The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has expressed concern over the horrifying terrorist invasion of Yashikira community in Baruten Local Government Area of Kwara State, where armed bandits reportedly burnt the Emir’s palace, abducted women and children.
National Coordinator, Emmanuel Onwubiko, in a statement lamented that the entire community was held hostage for hours without resistance from security forces.
He said the latest attack was yet another tragic reminder that Nigeria was fast descending into a dangerous state of lawlessness, fear and bloodshed under the watch of President Bola Tinubu.
Onwubiko recalled that the Yashikira attack came barely 24 hours after armed terrorists reportedly stormed a prayer ground at Ori-Oke Ajaiye in Ekiti Local Government Area of Kwara State, killing worshippers and abducting several others during a night vigil.
He stressed that it was both disturbing and unacceptable that while terrorists, bandits and extremist groups continued to unleash coordinated attacks across several parts of the country, the presidency appeared increasingly obsessed with political survival, power consolidation and early 2027 reelection campaigns.
“Nigeria is bleeding while the nation’s leadership appears detached from the frightening realities confronting ordinary citizens daily.
“It is disgraceful that while innocent Nigerians are being slaughtered, abducted and displaced in their communities, the political elite in Abuja appear more interested in power calculations and political horse-trading ahead of 2027 than in rescuing a nation under siege,” Onwubiko added.
HURIWA warned that the frequency, coordination and boldness of the attacks clearly indicated that terrorist and bandit networks were becoming more emboldened, sophisticated and confident due to the apparent weakness and inconsistency of government responses.
The group further expressed alarm over the persistent attacks on churches, schools, farming communities and travellers in parts of Kaduna State, KwaraState, Niger State, Benue State and other vulnerable regions where citizens now live under constant fear of abduction, massacre or displacement.
HURIWA lamented that schoolchildren were still being kidnapped in different parts of Northern Nigeria, teachers were being attacked, rural churches were repeatedly targeted by armed extremists and farming communities were being overrun by criminal gangs, yet government officials continued to issue routine assurances that did not match realities on the ground.
HURIWA, therefore, demanded immediate declaration of a national security emergency in terror-ravaged communities across Northern Nigeria.
It also called for a comprehensive overhaul of the nation’s security architecture and intelligence coordination mechanisms.
Adedayo Akinwale
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