Mr Ekpeyong Ita, the Director-General? of the State Security Services (SSS), says “the negligence of Nigerians” was responsible for the rising waves of Boko Haram attacks in the country.
Ita made the assertion at a retreat in Jos organised by the Nigerian Christian Pilgrims Commission (NCPC).
He challenged Nigerians to be more proactive in their support to security agencies and in being more security conscious.
“Many Nigerians still believe that they cannot fall victim of Boko Haram attacks; some may say that it is not their portion instead of doing something to safeguard their lives and property from such attack.
“For instance, many Nigerians still don’t know their neighbours and their means of livelihood; but the fact is that you may be living next to a Boko Haram member.”?
Ita said that negligence and care-free attitude of Nigerians had led to the loss of many lives and property worth billions of naira to the activities of criminals and terrorists in the country.
He called on Nigerian to instill security-consciousness in their children to prevent them from falling victims of terrorist attacks.
Ita explained that the best form of defence was awareness, noting that the more complex a society became, the more its challenges.
“In the last 10 years, no one knew about Boko Haram or suicide bombing in Nigeria.”
Represented by the Plateau Director of the SSS, Mr Christian Ojobo, Ita said that taming the current security challenge was not the responsibility of the security agencies alone.
“Security is not the business of those charged with the act of protecting lives and property alone rather, it is everybody’s business.
“So I urge all Nigerians to be security conscious and alert at all times.”
He tasked the commission to always sensitise the pilgrims on the need to be security to avert further attacks on innocent citizens.
“If you can on your own, investigate the past life of your wife to be, you can by that, do more for your personal security.”?
In his remark, the Executive Secretary of the commission, Mr. Kennedy Opara, stressed the need for the participants to take the security of their lives and property seriously.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the three-day retreat had as its theme: “Pilgrimage: a Tool for Transformation.'' (NAN) Worshippers kill suspected fleeing church bomber