Civil rights advocacy group, the Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria, HURIWA, Wednesday, asked President Muhammadu Buhari to resign or be impeached over what it called his perennial failure to take decisive action on terrorists.

HURIWA’s national coordinator, Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko, in a statement accused the President and the security agencies of being soft on terrorists “as they have failed to deploy the 12 Super Tucano fighter jets against terrorists,” thus turning the country “into another Afghanistan.”

Recall that terrorists on Tuesday attacked the advanced security convoy of Buhari near Dutsinma, Katsina State, allegedly killing two policemen in the process.

Terrorists also attacked the Medium Security Custodial Centre, Kuje in the Federal Capital Territory on Tuesday, allegedly freeing inmates and killing security agents.

Recently, a community leader in the Birnin Gwari Emirate of Kaduna State Zubairu Abdulra’uf revealed that farmers in the area paid about N400 million to bandits in order to be allowed to carry on with their farming activities.

Onwubiko said, “Buhari has failed Nigerians and himself. This is the time for either Buhari to resign or be impeached if the National Assembly members can grow ball. They must do it or else Nigeria is doomed and over 200 million refugees will flow out of Nigeria.

“These major incidents are too heavy to be ignored. Terrorists are becoming daring. These bandits were designated as terrorists by a Federal High Court in November 2021 but eight months after, the government has not taken any definitive military actions to stamp them out.

“In fact, the 12 Super Tucano fighter jets bought from the United States have not been deployed against the terrorists in the North-West despite that the court judgement ordered the government to do so.

“The failure and inaction of the government have buoyed the heinous and condemnable crimes of the terrorists who now make a fortune from the odious venture of kidnapping Nigerians and have gone as far as collecting taxes like in Kaduna where farmers have so far paid N400 million in protection tax to Fulani terrorists.

“Similarly, attacks on prisons have grown so much under Buhari. There have been about 15 jailbreaks in the last five years under Buhari and over 3,400 inmates have fled.

“Buhari has failed Nigerians and himself. This is the time for either Buhari to resign or he be impeached if the National Assembly members can grow ball. They must do it or else Nigeria is doomed and over 200 million refugees will flow out of Nigeria.”

The group also questioned the continuous staying in Office of Rauf Aregbesola, asking,

“why is the Minister of Interior still on seat?”

The Presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, has said he prefers to pick a younger person as his running mate in the 2023 general elections.

His statement comes amid talks about the possibility of an alliance between the former governor of Anambra State and the NNPP’s Presidential candidate, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso.

Obi said he prefers a younger person who has something to offer.

He, however, said consultations are ongoing about the possibility to pick the Director of Publicity and Advocacy of Northern Elders Forum, Dr. Hakeem Baba Ahmed as his vice.

He said, “We are talking to quite a number of people and Hakeem Baba-Ahmed is a capable hand. But I wish I could work with somebody who is younger.”

“I prefer younger people who have a lot to offer rather than recycling old hands.

“I want a competent person and I am building a formidable team.

“I want people who can look me in the eyes and disagree with me during cabinet meetings. People who have their own minds and ideas.”

MAIDAWAAREWA reported how Kwankwaso, expressed optimism that the alliance between the LP and the NNPP will happen.

He, however, said he is facing some challenges in its discussion with the Labour Party as a result of external influences.

Contrary to the expectations of many, a Chieftain of the Labour Party, Doyin Okupe, on Tuesday, declared that there would be no alliance between Obi and Kwankwaso.

He said the discussions about the possibility of a merger were dead and buried.

A group of terrorists, on Tuesday night, attacked Kuje prison in Abuja, the nation’s capital, with bombs and other high calibre arms.

The Minister of Defence, Bashir Magashi, on Wednesday, said the 64 Boko Haram suspects in Kuje Correctional Facility are missing.

But Magashi said the attackers are Boko Haram insurgents and 64 of its members, who were inmates in the facility, cannot be found.

He said: “What actually happened, they came in their numbers and released some of the inmates. We are now trying to determine the kind of inmates they released.

“We are trying to see what we can do to see that all escapees within the prison accommodation are brought back to the prison yard.

“About 994 inmates, we have about 600 already inside now. Many people are being recaptured. The people who came to do this, from the records, belong to a particular group, from all indicators they are Boko haram.

“Presently we could not locate any of them. Currently, they are about 64 of them as inmates and we could not locate them.”

Abba Kyari Still In Custody

Reports that suspended Deputy Commissioner of Police, Abba Kyari, was among inmates that escaped from the Kuje Medium Security Custodial Centre, Abuja, on Tuesday night, is false according to MAIDAWAAREWA

A top official of the Nigeria Correctional Service, NCoS, said the terrorists that bombed the facility attempted to gain entry into Kyari’s cell, but could not.

Recall that besides Kyari, other high personalities in the prison are former governor of Taraba State, Jolly Nyame, and Farouk Lawan, a former member of the House of Representative.

Gunmen, on Tuesday, opened fire on the convoy of President Muhammadu Buhari in Katsina State, the Presidency has described as sad and unwelcome the shooting incident near Dutsinma.

The convoy carrying the Advance Team of security guards, protocol and media officers ahead of President Muhammadu Buhari’s trip to Daura for Sallah.

According to a statement by presidential spokesman, Garba Shehu, the attackers opened fire on the convoy from ambush positions but were repelled by the military, police and DSS personnel accompanying the convoy.

He said two persons in the convoy are receiving treatment for the minor injuries they suffered.

The statement added that all the other personnel, staff and vehicles made it safely to Daura, the President’s hometown.

Borno state governor Babagana Umara Zulum, said there is currently a challenge of lack of space to accommodate members of Boko Haram who have been surrendering alongside members of their family to troops in the state.

Zulum said this while inaugurating a committee on the repatriation of Borno citizens living in Chad, Niger and Cameroon on Monday at the Government House, Maiduguri, the State capital noted that all the three camps provided for repentant Boko Haram members had been filled to capacity.

The committee chaired by the State Deputy Governor, Alhaji Umar Kadafur, would also manage repentant insurgents, particularly how they are to come out of the bush, their rehabilitation and reintegration into society.

He added that proper handling of the task would lead to the increased surrender of remnants of the insurgents and bring peace to Borno for the needed development.

According to Governor Zulum, the Federal Government had constituted a similar committee on the repatriation of victims of insurgency taking refuge in neighbouring countries.

He said his government had discussed with Theatre Commander of Operation Hadin Kai, on the need to have bigger camps.He said his government had discussed with Theatre Commander of Operation Hadin Kai, on the need to have bigger camps.

While reiterating the commitment of the state to fund the activities of the committee, Zulum said it should also look for another source of funding from public and private organisations.

Zulum explained that a few months ago, the state secured 15 million Euros as support from Germany and was being managed by United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

The Co-chairman, Mr Kaka Shehu, who thanked the governor for the confidence reposed in them, assured the government and people of Borno of their commitment to delivering.

Shehu said the committee would work in close synergy with its Federal Government counterpart for maximum results.