From Sola Ojo, Kaduna
Some individuals under concerned and dutiful Nigerian citizens in a statement on Thursday insisted on the call for an investigation into the alleged killing of 11 youths in Tilde-Fulbe, Laduga grazing reserves, Kachia Local Government Area of Kaduna State by the military.
These concerned individuals are Abubakar Siddique Mohammed, Prof.Massoud Omar, Professor Auwalu Yadudu, Prof Muhammad Mustapha Gwadabe, Prof Tanimu Abubakar, Dr Kabir S.Chafe, Babayola M. Tuongo, Prof Abdullahi Musa Ashafa,
Others are Naseer Kura, Dr Salihu Zubairu Mustapha, Dr Aminu Musa, Malam Murtala Abubakar, Dr Aliyu U. Tilde, and Kabiru Danladi.
According to them, “we, the undersigned, in the exercise of our constitutional rights and good conscience as concerned and dutiful Nigerian citizens, hereby add our collective voice to an appeal made for intervention and investigation into the murder of 11 Fulani youths by soldiers in Tilde Fulbe at Ladugga Grazing Reserve, Kachia Local Government Area.
“Our support for the appeal is based on the conviction that in the context of the current devastating insecurity and economic hardships, failure to investigate such grave allegations of wilful murder of innocent citizens by agents of the state will only further deepen the distrust for state institutions, sever the bond between government and people and jeopardise the security-community relations.
“We believe that the Federal Government should, at this trying moment, promptly investigate allegations of breaches and indiscretions on such fundamental human rights as security of life, personal liberty, and property, to halt this negative trend and provide succour to the aggrieved parties.
“By doing this, the Federal Government would have discharged its constitutional responsibilities, therefore safeguarding its image and that of the military and other security agencies.
“Our appeal for intervention and remediation is informed by the disturbing details of what appears to be deliberate and unprovoked actions by some elements of the Nigerian military in the arbitrary killings of citizens from the affected rural communities as revealed by the findings of the preliminary investigations carried out by the Kaduna State chapter of MACBAN.
“We are of the firm belief that it is the responsibility of the Nigerian state to protect and guarantee security to all its citizens as spelled in Sec 14 (2) (b) of the 1999 Constitution which is the basis of the social contract by which we, as citizens of Nigeria, surrendered some of our freedoms in addition to submitting ourselves to the authority relating to governance.
“It is imperative to remind ourselves that the current insecurity bedevilling the nation is partly the result of similar acts of impunity in the past by the law enforcement agencies in particular and the governments in general, as evidenced by the genesis of the Boko Haram insurgency and the persisting menace of bandits and kidnappers that beset our dear nation”, they warned.
Meanwhile, the Acting Deputy Director of Army Public Relations 1 Division Nigerian Army, Lieutenant Colonel Musa Yahaya had on January 11, denied the allegation levelled against the division
“This Division wishes to unequivocally state that the Nigerian Army is a professional force committed to the rule of law and utmost respect for fundamental human rights of all citizens and hence cannot be involved in extra-judicial killings and stealing of citizens’ valuables as alleged.
“Moreso, the Nigerian Army belongs to the Nigerian people with representation from all parts of the county and can never be used as a tool to pursue untoward agenda,” he said.