Rising from a meeting held on Sunday in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, former president, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, and a prominent religious leader, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, have called on the federal government to tackle the problem of insecurity seriously, particularly at the level of the Economic Community of West Africa, ECOWAS.
The advice was given in a communiqué issue by the two leaders who met at Obasanjo Presidential Library.
Gumi led some religious leaders to the meeting.
Every community, the meeting stressed, should be encouraged and empowered to fight criminals with a view to bringing the state of insecurity to an end.
While also recommending that whistleblowers against criminals living in the community should be protected, it was advised that special courts should be created to deal promptly with cases of banditry, kidnapping, ransom demanding and unlawful carrying of weapons.
The communiqué reads in part: “Federal government should take the issue up seriously within ECOWAS to work for a regional solution.
“Every community must be encouraged and empowered to stand firm and strong against criminals.
“There should be protection and reward covertly for whistleblowers against criminals living in the community.
“Special courts should be created to deal promptly with cases of banditry, kidnapping, ransom demanding and unlawful carrying of weapons.
“Let the slogan be: Security is the responsibility of all Nigerians.
“We agree to continue to work together for solutions for the security of Nigeria and to seek others to join us as we widely circulate our joint statement.”
