UN Condemns Abduction of over 200 IDPs in Borno

•HURIWA: It demonstrates futility of reintegration of terrorists 

•House warns Katsina may be overrun by bandits if…

Chuks Okocha, Michael Olugbode and Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja

The United Nations has strongly condemned the reported abduction of internally displaced persons (IDPs), many of them women, boys and girls, in Ngala Local Government Area of Borno State.

This was as the Human Rights Writers Association  of Nigeria (HURIWA) has said the continuous attacks by terrorists on innocent victims initially displaced from their ancestral homes, showed that the reintegration of the so-called repentant terrorists was an exercise in futility.

In a related development, the House of Representatives has raised the alarm that Katsina State might soon be overrun by criminal elements if no urgent and decisive action was taken to curb the activities of bandits and restore peace to about 18 local governments areas in the state.

In a statement, yesterday, the UN lamented that while the exact number of people abducted remained unknown, it was estimated at over 200 people.

The statement by the Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Nigeria, Mr. Mohammed Malick Fall, read that: “On 29 February, members of a non-state armed group (NSAG) allegedly abducted the IDPs, who had reportedly ventured beyond the safety of the trenches surrounding Ngala – from the ISS, Zulum, Kaigama, and Arabic IDP camps – in search of firewood.

“While an unspecified number of older women and children under 10 have reportedly been released, scores of IDPs remain unaccounted for, according to protection partners.

“I stand in solidarity with the families of all those abducted, especially children, and their communities and urge those, who have abducted them to release them without harm.

“On behalf of the United Nations, I remind all parties to the conflict to adhere to their obligations under international humanitarian law to protect civilians from harm.

“In addition, I urge authorities and other partners to provide more livelihood opportunities for IDPs in camps in Borno State, alongside ongoing efforts for lasting solutions, to reduce the risks of insecurity and violence faced by IDPs.

“More than two million people in Borno, Adamawa and Yobe (BAY) states have fled to garrison towns where they have few, if any, livelihood options.

“Those who venture beyond the protective trenches surrounding these towns to forage or farm do so at great peril, with killings, abductions, forced recruitment and sexual and gender-based violence (GBV)  rampant.

“Two days to the commemoration of International Women’s Day, this incident is a stark reminder that women and girls are among those most affected by conflict.

“The crisis in the BAY states is disproportionately affecting women, boys and girls. There is a high prevalence of GBV against women and adolescent girls, while boys are targeted for recruitment by NSAGs.”

HURIWA: It Demonstrates Futility of Terrorists’ Reintegration

Human Rights Writers Association  of Nigeria (HURIWA) has said the continuous attacks by terrorists on victims initially displaced from their ancestral homes showed that the reintegration of the “so-called repentant terrorists” was an exercise in futility.

In a statement by its National Coordinator, Emmanuel Onwubiko, HURIWA said  it was fraud for anyone to say persons who participated in massive killings of citizens could choose to repent and then some kind of reintegration programme has the potential capacity to turn them into better citizens.

Therefore, the human Rights group, has called called for an immediate end to the reintegration programme.

It  described as shocking and a humiliating misplacement of priority, the decision of the Nigerian government to invest substantial amounts of public funds to carry out a reintegration programme for so-called repentant terrorists, whereas thousands of victims of terrorism languish in many internally displaced peoples camps.

House: Katsina May Be Overrun By Bandits If..

The House of Representatives has raised the alarm that Katsina State might soon be overrun by criminal elements if no urgent and decisive action was taken to curb the activities of the bandits and restore peace to about 18 local governments areas in the state.

To this end, the Green Chamber, has called on President Bola Tinubu to further direct the security agencies to sustain their onslaught against criminals unleashing mayhem in Katsina State and across the country.

The resolution of the House followed the adoption of a motion of urgent national importance moved by Hon. Sada Soli.

Moving the motion, Soli said Section 33 and 41 of the 1999 Constitution as amended provided that every person has the right to life and no one shall be deprived intentionally of his/her life.

He added  that the Katsina State Governor, Dikko Radda, has prioritised the security and safety of all the people of Katsina State by taking immediate and effective measures to enhance the collaboration between the Katsina State Community Watch Corps and the relevant security agencies.

The lawmaker expressed about the devastating impact of banditry on the lives and livelihoods of people of Katsina State.

Soli lamented that the escalating banditry attacks in Katsina State resulted in loss of lives, destruction of property and kidnapping of innocent men, women, and children  daily.

He decried that the security agencies were yet to take immediate and decisive action to address the security challenges in Katsina State, adding that this necessitated increased deployment of security personnel to the affected communities to combat banditry and restore peace and order.

The lawmaker pointed out that some gangs of armed bandits from neighbouring Kaduna and Zamfara States were making efforts to gain control over some communities in Katsina State.

“Worried that Katsina State is near being overrun by these criminal elements if no urgent and decisive action is taken to curb the activities of these bandits and restore peace to about 18 Local Governments,” Soli noted.

The House resolved: “Call on Mr. President, Commander-in- Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to further direct the security agencies to sustain their pressure on these criminals perpetrating violence and criminal activities in Katsina State and the country in general.”

It also urged the National Emergency Management Authority (NEMA) and Ministry of Humanitarian and Poverty Alleviation to urgently provide humanitarian assistance to the affected communities and support the displaced persons across the state.