By Patrick Titus, Uyo
Worried by the spate of insecurity and terrorism in Nigeria, Civil Society Organisations, clerics and students in Akwa Ibom State have risen in unity to say “No To Terror”, calling for a stronger collaboration by all to end the menace for a secured society.
Last Saturday in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital, the group, through a civic campaign tagged: “Akwa Ibom Unite Against Terror” organized by Center for Human Rights And Accountability Network (CHRAN), described terror as a monster that kills both present and future generations.
In their various messages at the event, they urged all Nigerians to rise as one people and one nation, strengthen the institutions that protect lives and deny terror every hiding place.
The State Director of CHRAN, Otuekong Franklyn Isong urged citizens to work with security agencies especially, in intelligence sharing to tackle the crime headlong.
Isong who regretted that terror had destroyed homes and societies described it as a common enemy to everyone as it is blind to religion, tribe or social standing.
According to him, “Terror is a common enemy to all Nigerians; it does not know religion or tribe, so as a CSO we are uniting against terrorism. If you see something, say something. Collaborate with the security agencies to fight terror. If you fail to report terror, when it takes place, it will affect you too.”
Also speaking, Clifford Thomas (Esq) convener of Akwa Ibom Human Rights Community charged the people to look inwardly and devise a local means to fight terror, urging them not to wait to be slaughtered by terrorists.
Making reference from the incidents in Bayelsa and Abia States where the community youths overpowered and neutralized their assailants with their local means, Clifford urged Nigerians to use any strategy to protect their people.
The Lawyer reminded that self defence is the fundamental right of every citizen as stipulated in section 33 sub-section 2 of the 1999 Constitution as amended urging everyone to take advantage of that provision when faced with terror.
He also advocated for State Policing, saying that such would curb insecurity to a large extent.
His words: “We are all victims of terror, no one is spared. Communities must take action and report to appropriate quarters and when something is not done, look inwardly, look internally to protect your mothers, your fathers, your children, your brothers, and sisters. Don’t wait for the enemy to slaughter you but that does not mean you should execute violence.
“Secondly, let all Commissioners of Police be reassigned to their regions. When you send an Akwa Ibom son to his state as a Commissioner of Police, we know him very well and how to handle him if anything goes wrong. Besides he will want to serve his people better.”
Other Civil Society Organisations’ leaders who took turn to speak including Dr. Victor David of Vital Partners said the fight against insecurity is not the responsibility of the government alone but requires the collective commitment of all citizens.
David, who likened the nation’s insecurity to a masquerade masked with terror, charged Nigerians not to allow insecurity destroy their unity, determine their future or silence the young and growing democracy.
He stated: “The masquerade masked with terror thrives where division exists. It thrives where division exists. It feeds on our silence. It grows in the cracks of corruption. It flourishes when justice sleeps. It expands when citizens become spectators in the struggle for peace.
“Therefore, this is not the time to point fingers. This is not the time to build walls between North and South, East and West. This is not the time to ask whose pain matters more. A wound on one part of the body affects the entire body. Injury to one is injury to all. When one community bleeds, the nation loses blood. When one child is taken, the future loses a voice. When one farmer abandons the farm, every dining table feels the consequence. When one is murdered, the nation loses morality.
When one security officer is brutally slain, the nation loses strength. We must therefore rise as one people and one nation.
“We demand a Nigeria where every citizen can travel safely, farm safely, work safely, worship safely, and vote safely,” he added.
