20th March, 2012
The Committee for Democracy and Rights of the People (CDRP), has called on government authorities to ensure that suspected criminals are fully investigated to check the Boko Haram insurgency.
Mr. Amitolu Shittu, the National Coordinator of the organisation made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday in Osogbo.
Shittu, who expressed concern over the activities of the group, said that government at all levels should brace up in their efforts to stem the insecurity in parts of the country.
He complained about instances where suspected criminals were arrested and released without full investigation into what led to their arrest.
Shittu noted that improper investigation into crimes had been the bane of the nation’s insecurity “and criminals have continued to hide under this canopy to perpetrate crimes.”
The human rights leader recalled that the upsurge of crimes begun in 1986 when the country experienced the first letter bomb that killed Mr. Dele Giwa, a journalist.
He noted that those arrested in connection with the incident were later set free.
Shittu also called on relevant government authorities to investigate how arms and ammunition, including bombs, got into the country through the borders.
“The government needs to ensure that whoever is found to be involved in criminal activities is thoroughly investigated to allow justice to prevail,” he stressed.