INSECURITY: MULADE URGES FG TO AVOID SECOND WAVE OF MILITANCY IN NIGER DELTA REGION

By Akpokona Omafuaire A Warri based human and environmental rights advocate, Chief Mulade Sheriff, has called on President Muhammadu Buhari and his Federal Executives to do everything possible to forestall a second wave of militancy in the Niger Delta Region. The National Coordinator of the Center for Peace and Environmental Justice CEPEJ, with offices in Major cities across the country expressed concern over the high level of insecurity in Nigeria. Mulade called on the Federal Government to take urgent steps towards curbing the rising spate of insecurity ravaging the nation, leading to increase in poverty and hunger, and appealed to the President to adopt proactive measures to reduce unemployment and mitigate the prevailing economic downturn in the country. The Ibe-sorimowei of Gbaramatu Kingdom, gave the charge while reacting to the reported threats which indicate that failure to address the fundamental issues in the region might lead to another round of militancy which could be extremely disastrous to the nation's economy, as many aggrieved people are looking for avenues to vent their anger. The CEPEJ National Coordinator, in an interactive session with some Warri-based newsmen, emphasized that the prevailing harsh economic situation in the region and in the country, requires a very pragmatic approach to deal with it. The CEPEJ Boss also stressed the need to put measures in place to eradicate poverty, and that such measures should be publicized through very effective public awareness campaigns. The Peace Ambassador, however, appealed to Nigerians to be patient with President Buhari and the Federal Government to enable them find the best ways out of the nation's security challenges. He implored Nigerians to give maximum support to Government in terms of sharing accurate and timely information with relevant authorities so as to overcome the security problems. The Gbaramatu Chief in Warri South West Local Government Area of the Delta State, Prayed for the repose of the souls of the Late Army Chief of Staff, Lt General Ibrahim Attahiru and ten other military personnels that lost their lives in an air mishap. “I commiserate with their families and loved ones. May God give their families and Nigerians the strength to bear the loss which is very colossal”. He also implored Nigerians to support President Muhammadu Buhari and the Federal Government at this critical time by shunning all forms of secession and separation agitations, urging all Nigerians to work for a better and united Nigeria