Incessant killings: DPP National Chairman tasks FG on immediate action

The National Chairman, Democratic People’s Party (DPP), Mr Gershom Benson, has called on the Federal Government to take immediate action to address incessant killings of Nigerians across the country.

Benson on Thursday in Abuja said it was high time the government took urgent measures to address the killings, that has become “a very serious security challenge.’’

The party chairman, who condemned the recent killings in Rivers Kaduna, Benue states and other parts of the country, said it was the responsibility of government to ensure the protection of lives and property.

He also called on the security agencies to step up their surveillance activities and ensure that those responsible for the killings were arrested and brought to justice.

“The killings are becoming too much; we have the Army, Airforce, Navy, Police, the Nigeria Civil Defence and Security Corps (NSCDC).

“I believe our security agencies still have all it takes to stop that wanton breakdown of law and order, killing of innocent souls.

“Take, for example, the killings that happened at Omoku, Rivers, the area has been a bedrock of cultism. The security operatives in Rivers State cannot say that they do not know the kingpin of these killings in Omoku.

“How come they have not destroyed Agip Oil facilities in the area, which is the major operational base of the company?

“There is protection for the company but there is no protection for the defenceless Nigerians that gathered to worship their Gods and were coming out of the church.’’

He added that the killings in Benue state had also become a source of worry, as it was becoming frequent incidence.

“In Kaduna, they just walked into a chief’s palace, killed him and walked away. Nobody is arrested, no traces and all that.

Benson said that attention should not just be focused on Boko Haram insurgency alone; adding that other cases of insecurity across the country should be looked into.

He said that the citizens were now living in fears adding that “nearly everybody is internally displaced except those who run to Abuja. Our highways, homes and villages are not secured.

He added that the unnecessary killings could be stopped with the presence of security agencies’ formations across the country.

Benson said that “there is no state in Nigeria where we do not have police formation, military formation.

“Just like in Benue, the Police are there, Airforce is there, and there is also Army formation there. So what is happening?

“Also in Rivers, we have about two major military barracks, what is happening?’’