Nigeria is sinking and someone needs to tell President Muhammadu Buhari that the country is sinking, this was the position of a retired army colonel Hassan Stan-Labo.
Col. Hassan, a former Army Intelligence officer was reacting to the spate of increased kidnappings, banditry and general insecurity in the country.
Only recently, gunmen invaded the Local Education Authority (LEA ) Primary School, Rama village, Birnin Gwari Local Government Area of Kaduna state, abducting the pupils and their teachers.
While the number of pupils could not be ascertained Nigeria in recent months has witnessed incessant abductions especially in the northern region of the country with alleged huge ransoms paid for their release.
The retired Col. Hassan is however of the view that the country cannot negotiate with the criminals.
“We cannot and I repeat we cannot negotiate with these guys. We’ve got what it takes to crush them off,” Col. Hassan said when he featured on ARISE News on Tuesday.
“You only begin to negotiate when you’ve not done your homework. When you’ve not put in all what you should put in place, in place. So when they have taken over your kids or your citizens and hold them for ransom there is nothing you can do.
“Any attempt at rescue operations, there will be high collateral damage, you will lose nearly half or over three-quarter of them and you are compelled to start negotiating.
“As a country, with a strong defence force, having actually equipped your inventory, you go out there and crush the enemies, that is what I expect from Nigeria, we did this in Liberia, we did this in Sierra Leone, what is happening with us, is this Nigeria?” he queried.
A visibly emotional retired colonel was of the opinion that the country is now overtaken by armed bandits and at the mercy of the criminal elements.
“Our sovereignty is threatened, bandits have taken over this country and we are watching. We must save this country, this is the only land we have.
“Can someone tell the president that Nigeria is sinking, we are sinking. Every day we are sinking,” he said.
By Abel Ejikeme