Tina Armstrong
The need to be proactive rather than reactive in eradicating terrorism is fundamental in ensuring safety of lives and property.
This was the position of Mr. Jude Ferami, the national coordinator of Nigerians Unite Against Terrorism, a civil society group during the launch of its national awareness campaign on Shiite extremism and threats to national security held in Lagos.
Mr. Ferami said the nation should have learnt her lesson with the history of Boko Haram which has now been identified as a global terrorist group.
According to him the recent activities that has trailed the happenings surrounding the Islamic Movement of Nigeria under the leadership of Sheikh Ibrahim El-zakzaky who have become a law unto themselves and infringing on the rights of average Nigerians calls for concern.
Mr Ferami said the Nigerians Unite Against Terrorism group wants the Federal Government to take proactive stance to prevent another Islamic extremism in order to promote a peaceful and terror free society.
Feranmi explained that the launch underscores the essence of Nigeria’s unity and its supremacy over every form of worrisome terrorism, stressing that as the war against Boko Haram insurgents is being won in the North East of the country, the consciousness of Nigerians must be awakened to every other form of extremism that might crop up again as opposed to in 2009 when lack of vigilance allowed terrorism to gain roots
The group believes that allowing family members and lawyers access to Sheikh El-zakzaky was a step in the right direction for a peaceful resolution of the Shia crisis in Kaduna state.
They also urged the Federal Government to investigate the amnesty report of human rights abuse by the Nigerian Army, where citizens have been arrested, detained and even killed without trial.
Updated