Lagos
lawyer, Mr. Femi Falana (SAN), on Sunday asked the Federal Government
to equip security personnel deployed in the fight against insecurity in
the country rather than shedding crocodile tears for the victims of
insecurity.
Falana, in a statement, lamented the
conditions of less-equipped policemen and soldiers, who were being
deployed in fighting terrorists that were armed with more sophisticated
weapons.
“It is inexcusable to deploy
ill-trained, ill-equipped and ill-motivated soldiers and policemen to
war zones, armed with only AK 47 rifles without bullet proofs,
serviceable vehicles, communication gadgets to fight suicide bombers
with more sophisticated weapons,” he said.
He noted that the security personnel
were not being provided with life insurance and accommodation, adding
that their salaries were not paid regularly and the families of those
who lost their lives in battle were not usually informed officially.
Falana said, “In view of the foregoing,
the Federal Government should stop shedding crocodile tears having
carelessly risked the lives of soldiers and policemen who are made to
fight guerilla war without any training.
“The Federal Government should take
urgent measures to train and equip the security personnel deployed to
the battle fields; purchase helicopters for aerial survey of the north
east zone; upgrade medical facilities, including the provision of
ambulances; fortify police stations and barracks as well as prisons and
other detention facilities.
“More importantly, the Moble Unit of the
Nigeria Police Force should be retrained and equipped to contain
terrorism, kidnapping, insurrection and civil disturbances so as to
limit the armed forces to the defence of territorial integrity of the
nation.”
He warned that the Security Council of
the United Nations might sanction the Federal Government while it might
have to pay damages to victims if it continued to risk the lives of its
security personnel and civilians.
He added, “If the Federal Government
continues to risk the lives of security personnel and expose the lives
of the civilian population to danger in the war against terror, Nigeria
may be sanctioned by the Security Council of the United Nations in view
of the ongoing investigation into the Baga invasion being conducted by
the government of an influential member of the body.
“Locally, the government is also liable
to be dragged to local courts to pay damages to the victims of
preventable deaths arising from the negligence of the state to secure
the lives of Nigerian citizens.”
No comments:
Post a Comment