The Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar lll, has criticized the Nigerian Government over its response to the incessant killings and Banditry affecting the Northern part of the country.
The sultan, who is also the President of Jammatu Nasril Islam, in a statement through the group’s secretary-general, Dr. Khalid Abubakar Aliyu, criticized the government for making ‘Verbal warnings and condemnations’ instead of taking robust actions against the perpetrators of the murderous acts.
The statement read; “The repeated massacre of people, as well as the senseless burning of houses and livestock in Borno, Katsina, Sokoto, Zamfara, Niger states and indeed other states such as Adamawa, Kaduna and Taraba, should give governments and its functionaries at both federal and state levels sleepless nights.”
“By now, an instantaneous pronouncement followed by robust actions should have been made by the government of the day, not verbal warnings and condemnations dished out to the perpetrators of the murderous acts.”
“As stakeholders, we strongly believe that the repeated killings are blameworthy, and no one found culpable in this gross act of negligence should be spared. In all honesty, all erring personnel would have been dealt with decisively by now or they themselves should have honourably resigned, as oftentimes seen in other climes.”
“The most pathetic of all these incidences were that even the normal administrative panels of inquiries are not considered, not to talk of a thorough investigative panel, where at least citizens would appear and ventilate their feelings.”
“Isn’t the government of the day a popular government? Is it not a participatory government? Why doesn’t public opinion(s) matter to it? Or isn’t public opinion(s) considered an ingredient to the government of the day?”
“Make no mistake, insecurity bedevilling North Western states and some of the North Central states are more or less an extension of Boko Haram.”
“Take, for instance, the person (one of the gang leaders) responsible for terrorizing neighbouring communities in the forests of Katsina and Zamfara axis is called Kachalla (a Kanuri usual name), which is, of course, one tragedy too many for Nigeria!”
“We will, therefore, continue to ask questions: how have the perpetrators been able to gain access to such to successfully perpetrate such heinous crimes unabated“How have the perpetrators been able to access to weapons, despite the Nigerian borders’ closure?”
“Some will argue that it isn’t lethal, such as bombings! Then if so, where is the humanity in us? As you cannot claim to be a man of faith, without having the feeling of humanity in you!” the statement read in part.
