…asks FG to address security challenge, stop condolence messages

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has raised fresh concerns over worsening insecurity in the country following the abduction of 39 pupils and seven teachers from schools in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State, warning that no community in Nigeria could still be considered safe.

NLC President, Joe Ajaero, in a statement on Wednesday, said the attack on Community High School and L. A Basic School, Ahoro Esinele, as well as First Baptist Nursery and Primary School, Yawota, showed the frightening spread of banditry and terror across the country.

Ajaero lamented that communities, which once considered such attacks as distant occurrences, had now become direct victims.

He said: “We seem to have lost the kinetic deterrence and capacity for opposed extraction (rescue). Yet a greater tragedy awaits us all, and that is the potential switch of loyalty to bandits en masse by the citizenry.

“Needless to say, this represents a vote of no confidence in all of us and inherent trust in bandits to offer better protection.

“Another layer of the tragedy is that there are no more safe havens in the country. From the perspective of the affected rural communities, abductions of this nature were stories told of distant places; nowhere is safe. It is only a matter of time before residents of megacities get dragged out of their domicile in broad daylight.”

He said the abduction had continued to provoke outrage because of the ages of the victims and the gruesome killing of one of the teachers while in captivity.

“About a week ago, when an estimated 39 pupils and seven teachers were taken away, the general reaction possibly was a shrug, oh, it has happened again.

“This reaction was certainly not out of callousness but a reflection of the extent of the loss of our humanity, and equally so, a quiet indignation and a reluctant acceptance of our new way of life.”

Ajaero accused bandits of deriving “sadistic joy” from torturing abducted children and posting disturbing videos online to instil fear and pressure authorities into paying ransom.

“Perhaps, it has more to do with the psychology of the bandits who derive sadistic joy from putting infants through all manner of torture and posting the same on social media as an extension of that torture, as well as a leverage to compel the government or the people to pay up the ransom money demanded by them. It is equally effective as a perpetual reminder that they are in charge.

“However, it is important to distinguish the reaction of security agencies and local vigilantes who gave a prompt pursuit but were repelled by the use of improvised explosive devices, as well as the use of the abductees as human shields

He, however, commended security agencies and local vigilantes for mounting a prompt pursuit of the kidnappers, noting that they were repelled through the use of improvised explosive devices and abductees as human shields.

The NLC president also warned that persistent insecurity could eventually push citizens to lose confidence in the government and seek protection elsewhere.

“Yet a greater tragedy awaits us all, and that is the potential switch of loyalty to bandits en masse by the citizenry.”

He called on governments at all levels and security agencies to urgently review their tactics in the fight against terrorism and banditry.

“Given this multi-layer tragedy and our seeming helplessness in the face of it all, the time has come for a sincere and honest conversation and change of both strategies and tactics in the war against terror, a fundamental shift from the war as a business to one of survival.

“Government at all levels must wake up . Our security agencies should do a thorough soul-searching. It is superfluous to say it is their sacred duty to protect lives and property. We believe where there that is where there wa be a way. Address this challenge before it is too late.

“We demand action now. We have had enough of sermons and condolence messages. For how long should we bleed like this?”