Stay home to tackle Boko Haram, economy, Group charges Buhari

…..Buhari’s tour to boost insurgency corruption war – Presidency

 

 

As President Muhammadu Buhari embarked on another foreign trip on Tuesday, a pro-Democracy Non-governmental organization – Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has urged him so stay more at home to give attention to the worsening economic crisis and the Boko Haram insurgency.

President Buhari began an official visit to France and Britain on Tuesday, having just returned from visits to Kenya and Ethiopia.

HURIWA also condemned in the strongest possible terms Saturday’s genocidal killings by suspected Boko Haram terrorists of nearly 100 villagers of Dalori a Maiduguri outskirts.

The Rights group said President Muhammadu Buhari must stay home to lead the war on terror by the power of personal example as a former military General who once defeated a similar armed Islamic insurgency as the then military Head of State between December 31st 1983 and August 27th 1985.

The Rights group also called on the Nigerian Government through the office of the Federal Attorney General and Minister of Justice Mr. Abubakar Malami (SAN) to begin verifiable and vigorous criminal prosecution of detained Boko Haram terrorists and their sponsors in competent courts of law within Nigeria immediately or risk the disgrace of compelling credible civil society groups within and without Nigeria to institute class actions against Boko Haram terrorists at the International Criminal Court in The Hague Netherlands for prosecution over crimes against humanity.

HURIWA said the Nigerian Government will come under intense international scrutiny and considerable global opprobrium if it refuses to initiate professionally competent prosecution of terrorists who have wrecked unfathomable havoc on Nigeria and have killed over 25,000 innocent people. “Thousands of the family members of the victims of terrorism in Nigeria are waiting for justice and justice delayed is justice denied”.

HURIWA said that because the current government just like her predecessor has neglected the strategic angle of initiating concrete but comprehensive judicial proceedings against Boko Haram terrorists and identify, and subject the financiers of Boko Haram terrorism before competent courts of law for crimes of mass killings, that weak prosecutorial outlook of government has emboldened the masterminds of terrorism to increase the tempo of attacks on poor innocent Nigerians in their sleep.

The group cited the Weekend’s attack of villagers near Maiduguri in Borno State by Boko Haram terrorists in which over 85 villagers including children, Women and the elderly were gruesomely burnt to their death has demonstrated the imperative of tasking President Buhari’s government to announce the administration’s effective prosecution blueprint against Boko Haram terrorists and their sponsors immediately.

“We are worried that whereas the current government has stated her determination to prosecute alleged thieves of public fund especially key government officials in the immediate past administration but it has so far failed to publicly announce to Nigerians what transparent and efficient measures it has outlined to wage a determined and fool- proof but evidence- backed criminal prosecution of Boko Haram terrorists and their financiers the government has organised for immediate implementation.

The attack as gathered by HURIWA began at about 7 p.m. on Saturday and lasted for nearly four hours.

Borno State Commissioner for Health Dr Haruna Mshelia was quoted by HURIWA as telling Journalists in Maiduguri Borno State that a total of 85 corpses were on Sunday recovered by security agencies and volunteers from the three villages.

The commissioner said 65 corpses were deposited at the Specialists Hospital, 10 at the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital while ten other corpses burnt beyond recognition were buried in the affected villages.

The Rights GROUP also called on the United Nations Security Council to intervene to end the specters of massacres and genocidal killings by Boko Haram terrorists.

Buhari had left Nigeria last Wednesday on a three-day state visit to Kenya and a two-day visit to Addis Ababa for the 26th African Union Leaders Summit and a meeting of the African Union’s Peace and Security Council before returning to Abuja on Sunday, January 31st.

This time around, Buhari will stop in Strasbourg, France, on Wednesday, February 3, to address a special session of the European Union Parliament to be attended by members of the executive and legislative arms of the Union.

According to Femi Adesina, Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, the President’s address is expected to focus on terrorism, violent extremism, corruption, Nigeria and Africa’s current security, economic and developmental challenges, as well as the need for greater support from the European Union and advanced nations for their rapid resolution.

“President Buhari will also hold talks with the President of the European Parliament, Mr. Martin Schulz and the President of the European Commission, Mr. Jean-Claude Juncker on the same issues before leaving Strasbourg for London to join other world leaders at the Supporting Syria and The Region Conference scheduled to open in the British capital on Thursday, February 4, 2016,” Adesina revealed.

“The President will use the opportunity of his participation in the conference which is being co-hosted by Britain, Germany, Norway, Kuwait and the United Nations to continue his push for more global understanding, collaboration and support for Nigeria and other countries in the frontlines of the war against terrorism who are striving to overcome its very adverse effects on affected populations.”

He is due back in Nigeria at the weekend.