Fix Insecurity in 3 months or face total shutdown – Northern groups threaten federal govt

The Federal Government of Nigeria has been asked to end the worsening security challenges in the country within three weeks or risk a total shutdown.

This warning was handed down by the Coalition of Northern Groups (CNG) and contained in a statement issued by the spokesman for the group, Abdul-Azeez Suleiman in Kaduna.

The statement warned that if the Nigerian government fails to address insecurity in the country, especially in the North, the youths might be forced to embark on mass protests.

“For the avoidance of doubt, the CNG shall see no course in holding back the commencement of renewed protests on a much wider scale if, at the expiration of the three months, the government’s commitment to safeguarding the lives of citizens all over the country remains mere rhetoric,” the statement reads in part.

“In place of the halted protests, the CNG hereby resolves to direct its state coordinators to raise their levels of vigilance and to assist the security forces with credible relevant intelligence needed to tackle the situation.

“All CNG state coordinators and officials of affiliate groups to commence the immediate process of compiling all aspects of security worries in their respective states to deliver to the various state commissioners of police for onward transmission to the chief executives and thereafter, address the press at NUJ (Nigerian Union of Journalists) centres in groups of not more than 25 each.

“The federal security forces must carry out a proper threat assessment of the situation to review the current poor law enforcement, poor intelligence, and the lack of synergy among other vulnerabilities.

“Government must take steps to ensure that all security budget allocations are released in full to the relevant agencies on a quarterly basis to ensure efficiency.”