long shall it take for the armed forces, the police and other security agencies to checkmate the hoodlums and re-establish much-desired peace and security in all the trouble spots within the country?
“How many more lives shall be lost on the altar of religious extremism and political chauvinism before the inglorious marauders and their sponsors are brought to their knees? Sooner than later, we certainly do hope! Nigerians are peace-loving and deserve no less”.
The Congress says going by media reports on the sophistication of weapons being carried by the insurgents, it is baffled that they are determined to “destroy this nation and its people politically, socially, economically and otherwise. By the grace of God, they must not and shall never succeed!”
It therefore “Implore the federal government and the security forces to buckle up and confront the security challenge head-on. To all intents and purposes the insurgents have declared war on the nation, and there is no reason why they should not be viewed and treated in that light.
“Enough of the political soft talk and double-speak. Enough of the indecisive actions and procrastinations. It is time for the Nigerian armed forces to uncompromisingly give fire for fire in fulfilment of their avowed duty to defend the nation, more so as the insurgents have demonstrated that they only understand the language of violence.
“The intelligence agencies must give the necessary backing with timely information about the insurgents and their operations. Our diplomatic corps should up their acts and enlist full support and co-operation of friendly nations and relevant international agencies.
“And the civil populace should speak out against the wicked affront on our national well-being and refuse to be cowed into deadly silence by it. All hands must be on deck to permanently end this menace called Boko Haram. The eagle that chooses to perch but will not let other eagles do likewise, let its wings break!”