Wednesday 30 January 2013

HUNGRY SOLDIERS: Nigeria Starves JTF Troops in the North Says Governor


Kano State Governor, Rabi'u Musa Kwankwaso has lamented that for two years running, the Federal Government abandoned the funding of the military Joint Task Force, JTF, constituted to fight crime and terrorism in the state.
Kwankwaso revealed in Kano Government House, while receiving the new Assistant Inspector-General of Police, AIG, in charge of Zone 1, Mr. David Omojola that the state Governor has been solely footing the Ration Cash Allowance, RCA, and feeding of JTF in the state.

P.M.NEWS reports that since 20 January, 2012, multiple bomb explosions and sporadic shootings in Kano during a coordinated attack by the Boko Haram sect that left over 200 people dead, Kano, like other troubled states in the country formed JTF to help curtail the activities of terrorists.

Kwankwaso was worried that the Federal Government has continued to starve Kano of the RCA fund, while he was aware that such funds are being released to other states.

According to him, the state Government has been responsible for the welfare of JTF since it was constituted, adding that there was need for the Federal Government to show concern, at least, being conscious of the status of Kano state as the economic nerve centre of the North.

"For two years running now, my government foot the bills for JTF and other security operations in the state, the federal authorities have never given us even a Kobo, though they are given to other state affected by the same crisis," Kwankwaso stated.

The Kano state Governor who was a former Defence Minister also described as insufficient the number of police men serving in Kano which he said was below 9, 000 as against Lagos which has about 30, 000 police men.

He said he was aware that some police men posted to some states in the North, including Kano, show reluctance, and promised to facilitate the training of new police recruits if the Police authorities can deem it fit to enlist qualified youths from Kano into the Police Force.

To better security situation in troubled states in the North, including Kano, Kwankwaso urged the Federal Government to support security agencies with modern detective equipments such as scanning machines and close circuit cameras to enable them work effectively and better security situation in troubled states in the North, including Kano.

He, however, promised to give all necessary support to ensure that the new AIG of Zone 1 which is headquartered in Kano succeeds in his duty.

Speaking to newsmen in his office after visiting the Governor, AIG Omojola said that already, about 700 police men were deployed to boost operations in Kano, adding that his Zone was committed to ensure that lives and properties are save.

According to him, his mission to Zone 1 was to ensure peace and order in all the states under him, just as he urged all stake-holders including politicians, religious leaders, community and traditional rulers to cooperate with the police and other security agencies to ensure that peace and stability are maintained in the Zone.

Omojola also commented on the attack on the Emir of Kano, Alhaji Ado Bayero, saying that Police are making progress in the course of their investigation, "but what I would not want to do is to pre-empt investigation; very soon, we shall let you know our findings when investigation is concluded," he stated.

However, retired Deputy Inspector General of Police, DIG, Mr. Azubukor Udah has advised the Federal Government to insist on the surrendering of arms by the Boko Haram militants as measure towards demonstrating their sincerity in the cease-fire announced by the sect last Monday.

The former Police boss was a member of the Federal Government Niger-Delta Disarmament Committee said anything short of that should not be accepted by the authorities because to him, that was the process in the Niger-Delta amnesty case.

Udah further suggested that the Sect should follow this up with a formal letter seeking Federal Government's amnesty for its militants in addition to apologizing to Nigerians, in writing for the massacre of innocent citizens in the North.

"This is not the first time we are hearing of cease-fire by the sect after which more deadly attacks would be experienced, so for us to be convinced of their sincerity in the recent statement, they must surrender their arms to the Federal Government before any response should be made.

"This is what happened in the Niger-Delta situation of which I was a member of the Disarmament Team, they surrendered their arms and demanded for amnesty. So, that of Boko Haram cannot be a different case," he stated.
PSN

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