The Arewa Consultative Forum, ACF, yesterday said Nigerians no longer have confidence in the Federal Government over its handling of the Boko Haram insurgency in the North Eastern part of the country.
The group cited the scaling up of the insurgents’ violent activities and the latest denial of any ceasefire deal with the Federal Government by the leader of the insurgents, Abubakar Shekau as some of the reasons Nigerian are getting worried with the way the federal government is handling the insurgency.
ACF, in a statement signed by it Publicity Secretary, Mohammad Ibrahim said: “It is really disturbing and worrisome that despite the assurances given by government that appropriate security measures are being put in place to contain the insurgency, including the ceasefire agreement, the situation in the northeast region is deteriorating and needs a decisive action to quell it.
The ACF noted that towns like Bama, Gwoza and many others are still under the control of the insurgents, despite the emergency rule in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states.
“Nigerians are becoming sceptical and no longer have confidence in the assurances being given by government officials regarding the security challenges, since the terrorists have continued to unleash mayhem on the people without adequate counter offensive from the military.”
ACF also condemned the Friday morning bomb blast at Gombe Line Motor Park in Gombe, describing it as wicked, gruesome and condemnable.
“The bomb blast in Gombe, the continued killings and seizure of towns and villages in Borno and especially now Mubi in Adamawa State by insurgents barely two weeks after the announcement that a ceasefire had been brokered between the Boko Haram insurgents and the Federal Government calls to question the sincerity and effectiveness of the ceasefire agreement.
Advising government not to relent until it finds a lasting solution to the problem of insurgency in the country; the group said government should pursue dialogue and peaceful negotiation with genuine leaders of the insurgents.
“Government should also continue to pursue dialogue and peaceful negotiation with the genuine leaders of the Boko Haram in order to restore the desired peace and order in the region, especially now that our politicians are busy with electioneering campaign against 2015 elections.
“ACF urges Nigerians to be more vigilant and security conscious as we embark on the 2015 electioneering campaign.
“The ACF equally extended its condolence to the families of those killed and sympathy to those injured in the unfortunate bomb blast incident in Gombe and calls on the state government to provide prompt free medical treatment to the injured,” the statement read.”
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