A former governor of Kaduna State, Balarabe Musa, and a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Femi Falana, have asked the Nigerian government to address the nation’s security challenges squarely.

In a statement jointly signed on Sunday and titled ‘Time To Save Nigeria’, both men decried the security situation in the country which they said was worsening.

They, therefore, challenged the government under the watch of President Muhammadu Buhari to perform the constitutional duty of keeping the nation secure.

According to them, Nigeria must not be turned into a killing field and there is a need for the government to confront security challenges honestly.

The former governor and the human rights activist also asked the law enforcement and other security agencies to fight crimes competently and strictly according to the law.

In doing so, they said the ethnic and religious identity of a criminal was not of any importance as the victims of criminal activities belong to the various ethnic grounds and religions.

The duo asked the government to rethink its internal security strategy by considering some of the patriotic suggestions from conferences and panels it has set up in the last few years.

They also want the police and other security agencies to be equipped and organised to perform their duty in light of the dimensions of insecurity in the country.

The statement reads in part: In practical terms, no part of Nigeria is immune to violent crimes, although the incidence might be relatively higher in one part than the other at this time. Tragic news of lives wasted issues from the north and south, east and west.

In response to the flourishing crimes in the face of the worrisome incompetence of the state, ethnic and regional champions have resorted into the dangerous ethnic profiling and demonisation of others.

It is the reign of hate speech and marketing of prejudice. Claiming to speak for “our people,” they issue irresponsible ultimatums and orders for which they lack constitutional authority to enforce.

Some of those who are supposed to act as statesmen at this critical hour have instead joined the ranks of issuers of prejudicial statements.

The appropriate response to these sectional voices is not to glibly question the patriotism of any person or group.  The effective response is to compel the Nigerian state under the watch of President Muhammadu Buhari to perform the constitutional duty of keeping Nigeria secure.  

Nigeria must not be turned into a killing field. The way to take the wind out of the sails of merchants of hate is for the government to confront the worsening insecurity in Nigeria squarely and honestly.  

Law enforcement and other security agencies should fight crimes competently and strictly according to the law.

In doing so, the ethnic and religious identity of the criminal is not of any importance. Rather ethnic and religious profiling could distract from the urgent task of stamping out crimes.