The leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has asked the federal government to use maximum force to repel the activities of the Boko Haram sect, saying the group has declared war on Nigeria through its recent activities.
In a statement in Abuja entitled: “We Must Not Lose Any Part of Nigeria to Insurgents,” and signed by its President, Comrade Abdulwahed Omar, the Congress said the fact that members of the group have decided to come out in their number to attack towns and villages in the North East is a clear indication that they have declared war on the country and must be repelled by every force available.
The umbrella body’s of Nigerian workers expressed concern at the speed at which the insurgents are taking over towns and villages hitherto under the control of security agents, pointing out that if not curtailed, the development is capable of discrediting the Nigerian armed forces that has performed creditably in peace keeping missions across the world.
The statement reads: “The Nigeria Labour Congress is worried about the recent incursion into some towns and villages, especially in Borno, Adamawa and Yobe States in the north eastern part of the country by the Boko Haram terror group.
“These violent attacks and reported seizures and declaration of an Islamic republic remain unacceptable and must never be allowed as a republic cannot exist within a republic.
“While we appreciate the commitment of Nigeria’s security agencies, particularly the armed forces, to the battle against insurgency in Nigeria, we strongly warn that the consequence of allowing any part of the country to be forcefully seized by any group will be overwhelmingly harmful to our collective unity and socio economic advancement, just as it would also endanger the growth of democracy.
“We are worried at the speed at which the insurgents are taking over communities even in areas reported to have heavy security presence. It is time the Nigerian armed forces prove their preparedness to protect and defend the Nigerian people and their territories by using all within their armoury to protect our territorial integrity.
“The credibility and professional image of our armed forces would be at stake, even in global ratings, if our forces who have been widely acclaimed to have performed so well during peace keeping operations in different parts of the world would allow themselves to be overrun by insurgents back home.
“While we commend the Federal Government for providing necessary human and material needs for the battle against these insurgents, we believe the government can do more in ensuring the troops are well kitted with modern weapons and all that is required to fight contemporary wars as the situation has obviously moved beyond mere insurgency.”
