*****Call for vigilance
Southern and Middlebelt leaders under the aegis of the Southern And Middle-belt Leaders Forum have lambasted Federal Government on its silence over mass movement of Northern youths into southern states despite the declaration of inter-state lockdown due to COVID-19 pandemic.
The leaders stated this in a joint statement signed by Chief E K Clark for Pandef; Chief Olu Adebanjo for Afenifere; Chief John Nnia Nwodo for Ohaneze; and Dr Bitrus Porgu for The Middle Belt Congress.
They noted that their concern against the backdrop that this development is coming after Boko Haram recently threatened to take their battle against Nigeria to the South East and South South.
Following the declaration by Northern governors to send Almajirai back to their states of origin, trailers smuggling northerner youths have been intercepted by most southern states.
This mass movements of the northern youths is in spite of the inter-state lock down declared by President Muhammadu Buhari as part of measures to combat the spread of the COVID-19 which witnessed a sharp increase in the north.
But reacting to the scenario, the southern leaders along aside their middle belt counterparts noted that those in southern and Middlebelt of the country will not fold their arms and allow massive influx of youths who have “no reason to flout extant laws on interstate movements, no pressing National engagement in our areas, no verifiable occupation, no tests for COVID-19 and no pre-arranged accommodation,to come and forcibly occupy our forests and perhaps prosecute the threat of Boko Haram.“
The statement added, “Leaders of the Southern And Middle Belt forum are outraged at the complacency of the Nigerian Security Forces at the invasion of their areas by teenagers from far Northern Nigeria hidden in containers and trailers in spite of the ban of interstate movements by the President, the Northern Governors Forum and all the Governors in the South and Middle Belt.
”This ominous development is coming after Boko Haram threatened openly three weeks ago, that they were going to take their battle against Nigeria to the South East and South South. Very worrisome in this development is the quietness of the National Security organizations, the National Covid-19 Committee and the Presidency since this story broke out.
”This development has brought about very strong suspicions amongst our people regarding the aim of the deployment of these young men. Their capacity to escape all border security checks until they reach many States in the South and Middle Belt points to a strong collaboration. God forbid that the Boko Haram threat is being surreptitiously executed.“
They added, “The silence of the Federal government in this situation is ominous. The maneuvers appear deliberately planned and provocative. We will resist any threats to our invasion and the security of our lives and property with every amount of self help available to us.
“To avoid further descent to an uncontrollable situation,we call on the Federal government to publicly declare this invasion illegal, direct our National Security Organizations to flush them out NOW and ensure that they do not return.”
While recalling that former minister of Defense, General Danjuma recently warned Nigerians to be ready for self help, the leaders said they hope that his predictions have not become inevitable and that the nation can be saved a slide into lawlessness and its disastrous consequences.
“A stitch in time saves nine! We call on our people to be vigilant.”