The Knights of St. Mulumba (KSM) Nigeria, recently lamented over worsening insecurity, poor state of economy, and other vices bedeviling the nation, urging the government to take proactive steps to salvage the situation. Their position came following the tension being generated by endless martyrdom of youths in the country. The group, in a recent statement by Sir Diamond Ovueraye, Supreme Knight of KSM, Nigeria, said that it is very worrisome that the terror unleashed on innocent citizens and students has not attracted deterrent measures from the Federal Government till date. “All over the country, the clouds are getting darker and ominous by the day. The nation is regaled by gory tales of killings, banditry, kidnappings, rising ethno-religious tension, people being driven out of their ancestral homes, increasing number of Internally Displaced People (IDP’s), farmers’ inability to go to their farms, and the seeming ‘’bravado’’ of ‘’invisible’’ herdsmen. “The nature, magnitude and dimensions of this national malady is unacceptable.
Without a doubt, our security personnel appear overwhelmed, overstretched, unprepared and lacking firepower to match these enemies of state. Nigerians are generally afraid to travel between states and even within states, between towns and villages without fear of being kidnapped or robbed. All these, in spite of years of allocations and appropriations to the relevant Security Agencies that are supposed to defend and protect us. “The Knights of St Mulumba Nigeria (KSM), an association of Catholic men and women, com mitted towards a high sense of order and discipline within society, and working for justice always and everywhere for the benefit of mankind, state out-rightly our displeasure and condemnation of the rising incidents of insecurity across the country. Despite the ever assurance of the Police that ‘’Nigerians should go about their normal duties without fear’’, citizens are being killed, raped, kidnapped, in their homes, on the roads, in Churches, Mosques, and rather sadly, in schools. Really, what is a Nigerian life worth?
“The Order is uncomfortable with the lack of Government empathy and its very terse releases that do little to assuage the pains of victims. We are aware that Government is making efforts to arrest the surge, but it should address the nation, to reassure the citizens of its concerns and measures to stop further killings or kidnappings of our school children. Government should know that the kidnapping of students will worsen the number of ‘out of school’ children, a situation UNICEF said has already increased by 2.7 million, the largest around the World.” Ovueraye urged the government to engage all relevant leaders to proffer solutions to the deteriorating security situation in the country. “The Knights of St. Mulumba Nigeria urgently requests Government to convoke and engage with the leaders of the various federating units, which will no doubt deescalate the tension.
It should define what terrorism really is and “call a dog by its rightful name”, make a strong effort to disarm herdsmen and all who have no right to bear arms, and ensure equity and justice.” Commending the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) over their commitment to the security and corporate existence of Nigeria, Ovueraye stated: “We commend the various releases of the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria CBCN, and the concerns expressed by the bishops. They have exhibited dispassionate leadership, in offering direction and hope in these troubled times. We also appreciate the concerns raised by many members of the National Assembly about the current worrying increase in insecurity incidents across the land.
They can do more by putting pressure on Government to take the bull by the horn. “We believe that inaction breeds doubt and fear, which has pervaded the land. We, like Haile Selassie reiterate that, “throughout history, it has been the inaction of those who could have acted, the indifference of those who should have known better, the silence of the voice of justice when it mattered most, that has made it possible for evil to thrive.” Let us also remember the words of Martin Luther King who said: “The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy”. Our Government must rise up to the occasion.
