Some northern elders have said the region is under the siege of Boko Haram, bandits, and kidnappers, asking President Muhammadu Buhari to device new approach in restoring peace in the troubled areas.
The elders noted that the activities of these criminal elements had grounded educational, economic and socio-political activities in the region.
They said it will take over 100 years to recover from destruction, killings and trauma associated with insecurity in the region if the development was not brought under total control now.
The elders under the aegis of Coalition of Northern Elders for Peace and Development, in a statement signed by their National Coordinator, Engr. Zana Goni, said it was time for Buhari to relieve the nation’s security heads of their jobs and try new hands since the situation in the region was not getting better.
They appealed to president Buhari to restructure the country’s security architecture so as to give the war against insurgence a big boost.
The statement reads: “We wish to confirm that the entire north is still under siege from Boko Haram, banditry, Kidnaping and other forms of criminality. This ugly security situation we noticed has been underreported. We are concerned over this poor media coverage by the media.
“The inability of the service chiefs to change the game against terrorists, bandits and kidnappers threatening the continued existence of the region despite the heavy investment made by the president so far to ensure restoration of peace, is no doubt worrisome to us. We believe wholeheartedly too, that this development is a source of great concern to all patriotic Nigerians out there.
“From what is on ground, it would take the North East more than 100 years to recover even if the war stops today.
“As we write this to present our plight to the public, there is no school opened to academic activities in the region, except perhaps in Maiduguri metropolis of Borno State. Farmers can’t go to farms anymore especially in the North East, fearing our concerns of severe famine if the situation is not immediately addressed.
“Also, markets, buying and selling besides other economic activities have been brought to a total halt as a result of the activities of terrorists, bandits and kidnappers. There is equally no social activities anymore in the region as people preferably stay in their various houses now to avert being prowled on by the adversaries.”
The elders hailed the appointment of Gen Buba Marwa (rtd) as the Chairman of National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) by Buhari.
“We must confess that it is a right step in the right direction because drug abuse is one of the major banes of security in the North. We know his pedigree and we are sure he would deliver on his mandate,” the group said.
“We express our profound gratitude to the president for the appointment of our son, General Buba Marwa as the Chairman of National Drug Law Enforcement Agency ( NDLEA)
“We must confess that it is a right step in the right direction because drug abuse is one of the major banes of security in the North. We know his pedigree and we are sure he would deliver on his mandate,” the statement added.