*Charges IGP to hold COs, ACs, DPOs responsible for further attack in INEC buildings
*Early morning attack on Muslim worshippers in Ughelli Central Mosque satanic – Media Watch Group
By KEMI KASUMU
The Muslim Media Watch Group of Nigeria (MMWG) has called on Security Forces in Nigeria, especially the Nigeria Police Force and Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), to save the Buhari’s administration of unnecessary embarrassment by enforcing orders to reduce insecurity bedevilling the country.
The group made this assertion while condemning fresh attack on INEC office in a Local Government in Imo State morning of Sunday December 4, 2022 and the earlier incident of heinous act carried out by gunmen against Muslim worshippers in a Central Mosque in Ughelli, Delta State on Friday December 3.
The MMWG stated that the latest attacks have exposed the laxity of the Nigeria Police, whereby instructions are given by the Inspector General of Police (IGP) and such instructions are ignored by those, who are supposed to carry out the orders and in some cases, orders are given but no Monitoring Team to confirm the execution of the orders.
In a powerful statement Monday by the National Coordinator of the Group, Mallam Ibrahim Abdullahi, the Group drew the attention of citizens of the nation to directives given by IGP Usman Alkali Baba few weeks ago that all INEC offices across the troubled areas of South East be secured.
The Group wondered what happened to that order, which has made attacks of INEC buildings and facilities to be set ablaze all the times, stating that within the last four months seven INEC buildings with their facilities have been set on fire by criminals in five states of South East and South West.
The Media Group challenged the IGP and called on him to deal ruthlessly with any Police Commissioner, Area Commander or Divisional Police Officer that flouted his order, failure to enforce which has continuously paved way for arsonists and other criminals to gain access to INEC facilities to commit their heinous crimes.
He added that flagrant disregard to IGP’s orders that led to the latest crime in Imo State was not only disappointing but disgraceful and nauseating.
The MMWG said as the nation holds heads of security forces responsible for security breaches, we want IGP to take decisive disciplinary action on any further attack on INEC offices in any of the 774 Local Governments, states capitals and Federal Capital Territory (FCT) by holding police CPs, AC and DPOs of affected areas responsible, otherwise, security breaches would continue in the country.
It finally called on INEC to set-up a Monitoring Team to survey its offices across South East and South-South henceforth and brief the nation on its outcome, as this would determine readiness or not for the forthcoming general elections because, it said, without security there can be no election.
Ughelli Mosque attacks
Meanwhile, the Muslim Media Watch Group of Nigeria (MMWG) has condemned in strong terms, the gunmen attack on Muslim faithfuls observing early morning prayer at Ughelli Central Mosque, Delta State, and called on the Inspector-General of Police and Delta Police Commissioner to fish-out perpetrators of the devilish act.
“The Group described the attack as satanic as it occurred at about 5.47 am when the worshippers were on their SUBUHI/EARLY MORNING PRAYERS in the Mosque. It called for a halt to religious intolerance and fanaticism in any part of the Country – calling on Delta State Police Commissioner and his Area Commanders to account for the criminals who believed that worshipping God in a way different from their own is a crime and went further to attack and kidnap unarmed citizens serving God.
“MMWG warned against religious bigotry targeted against muslims in the South East and some part of South-South and call on IGP to be firm and committed to wiping away crimes by forcing his security team to fish-out the criminals who abducted the Imam and 2 worshippers at Ughelli Central Mosque during the attack and wounded mercilessly others; adding that security and intelligent corps must know the perpetrators of the crime, and so they must be caught and be made to face the law.
“The Muslim Media Watch said while insurgency that ravaged the North covered the two dominant religious faithfuls (i.e. Muslims and Christians), criminals eliminating Fellow Nigerians in the South-East and South-South are targeting innocent muslims for elimination. This should worry patriotic Nigerians regardless of their faiths, adding that repraisal attacks could be dangerous for the whole Nation, the Group warned.
“The Group also accused various State Governors in the South East and South-South of keeping quiet whenever dastardly acts are committed against muslims adding that, such has never been the case in the North as State Governors there usually rise to defend every citizens regardless of states of origin.
“The Media Group finally called Governor Okowa of Delta State to defend the rights of all according to Constitution he sworn to uphold by ensuring immediate and conditional release of those abducted, get the criminals arrested and prosecuted and off-set the hospital bills of those unjustifiably attacked by criminals and charlatans in their Mosque,” the statement said.
