Former Speaker of House of Representative, Yakubu Dogara has lamented the security situation in Northern part of the country, saying the region is on fire and “those who love the region should come out and take responsibility”.
Mr Dogara stated this while delivering speech at the Northern security meeting organized by Ahmadu Bello Memorial Foundation in Kaduna.
“We are running out of time. It is crystal clear that the North cannot withstand the kind of contradictions that exist now.
“The North is on fire ignited by us either by our actions or by what we permit or allow.
“Those who truly love the North must now come out and accept responsibility and begin the salvation mission,” Mr Dogara added.
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The legislator disclosed that of the 19 northern states and the FCT, only Kwara state and the FCT are relatively peaceful or have the lowest rate of insecurity.
According to him, all the other 18 states are inflamed by one form of violence or the other.
“The North is now the epicenter and theatre of violence. From Boko Haram ISWAP led by Albarnawi, Boko Haram led by Shekau and Ansaru insurgency, to farmers/herders conflict, banditry, kidnappings, ethno-religious conflicts, cattle rustling, etc.
“We are confronted with a crisis that is unparalleled in our history. The death spiral appears unstoppable. Increasingly, it is becoming harder and harder to distinguish us from our enemies.
“There was no shortage of early warning signs and as a matter of fact our Philosophers such as the late Sa’adu Zungur of blessed memory had warned that this dystopian era was fast approaching but we ignored all.
“We are now paying for our collective negligence,” Mr Dogara stated.
He decried that lack of intelligence gathering by the country’s security agencies, traditional institutions and governments at all levels.
Mr Dogara stated that lack of prosecution of persons responsible for violent crimes including kidnapping, attacks on communities incentives the commission of violent crimes in the region.
