Fight banditry, insurgency, not Kanu – Umar tells FG

Former military governor of Kaduna State, Col. Abubakar Umar (retd.) has slammed the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration over misplaced priorities. He said they were giving undue attention to the arrest of IPOB leader, Kanu than bandits and kidnappers ravaging the country.

The former governor stated this in a statement titled, ‘Nigeria: A nation challenged.’

He called on them to pay more attention to tackling insecurity than celebrating Kanu’s arrest.

“The re-arrest of the IPOB leader, Nnamdi Kanu, elicited congratulatory messages to the Federal Government which appears overwhelmed by the intractable security challenges and in dire need of any redeeming act.

“This is clearly an exaggeration of the security threat Nnamdi Kanu and indeed IPOB pose to our nation’s security and unity. It is quite strange and disturbing that the Federal Government is paying undue attention to the threats of separatist movements in contrast to the more daunting ones posed by bandits, kidnappers and insurgents in the North West, some parts of North-Central and North-East.”

“Over 1,000 schoolchildren were abducted in the past eight months with over 300 still in the hands of the bandits and kidnappers who are demanding humongous ransom. Rape of women and young girls has become a daily occurrence. Most economic activities, particularly farming, the mainstay of the people in these areas, are now all but impossible.”

He, however, noted that “IPOB and its leader may well be responsible for some of the violence, including the murder of security personnel, arson and destruction of public and private properties for which they should be held to account.

“Truth be told, the Buhari administration has so far exhibited poor skills in its management of our diversity. Yet it has the benefit of great examples by past administrations and statesmen which should guide it,” Umar said.