The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) on Monday called on the Federal Government to overhaul the nation’s security network to curb the resurgence of attacks on security formations in the country.?
The call is contained in a statement jointly signed by NUJ’s National President, Mallam Mohammed Garba and National Secretray, Mr Shuaibu Leman in Abuja.
The union expressed worry at the dimension of the recent attacks on security formations in Abuja and Kaduna, noting that the development required a complete overhaul of the nation’s security apparatus.
It said that the situation in some parts of the country had continued unabated in spite of several assurances by those in charge of security that the challenge would be contained.
“The recent security breaches at the Armed Forces Command and Staff College Jaji in Kaduna State and the attack by gunmen on the Special Anti Robbery Squad Headquarters in Abuja have further heightened another dimension to the problem of insecurity in Nigeria.
“The NUJ is thus worried by the alarming level of insecurity of life and property in the country which are clear signs to Nigeria’s democracy and to national security.
“It is therefore imperative that we call on the Federal Government to overhaul completely the security network to reassure Nigerians of their security and that of their property,” it said.
The union said that the present situation could degenerate further if the necessary steps were not taken by those at the helms of affairs.
It said that Nigeria could not afford any further degeneration of the security situation with all the attendant consequences.
It expressed regrets at property and lives lost to violent attacks in Kano, Yobe, Borno, Kaduna and other parts of the north where gunmen had intensified attacks recently.
The statement urged government to reposition its security apparatus to check kidnapping and oil theft in the south and insurgency in the north, to save the country from total collapse.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that twin explosions rocked St. Andrew's Protestant Church in Jaji on Sunday, killing 11 persons and injuring 30 others.
Brig.-Gen. Bolaji Koleosho, the Director, Army Public Relations, told NAN that the first explosion occurred at about 12:05 p.m., while the second went off 10 minutes later.
Koleosho said that investigations into the incident had started.
Less than 24 hours after the attack in Jaji, another one was reportedly launched on the special anti robbery squad headquarters in Abuja.