From Molly Kilete, Abuja
Former governor of Niger State, Babangida Aliyu, has advocated death sentence for any criminal who kills any personnel of the military, police and security agencies.
Aliyu, who condemned the spate of killings of soldiers and personnel of the security agencies, called on relevant government authorities charged with the responsibility of making policies to consider his recommendation to curb the menace.
Aliyu, who is also a one time chairman of the Northern Governors Forum(NGF), made this known at the graduation ceremony for members of Executive Intelligence Management Course 17 , of the National Institute of Security Studies(NISS), Abuja, an institution owned by Department of State Services (DSS).
The former governor, while insisted that there is no reason for any security officer or agent in the military or paramilitary to be killed by any Nigeria or criminal perpetrating evils in some parts of the country, said “I’m happy that the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Christopher Musa is here. Although, they say the CDS or the military are not involved in issues of policies. But let me say this.
“I have not seen any country where about 38 soldiers would be killed and there will be defeaning silence afterwards. I want to recommend that anybody that kills uniform person must die!
“When people talk of patriotism, patriotism is not taken in one eye. Patriotism comes as the result of a symbiotic relationship between the government and the government.
“In the government, if I realize that the government protects me, why would I not love my government? So suddenly you hear daba, daba, here and there. No doubt about it,” Aliyu, who is the chairman of the occasion said.
Aliyu, who was applauded by dignitaries that came to grace the occadsion, described State governors blaming the federal government for insecurity and security challenges in their respective States as incompetent.
He said “no competent governor should “cry” to the centre anytime there is a security challenge in his, adding that huge sum of security votes are there for them to use to take care of the challenges.
He, therefore, called on the governors to take charge of their respective States, adding that they should endeavour to fund security agencies serving them adequately.
In his address, the Director-General of DSS, Adéọlá Oluwatosin Àjàyí, while noting that Nigeria would not experience any security issues again if all security agencies work together the way it should be, said the insecurity would soon end.
The DG, who commended the commitment of the security agencies personnel, said “Together we can we win. CDS and NSA have driven a synergy in a way I have never seen in my career. We need to work together. Our take away from here is that no security challenges can’t defeat us if we work together.
“Very soon all Nigerians will sleep with their two eyes closed. Thank the President for the Direction you are taking the country. Thank you for appointment me. I will never let you down.”
A total of 91 participants including security agents from five foreign countries: Chad, The Gambia, Ghana, Cote’deivoure and Rwanda, participated in the ten months course that started in February.
The graduation ceremony had dignitaries in attendance the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu and the ministers of FCT, Finance and justice, Nyesom Wike, Wale Edun and Lateef Fagbemi, Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Christopher Musa and other Service Chiefs, six former Director-General of DSS, among other top government officials.